New cars are crazy expensive and used cars, depending on the ones you can find, can still be great finds. But how many miles is too many for a used car?

Let’s be real for a second. New cars are overrated. Not only are new cars crazy expensive right now, but you can find used cars that are priced great and still drive well. Many used cars on the market are just waiting for eager buyers to gobble them up, but there are a few, ones with too many miles, that are better left on the car lot to gather dust. While it might seem like a grand idea to buy a used car, you might want to slow your role because sometimes used cars will have too many miles. Too many miles on a used car can mean poor performance, lots of upkeep, and a dying vehicle. But how many miles is too many? Some people will say 200,000, but, in the right case, used cars can last up to 300,000 or even more!

How many miles is too many on a used car? That depends.

Buying a Used Car With Lots of Miles

Buying used cars with lots of miles can seem kind of like a bad division, but, in reality, it might be the best decision of your life. New cars right now are super, super expensive, and not everyone can afford to whip out 10s of thousands of dollars. Used cars are so good right now, that many people are selling their used cars for over 50% of what they are worth on Kelley Blue Book.

When it comes to buying a used car, especially with lots of miles, it’s important to watch out for three things: good brands, good maintenance, and actual mileage.

Find Good Brands

First things first, when it comes to buying used cars, it’s important to focus on the types of cars you want to buy. Are you hoping to buy an SUV, a sedan, or a pickup truck? What matters most is going with a brand you know you can trust. What are those brands?

Toyota, Subaru, and Honda are all brands known for making cars that last a long, long time. The Toyota Corolla, for example, is one of those cars that just doesn’t die. If you see any of these brands, take it as a sign that you might be looking at the right used car.

Maintenance and Upkeep

Secondly, a used car is only as good as its maintenance. How did its previous owner treat it? Was it regularly maintained, or did its previous owner abuse it? You’ll be able to learn these things in a number of ways. Checking its Carfax and taking it to a specialist are just two of them.

That being said, if you find a used car with a lot of miles on it, even as high as 200,000, and it’s been well-maintained, you might want to consider buying it (for the right price).

When’s the Cutoff?

Lastly, there is such a thing as too many miles. When you are looking at 250,000 and up, it’s best to say that you should avoid that car. Typically, when cars get up that high, it means that any ride could be their last.