How to Tell if a Used Car Has Covered a Lot of Kilometres

A used car has covered a lot of kilometres when its odometer reading is high for its age, but the number on the dashboard doesn’t tell you whether the car is a good or bad buy.

Start by working out how many kilometres the vehicle has averaged each year. Then compare that figure with its service records, interior condition and previous use.

A well-maintained car with higher kilometres can be a better purchase than a low-kilometre car that has missed services or spent years doing short, hard trips.

Here’s Your Answer

To identify whether a used car has high kilometres, divide the odometer reading by the age of the vehicle.

A five-year-old car showing 150,000 km has averaged about 30,000 km a year. A 10-year-old car with the same reading has averaged about 15,000 km a year.

That comparison gives the odometer some context, but don’t use it as a pass-or-fail test.

There is no single kilometre figure that makes a used car too old or too heavily driven. How the car accumulated those kilometres and how it was maintained are just as important.

Start With Kilometres Per Year

The easiest calculation is:

Odometer Reading ÷ Age of the Car = Average Kilometres Per Year

For example:

Australian driving varies considerably between vehicles. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ last Survey of Motor Vehicle Use reported that passenger vehicles travelled an average of about 11,100 km during the 12 months to June 2020, but that figure is an old national average rather than a rule for judging an individual car.

A regional commuter, work vehicle or car used for regular interstate driving can accumulate kilometres much faster.

So when browsing through used car listing, use kilometres per year as the beginning of the assessment, not the conclusion.

Does the Car’s Condition Match the Odometer?

Once you’ve checked the number, inspect the areas that get touched and used every day.

Look at the driver’s seat, steering wheel, pedals, floor covering, gear selector, door handles and frequently used switches.

A car showing relatively low kilometres but unusually heavy wear deserves a closer look. The reverse is also possible: a high-kilometre car that spent much of its life on long trips may have a surprisingly tidy interior.

Wear alone doesn’t prove that an odometer has been altered. Seats can be repaired, steering wheels replaced, and different owners treat cars differently.

What you’re trying to establish is whether the overall condition makes sense.

NSW Government similarly recommends comparing odometer information with logbooks and the vehicle’s physical wear.

Compare the Kilometres with the Service History

Service records can tell you far more than the current odometer reading by itself.

Work through the logbook, workshop invoices and maintenance receipts in date order. The recorded kilometres should normally increase as the car gets older.

For example, if an invoice from two years ago records 145,000 km but the odometer now shows 92,000 km, don’t brush it aside.

An unexplained drop in recorded kilometres needs to be investigated before you pay for the car.

In NSW, a free registration check can also show the past three annual odometer readings where that information is available. This can be especially useful when assessing second-hand cars from private sellers and comparing what the seller says with previous records.

A missing service stamp isn’t proof of a problem either. Ask whether invoices or workshop records are available before drawing a conclusion.

Find Out How the Car Accumulated Those Kilometres

Two cars with 160,000 km can have led very different lives.

A vehicle driven long distances on open roads may have spent hours at a steady speed. Another may have accumulated its kilometres through short trips, stop-start traffic and repeated cold starts.

Work vehicles and utes deserve another layer of checking. Ask whether they have regularly carried heavy loads, travelled on rough roads or towed trailers.

This is particularly relevant with vehicles such as the HiLux. When assessing a used one, previous towing and work use can tell you more than the odometer alone.

Don’t assume highway kilometres are always harmless or city kilometres are always bad. Service history and current mechanical condition still carry more weight.

Is a High-Kilometre Used Car a Bad Buy?

Not necessarily.

A car showing 200,000 km isn’t automatically worn out, just as a car with 70,000 km isn’t automatically in good condition.

Ask when major maintenance was completed, what repairs may be approaching and whether servicing followed the manufacturer’s schedule.

Price should reflect the kilometres and condition as well. When comparing cars on MarketTram, check similar models of roughly the same age rather than comparing a high-kilometre example with the lowest-kilometre car available.

High kilometres are a reason to inspect more carefully, not an automatic reason to reject the car.

Red Flags When the Kilometres Don’t Add Up

Slow down if:

• Older service records show higher kilometres than the current odometer
• Maintenance records contain unexplained gaps
• The interior looks unusually worn for the claimed kilometres
• Old advertisements or invoices show conflicting readings
• The seller won’t let you inspect the records closely, or
• The explanation for an odometer discrepancy keeps changing.

One odd record can have an innocent explanation. Several inconsistencies are harder to dismiss. Odometer tampering is illegal in NSW.

What Should You Check Before Paying?

Before agreeing to the sale:

1. Record the odometer reading yourself.
2. Calculate the approximate kilometres per year.
3. Compare the reading with logbooks and invoices.
4. Check whether the wear inside the vehicle seems consistent.
5. Ask how the car was previously used.
6. Arrange an independent inspection if anything remains unclear.

Complete your other ownership and vehicle checks before paying a private seller as well. A believable odometer reading doesn’t confirm that every other part of the transaction is in order.

The Bottom Line

A high odometer reading doesn’t tell the whole story.

Compare the kilometres with the vehicle’s age, condition, service records and previous use. What you want is a history that fits together.

If the odometer, wear and paperwork are telling different stories, find out why before buying the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many kilometres is a lot for a used car?

There is no universal cut-off. Compare the total kilometres with the car’s age, servicing, condition and previous use. Kilometres per year provide more context than the total odometer reading alone.

Is 200,000 km too much for a used car?

Not automatically. A properly maintained car may still have useful life at 200,000 km, while another vehicle can need significant repairs much earlier. Its mechanical condition and maintenance history should influence the decision.

How do I calculate a used car’s kilometres per year?

Divide the current odometer reading by the vehicle’s age. A six-year-old car showing 90,000 km, for example, has averaged approximately 15,000 km per year.

Can a low-kilometre used car still be a bad buy?

Yes. Low kilometres don’t confirm that a vehicle has been serviced properly or driven carefully. Long periods without use, repeated short trips, and neglected maintenance can also affect a car’s condition.

What should I do if the service history doesn’t match the odometer?

Ask the seller to explain the discrepancy and provide supporting records. Compare previous invoices, logbook entries and available registration information. If an unexplained difference remains, don’t assume the current odometer reading is accurate.