Nick King has sold AMSOIL lubricants all over the country since 1976. Based in Missouri, he and his wife, Norma, run The Car Care Couple on social media. They use social platforms to help folks properly maintain their cars and get the most mileage out of them. This month, Nick posted a tip on how to tell whether buying a high-mileage used car is a smart move, or just throwing money into a bottomless pit.

Buying a used car with 75,000 miles or more can be a smart move…or a costly mistake

“It all depends on how well the car has been maintained,” King starts. If the previous owners neglected the vehicle or the car is a lemon, you’re in for a huge headache. 

However, sometimes it’s awful hard to tell how well someone’s looked after their vehicle’s longevity. You have to get proof, the car care expert advises.

“Always ask for maintenance records before making a purchase”

I was a licensed car salesperson for years, and I tend to agree with King here. If the seller doesn’t have records or refuses to share them, I’d probably recommend walking away and finding another listing with proof of maintenance and repairs.

Yes, you can ask a trusted mechanic to inspect it, but this is only a current snapshot of the vehicle’s whole story. Without knowing how often the oil and filter were changed, it’s a harder bet to make. 

Sellers often shine up a car via a good detail job, too, so even a used vehicle in tip-top “presentable” shape might be hiding some gremlins.

Now, my family’s purchased plenty of high-mileage used cars without thorough maintenance records…but there’s a repair facility in the family and we have decades of experience with certain makes and models.

Hands down, if I didn’t have these resources, I’d be looking at used cars with the highest reliability ratings…and asking for maintenance records before buying one.

If you end up with a high-mileage used car, consider switching to a high-quality, high-mileage engine oil

High-mileage oil helps reduce leaks, minimizes sludge, and reduces oil consumption,” King explains, “It will also slow down wear to better protect your engine and keep it running smoothly for years to come.”

Keep track of maintenance

“It’s always a good idea to get a notebook, buy a maintenance log, or open a page on the computer and keep track of the maintenance history yourself,” he captions the post.