Updated at: 19-03-2022 - By: micdot

This content contains affiliate links. Please be aware of this when reading. Using any of the links on this page will allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.A lot of people think that a fresh new car should indicate zero (0) miles; however, that’s not true. A new car will differently read a few miles. But, if it’s reading up to 1,000 miles or greater, that’s plainly problematic. But how many kilometers should a new car have? Well, anew automobile is supposed to read 200 miles or fewer.

When the odometer reads above 200 miles, you should ask inquiries regarding what caused the high mileage. However, you should realize that there are other aspects to consider when buying a new car.

How Many Miles Should A New Car Have?

Firstly, it depends on what you refer to as a “new” car. Are you referring to a new “used” car or a brand “new” car that has never been owned by someone else? If the former is what you’re asking for, you should expect 100K miles or higher, based on numerous factors. In contrast, if you’re referring to a brand new car, the odometer is not supposed to register above 200 miles. We maintain that 200 miles or fewer is acceptable for a new because that’s the normal guideline. It is evident that the car will be driven to and around the dealership’s lot to pick a position where it’d be shown. The odometer reading at the time of purchase would be based on the distance traveled during this test drive.

For this reason, you should check to see if the car has been tested by other customers before you arrive. This may explain the odometer’s unusually high mileage reading. You should be familiar with delivery mileage if you want to know how many miles a new car will get before it needs to be replaced. The amount of miles a vehicle traveled from the showroom of the manufacturer to the lot of a dealership and from the lot of a dealership to the garage of the buyer is known as the “delivery mileage.” A new, unregistered car has a limited number of kilometers on the odometer. While we’ve been talking about new automobiles with 200 miles, it’s conceivable to see new cars with 50 miles, 20 miles, or even less. If the car was sent to the dealer’s lot from the port, the number of miles it travelled before it arrived at the sales lot can vary greatly. However, a brand-new car with more than 200 miles on the odometer is hardly cause for alarm. Negotiating a decent price with the sales rep is possible if the car is still unregistered. If you buy a used automobile with more than 200 miles on the odometer, you’ll get a discount.

There is no new car with zero miles on the odometer; the lowest conceivable reading is between 2 and 6 miles, which is normally rare. To learn more about how many miles a used car should have, check out this article:

How Many Miles Is Too Many For A New Car?

According to the explanation provided above (in the preceding paragraph(s)), a new car should not exceed a mileage of 200 miles. If a new car’s odometer reads 300 or 500 miles, it’s clear that the vehicle has already been driven a few times. Assuming the mileage on a new automobile is less than 200, it is likely to have been driven by multiple customers during test drives. Ask the dealer for a reasonable discount or switch to a different vehicle if you are satisfied with the vehicle’s other features (except for the high mileage reading).

If the new automobile has more than 200 miles on the odometer, you may be able to get a 10% discount or more. Nonetheless, if you’re getting a discount on a vehicle, we recommend that you switch to another vehicle on the lot or to a different dealership. For new, used cars, you should expect at least 100,000 kilometers on the odometer, although this does not apply.

Also, be on the lookout for demo vehicles (demonstrator cars). Demo cars are legally recognized as new vehicles because they have never been owned before; yet, the mileage on a demo car might be as high as 500 miles or more due to the frequent use of the vehicle by the dealership’s employees. However, you’ll receive better bargains on test cars than you will on new vehicles. Simply being able to tell the difference between an unused new car and a demo car is enough. To avoid buying a demo car for the price of a new one, always ask why a supposedly new car has more than 200 miles on the odometer. Low-mileage cars aren’t necessarily bad investments; they just make it easier to haggle for the best price. As previously stated, if the automobile is in excellent shape and there is no previous owner, it is a smart idea to purchase such a vehicle – you only need a reasonable price.

When Is A New Car Considered Used?

Legally, a new car becomes a new car as soon as the title ownership is transferred. It doesn’t matter if the car has been driven or not; as soon as a buyer has the car, it ceases to be a new car to that person. There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, even if a buyer leaves a car at a dealership lot and does not drive it away, that car has already become used. However, there is no time limit on how long a new car must be on the road before it qualifies as a used car. For all intents and purposes, even if a car sits on a dealership lot for five (5) years or more without a buyer, it is still a new car.

A 2005 model car is still considered “new” in 2012 if it hasn’t been registered with anyone else. With the exception of features and technologies, the seven (7) year period has no bearing on the outcome.

Conclusion

How many miles does a new car need to have before it can be sold? As a general rule, a new car should have fewer than 200 miles on the clock. However, any distance greater than 200 miles is considered questionable. If the odometer reads more than 200 miles on a new car, it’s almost certainly a demo vehicle, or the dealership isn’t being honest. On demo cars, you’ll be able to find better deals. For new cars, there is no time limit on when they become used cars. New cars can become used cars only after a buyer completes and signs the legal documentation for their acquisition.

Finally, rather than solely focusing on the mileage, make sure to look at other components of the vehicle.