Does mileage influence decision when buying used car?

Everybody knows that it is important to check the odometer when you want to buy a used car.

A car's condition also depends on how far it was driven and cars with a higher mileage are usually cheaper.

But just how much should the mileage influence your decision? Sumarie Greybe says an average car does around 15,000 km per year. You can divide the car's metre reading by its age to determine whether it has done a lot of mileage for its age or not.

►Low kilometres: A vehicle with under 100,000 km on the clock is generally regarded as relatively new and should offer many kilometres of reliable service.

►Medium kilometres: Cars with 100 000 to 150 000km on their odometers fit into this category. They can still be in good condition if they have been reliably serviced and maintained.

►High kilometres: A car with more than 150,000 km on the odometer has done high mileage.

Many components will be reaching the end of their lifespan, but a model with a solid maintenance history and a reputation for longevity could still keep going for tens of thousands of kilometres.