Mileage directly impacts how much your car is worth. The more miles on your vehicle, the less money you'll get when you sell or trade it in.
How Much Value Do You Lose Per Mile?
Most vehicles depreciate $0.15 to $0.25 per mile driven. On a car driven 15,000 miles per year, that adds up to $2,250 to $3,750 in annual depreciation from mileage alone.
Depreciation is the largest single expense in vehicle ownership, averaging $4,334 per year across all new cars. Mileage significantly accelerates this decline.
Why Mileage Matters So Much
Buyers view high-mileage vehicles as higher risk. More miles mean more wear on the engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension. A car with 150,000 miles will cost more to maintain than one with 50,000 miles. This uncertainty makes buyers offer less money.
Typical mileage expectations:
- Average: 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year
- Low mileage: Under 12,000 miles per year
- High mileage: Over 15,000 miles per year
Cars exceeding these benchmarks typically sell for less than comparable low-mileage vehicles.
The Real-World Impact
A vehicle with 100,000 miles will be worth significantly less than an identical car with 60,000 miles, even if both are the same age and in similar condition. That 40,000-mile difference could mean $6,000 to $10,000 less in trade-in or resale value.
Electric vehicles show the steepest depreciation curves, with mileage affecting their value even more than gas-powered cars. Buyers worry about battery degradation, making mileage a critical factor.
What You Can Do
If you're looking to minimize depreciation:
- Drive less when possible. Carpooling or using public transit saves miles.
- Keep maintenance records. Well-maintained high-mileage cars hold value better.
- Consider your typical annual mileage before buying. Leasing works better for high-mileage drivers.
- Track your actual costs. Understanding your mileage impact helps you make smarter ownership decisions.
Sidekick calculates your vehicle's true depreciation based on your actual mileage and usage patterns, helping you understand exactly how your driving habits affect your car's value.