Used car owners at risk of 'big problems' from low mileage vehicles

Some second-hand petrol and diesel vehicles may come with mechanical issues or damage even if they have low mileage, according to experts. Sarah Jenkins, a specialist from My Car Reg Check, claimed that motorists tend to automatically assume that a vehicle with lower mileage will be more reliable and is less likely to break.

Lower mileage means components have had less opportunity to develop serious and possibly terminal faults. However, Sarah has warned that this could seriously backfire with the possibility that vehicles have been forgotten and not well maintained. Even cars sitting idle in garages could be an issue with the tyres, brakes and engines all likely to suffer.

Sarah said: “People assume that a car with 30,000 miles on the clock is automatically a safer bet than one with 80,000 – but that’s not always true. Cars are designed to be driven. If they sit idle for months or years, they often develop hidden mechanical issues that don’t show up until it’s too late.

“We’re now seeing a real-world pattern in the data. Some of the biggest problems we flag in low-mileage used cars include perished rubber, seized brakes, sluggish engines, and interior damp. That bargain might not feel so cheap once you’re hit with a £600 garage bill.”

It is generally recommended that vehicles be driven for at least 10 to 30 minutes every week to stay well-maintained. Meanwhile, motorists have to stay on top of things such as oil levels, coolant and tyres to ensure they are road-ready.

The RAC has previously warned that even spending five minutes carrying out these simple checks every few weeks would make a significant difference.

Sarah added that road users shouldn’t be afraid to ask about how well a car has been looked after when finalising a deal for a second-hand model. She also recommends that road users should always run a car reg history check before completing a transaction.

Sarah added: “Ask questions. Has the car been regularly serviced? Was it stored in a garage or left outside? Is there a clear MOT trail showing steady mileage? A good history matters more than a low odometer reading.

“Low mileage can be a selling point – but only if the car’s been looked after. It’s not a guarantee of quality. Sometimes, it’s the opposite.”