What is a Good Mileage for a Used Van? The Facts!
Have you ever thought about buying a used van? If the answer is yes, then you must carefully consider the mileage on the odometer to get an overall idea. Along with mileage, you should consider some other important factors also.
In this article, I’ll tell you what mileage is good for a used van and what other important things you need to check before buying one. I’ll also suggest some best-used vans, as well as problems with older vans and their maintenance.
What is a Good Mileage for a Used Van?
Commonly used vehicles generally cover 12k to 14k miles per year. If you consider 12k miles per year for a used van, then you can simply multiply the age with 12k to get an idea about the mileage. There is no wonder that not all used vans exactly match with the results as there are exceptions and many other important factors that put a significant effect on the mileage of a van.
A 5-year-old van is expected to run about 60k miles. But if you find a 5 years old van that just had 5k or 10k miles on the odometer, you should check other important pieces of information like previous records, history of the owners, etc for concluding as the reading is too little for a 5 years old used van.
It’s also possible that the van is in exceptionally good health with very little mileage on the odometer.
The same things are also applicable for a 7 or 9 years old used van. Never hesitate to check all the pieces of information and previous histories before making a decision based on mileage.
It’s always a wise decision to have a professional mechanic with you at the time of deciding what mileage is good for a used van based on its age.
Also read: 10 Best Old Vans with Good Gas Milage
Why Should You Buy a Van With a Mileage Lower Than 100k?
A used van normally requires major repairs or replacement after 250k miles. If you buy a properly maintained, fully functional used van with a mileage of 100k and drive it on average 12k or 14k miles per year, there is a possibility that you can run it without any major repairs or replacements for the next 10 to 12 years.
Driving a used van for 10 to 12 years without major repairs or replacements is a good deal. Not only that, there are some other advantages of buying a used van with mileage lower than 100k. Some of them are stated below:
- Less Wear & Tear
A used van with too much mileage can have a considerable amount of wear and tear in the essential parts of the vehicle that may lead to a costly repair. Buying a used van with 100k mileage on the odometer generally hasn’t too much wear or tear if maintained properly throughout the ownership period of the seller.
- Higher Resale Value
At present, the market for used vans is incredible. You can easily sell your used van after 4 or 5 years. Buying a used van with more than 100k miles will make the reselling process difficult.
- Lower Insurance Rate
Brand new cars require a lot of money for the annual insurance premium. Buying an old van can save you a considerable amount of money and you can easily spend it on regular maintenance purposes to keep it in good health.
- Less Amount of Depreciation
Average vehicles lose about 10 to 40 percent of their value in the first year. The amount rises to 50 percent if you consider its value after 3 years. Buying an old van will ensure you do not lose too much on depreciation.
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What are the Maintenance and Repair Costs of a Van With a Mileage Lower Than 100k?
The average vehicle repairing and maintenance cost is around $1,400 for the first 25k miles. However, the amount rises as the mileage on the odometer increases. How the maintenance cost of a vehicle changes concerning mileage can be understood from the table given below having data from YourMechanic.
| Mileage | Total Maintenance Cost (Per 25k Miles) |
| 0 – 25,000 | $1,400 |
| 25,000 – 50,000 | $2,200 |
| 50,000 – 75,000 | $3,000 |
| 75,000 – 100,000 | $3,900 |
It’s common to find issues with a used van lower than 100k miles. Some of them may be easy to solve, others may need extra care and money to fix.
Cambelt replacement may require around 5 years or 60k to 70k miles to avoid failure and breakage of the engine. It’s possible to solve the issue with an amount of $300 to $1,200 depending on the model and complexity of the work involved in the whole process.
Sometimes you need to repair the clutch and tires of your used van. The average replacement cost for a clutch is about $500 to $1,000 including both labor and parts. A set of 4 tires for a Mercedes Vito will cost around $700 if you need a replacement in the tire section.
It’s also a common scenario where you need to work with brake discs and pads as wear and tear are obvious in the braking system of a van which may cost somewhere between $100 to $300.
Also read: Can a Car Last 400k Miles? (7 Cars That Do)
What Problems Can You Have if You Buy a Van With Over a Mileage of 100k?
Buying a used van is a good idea if you can manage yourself to get one well in condition, properly maintained, and smooth in running. But sometimes buying an old van with higher mileage can be a really bad decision. If the money you save by buying a used van is spent in a very short time for repairing and maintenance purposes, it’s not a victory in the end.
Here I’m telling you some problems you’ll face if you buy a van with over a mileage of 100k.
- Worse Fuel Efficiency
Vans with higher miles on their odometer may provide worse fuel efficiency if the engine isn’t properly maintained and cared for throughout the running period.
- Higher Maintenance Cost
Maintenance cost is proportional to the amount of time and mileage for a used van. An average vehicle takes almost 3 times more money on its 75k to 100k journey compared to its first 25k miles.
- More Tear and Wear
Wear and tear is a common part of a used van. An excess amount of them can cause some major problems that may disrupt the functionality.
- Previous Owners History
The more the mileage on the odometer, there is the possibility that the vehicle went through several owners. If any one of them didn’t ensure quality maintenance, the used van may suffer because of it in the future.
Also read: Is Ford Aerostar Reliable? (Solved)
Why is the Year of the Van Also Important?
Sometimes mileage of a used van can be misleading. There is no wonder that not every owner of a van will drive on average 12k to 14k miles per year. In this case, mileage on the odometer won’t give you a clear idea about the overall condition.
If a van is 5 years old and the odometer is showing only 10k as its mileage, it can be said that the van passed most of the time in the garage. Try to check previous histories, driving records, records of the owners in this case. A used car mechanic or technician can give you an idea after a solid inspection whether you should take it or not as proper maintenance and running condition of the engine is very important for buying a used van.
What to Look For When Buying a Used Van?
You should look carefully at the bodywork, suspension system and its proper functionality, lights and their workability, air conditioning system, the functionality of brakes, tires, overall condition of the engine and engine-related accessories, steering system, and both interior-exterior of the used van to get the used van according to your expectation.
Buying a used van can sometimes be a mystery. It’s suggested to check previous histories of the owners, driving records, etc. Though it’s not possible to get exact and all the necessary pieces of information at the time of buying a used van. In this case, a sharp inspection of the important parts of the used van with the help of a professional mechanic can give you an overall idea of the vehicle to decide whether you should take it or not.
What are the Best Vans With Less Than 100k Mileage?
Buying a used van can be a wise decision if you find one in good condition and well maintained throughout the entire running period.
If you want to buy a used van with less than 100k mileage on its odometer, some of the models mentioned below can be a good choice considering all the crucial things that need to be considered at the time of buying a used van.
- 2012 Toyota Sienna
- 2014 Toyota Sienna
- 2011 Honda Odyssey
- 2015 Honda Odyssey
- 2014 Mazda Mazda5
- 2011 Kia Sedona
- 2016 Nissan Quest
- 2010 Volkswagen Routan
