At What Mileage Do Cars Depreciate the Most?

When you own a car, one of your larger worries as an automobile owner is depreciation. As early as your first drive of your car out of your dealer’s compound, your car depreciates, with mileage being a gigantic determining agent of just how quickly it does. 

With Cash For Cars Adelaide, we have assisted thousands of car owners in Adelaide since our establishment over 15 years back—by enabling them to sell their depreciated automobiles in exchange for cash in hand through our hassle-free, no-hassle car removal service.

So, at how many mileage points will your vehicle depreciate most? Let’s go stepwise.

What is Car Depreciation?

Depreciation is a decrease in your car’s worth as it gets older due to age, mileage, wear and tear, along with market trends. As an owner of a car, it cannot be stopped; however, knowing when, how your car will depreciate can lead towards good decisions—most especially when it is time to sell your car.

The First Drop: 0–30,000 km

The steepest depreciation is likely in those first 30,000 kilometres. It is most likely in those first 2–3 years of life and is when cars lose 20–30% of initial price. It is mostly because of:

• The car is no longer regarded as “new”
• Shifting of demand towards newer variants
• Factory warranties can be due soon

This is when good opportunities exist with moderately used automobiles for consumers. But this is when your car price is crashing considerably as it concerns car owners.

Significant Depreciation: 50,000–100,000 km

This is where depreciation kicks in again, particularly once your car is in excess of 100,000 kilometres. Here, numerous customers will already have had cost of maintaining it will go up on their minds, as will reliability.

Common reasons are:

• More wear and tear is evident
• Repair and maintenance expenses rise
• Resale value continues to depreciate
• Numerous long-term warranties expire already at 100,000 km

If you envision selling, this is as good a time of year as any to think of it–before it is no longer marketable with a six-figure mileage reading.

Major Impact Location: Beyond 150,000 km

When your car reaches 150,000 kms, resale value usually dips. Even though some well‑cared-for automobiles can tolerate quite a bit, most buyers hold back on high‑mile cars because they present a financial risk. You will have lost between 60–70% or greater of your original car value at this stage.

At Cash For Cars Adelaide, we witness frequent visits with car proprietors at this landmark age of automobiles as they would prefer cashing in instead of putting in repair work, check-ups, as well as possible breakdowns.

Other Factors That Influence Depreciation

Even when mileage is most relevant, depreciation is further affected by:

• Make and Model: Some models have longer-term durability than others, as they will retain value longer.
• Service History: Well-maintained car with good record holds its worth longer.
• Accident History: Vehicles with repair history due to collisions lose worth far sooner.
• Fuel Efficiency & Market Trends: In case fuel prices go up, fuel-efficient cars will depreciate less.
• Interior & Exterior Condition: Severe wear, rust, or internal damage will proportionately decrease value.

How Do You Know When It’s Time?

If your car is due in or recently passed any of those vital points of depreciation (30,000 km, 100,000 km, or 150,000 km), it is as good a time as any you can imagine selling it.

Rather than see your car lose value further, Cash For Cars Adelaide offers a financial solution:

1. Instant cash payouts
2. Car removals in Adelaide at no cost
3. No long dialogues or document problems
4. Buy any make, any model, any condition, e.g., high-mileage vehicles

Why Sell with Cash For Cars Adelaide?

• 15+ Years of Reliability in Service: We have been Adelaide’s top car buyers for 15+ years.
• Highest Cash Offer, Immediately: We have highest cash offers with cash in hand.
• Zero-Stress Process: We handle it all—quotes, paperwork, towing
• Environmentally Responsible Vehicle Disposal: We recycle and responsibly dispose of most vehicles.

Whether your vehicle is due its 100,000kms or has already had 200,000+ kms of road under its wheel, we will present you with a quick, equitable price offer and take hassle out of your drive. 

Conclusion

Depreciation is inherent, but with understanding of mileage points at which it truly does matter, you can receive the majority of your vehicle’s worth. Once your vehicle begins losing value at a rate of quick depreciation, it will cost you more than it is worth to keep it. 

Cash For Cars Adelaide is only one phone call away in order to exchange that depreciating asset into fast cash regardless of the mileage. Call us now or complete a no-cost quote request on our website, and let’s assist in selling sooner AND smarter—before depreciation takes its next bite.