Why buying a vehicle with more than 100,000 kms increases its risk of unreliability
It's no secret that all car buyers are looking for a great deal and it's usually vehicles with higher mileage that attract lower prices. So how many kilometers are too many kilometers when considering the purchase of a used car?
Purchasing a vehicle that has traveled over 100,000 kilometers on its odometer can be a risky venture due to several significant factors. Firstly, the higher mileage usually indicates that the car's major components have endured more wear and tear over time, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failures and expensive repairs. Critical parts such as the engine, transmission, and suspension components may be more prone to breakdowns, potentially leaving the buyer with unexpected and costly repair bills.
Secondly, when dealing with older vehicles, it might be challenging to obtain a comprehensive service history. Without a detailed record of past maintenance and repairs, it becomes difficult to assess how well the car has been cared for, making it challenging to predict potential issues.
Moreover, older vehicles might lack modern safety features that have become standard in newer models. This could pose safety risks, especially in the event of a collision or accident. Advanced safety technologies, such as electronic stability control, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control, are more common in newer cars and significantly enhance passenger protection.
Another concern with higher-mileage vehicles is the availability and cost of replacement parts. As a car ages, finding specific components can become increasingly difficult, leading to extended downtime and inflated repair costs.
While not all high-mileage vehicles are problematic, prospective buyers should exercise caution and consider a thorough pre-purchase inspection. Such an inspection, conducted by a qualified mechanic, can provide a clearer picture of the vehicle's condition, potential issues, and overall roadworthiness. This information empowers the buyer to make an informed decision and may influence price negotiations with the seller.
While buying a vehicle with over 100,000 kilometers may seem cost-effective initially, it can turn into a risky investment due to potential mechanical problems, uncertain maintenance history, lack of modern safety features, and difficulty in finding replacement parts. It is also important to note that issues with high mileage vehicles can be temperamental, meaning what may seem like a vehicle free of faults at point of inspection can quickly change for the worse. Diligence and careful consideration are essential when venturing into the used car market to avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure a satisfactory long-term ownership experience.
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We understand that the used car market can move extremely quickly. Seller’s can be difficult for our team to organise an inspection with or worse, they may sell the vehicle to another buyer before allowing our Carinspect mechanic to inspect the vehicle. For this reason, we offer an outstanding refund policy for customers using our service. Carinspect offers a full refund (minus a 3% credit card fee) for inspection bookings that for any reason cannot go ahead. The following two exceptions apply:
- If the purchaser requires the inspection to be cancelled for any reason and the inspection time and date has already been set with the seller, Carinspect will retain a $60 administration fee whilst refunding you the balance of the booking.
- On the occasion that the Carinspect mechanic has already travelled to the seller’s location to complete the inspection and is unable to fulfil the service, Carinspect will retain a $150 cancellation fee whilst refunding you the balance of the booking.
We’re here to change the game for used car purchasers and bring full transparency to the buying process. Whether you’re looking for the convenience of a mobile inspection or the security of a hoisted workshop inspection, our network of fully qualified mechanics spans Australia-wide so that you can buy with confidence. With our own proprietary inspection software, we’ve partnered with GumtreeGroup so you’ll find our service readily available on over 20,000 new vehicle listings across Australia every week. We’re a service you can trust to ensure you are empowered to make the right used car purchasing decision.
We make this process as easy as it can be. Forget finding out when the seller may be free, only to find that you can’t find a mechanic that’s available in the right area at the right time. Scheduling can be a nightmare, that’s why we do it for you! Our online booking system will check the live availability of the area at time of booking. Just provide us with the details of your booking, process the payment, and then leave the rest to us. Our team will contact the seller of the vehicle and arrange the inspection with them directly. Depending on the vehicle location, we are almost always able to deliver you the report within 48 hours of your booking.
Workshop Inspections are completed at our fixed site partner workshops across the country. Here you’ll receive the benefit of a hoisted inspection in a workshop environment - perfect for a meticulous buyer. For these bookings, the seller of the vehicle must bring the vehicle to our local workshop service partner. The booking process is simple, once you have confirmed with the seller that they can bring the vehicle to our local partner workshop, just process your booking with us and we’ll handle the entire process with the seller. You’ll receive your report immediately after the inspection is completed together with a phone call from the mechanic.
Our mobile team will travel to where the vehicle is being sold. Whether it's a home, workplace, dealership or auction house, our mechanics will inspect the vehicle at the location most convenient to the seller. This service is great for busy sellers or vehicles that cannot meet us at one of our workshop locations across Australia. These inspections are subject to environmental constraints. Bad weather, steep driveways or undulating surfaces or poor lighting can affect inspection results. You’ll receive your report immediately after the inspection is completed together with a phone call from the mechanic.
Carinspect reports are clear and easy to read, to see a sample report, just click here. Car buyers use our reports to identify potential problems with a vehicle which in turn allows them the opportunity to either walk away from the purchase entirely or use our findings to negotiate a more competitive price. Either way, it’s a win for our customers.
We cannot guarantee inspections to take place on the weekend as this time is usually assigned to completing overflow work. Although there are some sellers who only have very specific times that a car can be available for inspection, please be aware that our team deals with this everyday and almost always finds a time that works for all parties - even if it means the seller not being with the vehicle whilst we inspect it.
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