7:44 am, July 28, 2026
A growing number of car dealers believe there is increasing demand for used cars with more than 100,000 miles on the clock as buyers become more pragmatic about high-mileage vehicles.
New research has found that 35% of dealers think the market for six-figure mileage cars is growing.
Some 40% also believe improvements in vehicle quality mean many modern cars still have plenty of life left after passing the 100,000-mile mark.
The findings from Startline Motor Finance come as motorists continue to grapple with higher used car prices and an ageing vehicle parc, prompting more buyers to consider cars that would once have been dismissed because of their mileage.
The survey found almost a third (32%) of dealers believe buyers of higher-mileage cars are generally pragmatic, while 15% said vehicles with more than 100,000 miles typically sell well.
However, dealers also acknowledged that convincing customers to buy these cars can still be difficult.
More than a third (38%) said many motorists continue to view 100,000-mile cars as too risky, while 35% said the condition of vehicles at that mileage varies considerably depending on how they have been maintained.
Almost a quarter (23%) added that some manufacturers’ cars stand up to high mileage much better than others.
The research also highlighted the additional preparation often needed before retailers are prepared to put these cars on their forecourts.
More than a quarter (28%) said 100,000-mile vehicles often require significant expenditure before they are retail ready, while the same proportion believed comprehensive warranties are essential to give customers confidence.
Despite growing confidence in higher-mileage stock, there are still clear limits to what dealers are prepared to retail.
The survey found that 68% would happily sell cars with more than 100,000 miles, but that figure falls sharply to 23% for vehicles with over 150,000 miles and just 8% for cars that have travelled more than 200,000 miles.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said the findings reflected how both the used car market and vehicle quality had changed in recent years.
He said: ‘Recent reports have shown there are now around six million cars on UK roads with more than 100,000 miles, yet only around one in four consumers would consider buying one.
‘At the same time, the average used car has become older and has covered more miles since the pandemic, so we wanted to understand how dealers view these vehicles.
‘What we’ve found is that a significant minority of dealers are positive about 100,000-mile cars, believing they often carry their wear well, still have plenty of life remaining and appeal to a growing group of pragmatic buyers.’
He added: ‘It’s interesting to see confidence falls away quite quickly as mileage rises further. While most dealers are prepared to retail at least some cars with more than 100,000 miles, relatively few are willing to stock vehicles with 200,000 miles or more.’
The latest Startline Used Car Tracker questioned 60 dealers and 300 consumers as part of its monthly research into attitudes towards the used car market. The study was carried out by APD Global Research.