In short
- The Department for Transport (DfT) puts the average car in England at 7,100 miles a year in 2025, from drivers’ own estimates[1]. Its tables are not split by the age of the car[2].
- By our count of DVSA’s 2025 MOT results, the middle reading for all MOT-tested vehicles is 26,400 miles at 3 years old. It is 55,100 at 7 and 88,300 at 12.
- The spread is wide. At 7 years old, half of vehicles had done between 38,200 and 75,400 miles, by our count.
- In our figures, the middle reading rises by roughly 6,000 to 8,000 miles a year from ages 3 to 11. Different vehicles reach each age, so that’s not one vehicle’s yearly driving. After about 14 the middle reading rises much more slowly, and from about 18 it falls.
- A reading well above or below the middle is a question to ask, not a verdict. Check it against the MOT history, where the mileage should rise at every test.
On this page
It depends on the car’s age, and there is a wide spread at every age. The middle reading is the mileage that half of vehicles are below and half are above. Here it is at three ages.
- 26,400
- miles is the middle reading at 3 years old. Half of vehicles had done fewer, half more.
- Vehicles aged 3 (1,927,731 vehicles). Latest mileage reading in 2025.
- 55,100
- miles is the middle reading at 7 years old.
- Vehicles aged 7 (2,529,312 vehicles). Same measure.
- 88,300
- miles is the middle reading at 12 years old.
- Vehicles aged 12 (1,895,858 vehicles). Same measure.
These come from the mileage readings on 2025 MOTs (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). DVSA, the government agency that runs the MOT, publishes the results as open data[3]. Each vehicle is counted once, at its latest reading of the year.
We count all MOT-tested vehicles, so motorbikes and vans are in there as well as cars. If you are worried about a particular reading, our guide to mileage clocking covers tampering.
- 3 years old
- 26,400
- 5 years old
- 40,300
- 7 years old
- 55,100
- 10 years old
- 76,600
- 12 years old
- 88,300
- 15 years old
- 99,000
- 17 years old
- 105,300
- 20 years old
- 101,500
Each vehicle counted once, at its latest mileage reading in 2025. All MOT-tested vehicles aged 3 and over (about 33 million), so motorbikes and vans are included. MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025. Rounded to the nearest 100 miles.
| Age | Middle reading | Middle half between | Bottom 10% under | Top 10% over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 26,400 | 17,000 and 39,100 | 10,100 | 57,000 |
| 4 years | 34,200 | 22,800 and 49,100 | 14,000 | 69,600 |
| 5 years | 40,300 | 27,400 and 56,700 | 17,200 | 79,100 |
| 6 years | 47,100 | 32,300 and 65,300 | 20,500 | 89,900 |
| 7 years | 55,100 | 38,200 and 75,400 | 24,500 | 101,200 |
| 8 years | 62,900 | 43,900 and 84,900 | 28,400 | 112,000 |
| 9 years | 69,800 | 49,200 and 93,600 | 32,200 | 122,100 |
| 10 years | 76,600 | 54,300 and 102,100 | 36,000 | 131,600 |
| 12 years | 88,300 | 63,600 and 115,900 | 43,000 | 145,700 |
| 15 years | 99,000 | 71,200 and 129,200 | 47,200 | 160,200 |
| 20 years | 101,500 | 69,800 and 136,500 | 42,900 | 172,200 |
Miles, rounded to the nearest 100. The middle half is the range that half of vehicles fall into, after setting aside the lowest and highest quarters. Age is whole years since the vehicle was first used, at the time of the test. MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025.
Read it like this: at 7 years old, half of vehicles had done between 38,200 and 75,400 miles. The bottom 10% had done under 24,500, and the top 10% had done over 101,200. The table starts at 3, the age of a car’s first MOT in England, Scotland and Wales[5]. Tests taken before the third birthday are left out.
What the figures don’t show:
- They count all MOT-tested vehicles. These overall figures are not split into cars, vans and motorbikes.
- Each reading comes from the vehicle’s latest MOT in 2025, taken at different dates through the year.
- The overall figures are not split by fuel or body type. A few individual models have their own. A Ford Fiesta petrol car at 7 years old has a middle reading of 45,800 miles (82,175 Fiestas). A Volkswagen Golf petrol has 52,700 (41,638 Golfs).
- They show what is usual, not what is right for one car. A figure for a group doesn’t describe the car in front of you.
The official figure comes from the DfT’s National Travel Survey. It puts the average car in England at 7,100 miles a year in 2025, the same as in 2024[1].
Treat it with care. It comes from people’s own estimates, not mileage readings. It covers cars owned by households in England, including company cars (about 4% of cars in 2025). It is not split by the age of the car[1].
| Fuel | Miles a year |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,200 |
| Diesel | 8,000 |
| Hybrid | 8,100 |
| Battery electric | 9,400 |
DfT National Travel Survey, table NTS0901. Drivers’ own estimates. Plug-in hybrids were too few to report[1].
Our readings give a rough yearly version for a typical vehicle. Divide the middle reading by the age: about 8,800 miles a year at 3, 7,900 at 7, 7,700 at 10 and 6,600 at 15. That is the average over the vehicle’s whole life, not last year’s driving (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
Another view is the rise in the middle reading from one age to the next. It is roughly 6,000 to 8,000 miles a year between ages 3 and 11 (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). After about 14 the middle reading rises much more slowly, and from about 18 it falls. Different vehicles reach each age, so these steps aren’t one vehicle’s yearly driving.
Myth
“The average car does 10,000 to 12,000 miles a year.”
What's true
The DfT figure is 7,100 miles for a car in England in 2025. Some sites quote a higher range with no source we could trace.
Myth
“Multiply the age by 10,000 to get the right mileage.”
What's true
At 10 years old, the middle reading is 76,600 miles, not 100,000. Half of vehicles that age are between 54,300 and 102,100 (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
Myth
“Mileage divided by age is how far the car drove last year.”
What's true
It is the average over the whole life of the vehicle, so it hides differences between years.
Myth
“Low mileage is always a good sign.”
What's true
A low reading can mean a car used little. It can also be a reading that doesn’t add up. Check it against the MOT history.
What counts as high depends on age. At 7 years old, the top 10% of vehicles had done more than 101,200 miles. At 5 years old, the top 10% start above 79,100 (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
Fuel matters too. Among cars, diesels of the same age have typically done roughly 50% to 60% more miles than petrol cars. At 7 years old that is about 69,200 miles for a typical diesel and about 46,300 for a typical petrol car. This averages each car model’s middle reading, so treat it as rough (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
More miles can mean more wear on parts that wear with use, such as tyres, brakes and suspension. DfT’s consultation on the first MOT also noted that vehicles driven further than average are more likely to fail MOT tests[4].
- What has been replaced: tyres, brake discs and pads, suspension parts?
- Is there a service history, and do its dates and mileages fit the MOT history?
- Do the advisories at recent MOTs show the same parts wearing? Our guide to MOT advisories explains the common ones.
High mileage with a clear record is a different picture from high mileage with the same fault at every test. For what a good record looks like, see what a good MOT history looks like.
A low reading can mean a car that was used little. It can also be a reading that doesn’t add up. The MOT history is the first place to tell the two apart.
By our count, at 7 years old the bottom 10% of vehicles had done under 24,500 miles. So a low reading is not unheard of. The question is whether it fits the car’s own record.
Which? says the dashboard should show more miles than the last MOT reading. If it shows fewer, the mileage may have been wound back. If the mileage looks low for the age, look at wear on the seats, buttons and steering wheel[8]. Ask where the car was mostly driven[9].
A typing slip at one test is possible too. A wrong reading can be corrected: within 28 days by the test centre, and after that through DVSA, with evidence[7]. Long gaps between tests can also have innocent reasons. See gaps in an MOT history.
Get the number plate
Take it from the advert or the car. When you see the car, check it matches the V5C (the logbook).
Read the MOT history
Read it on GOV.UK[6]. It is free. Our guide on how to check a car’s MOT history shows how. Note the mileage at every test, oldest first.
Check it rises each time
Each reading should be higher than the last, by an amount that fits the time between tests. Use the table above as a rough guide, not a rule.
Compare the dashboard
The mileage you see on the dashboard should be higher than the most recent MOT reading.
Ask about anything that doesn’t fit
A drop, a standstill or a sudden jump is worth a question to the seller. See mileage clocking for what else to look for.
Common questions
What is a good mileage for a used car?
It depends on the car’s age. By our count of DVSA’s 2025 MOT results, the middle reading for all MOT-tested vehicles was 26,400 miles at 3 years old. It was 55,100 at 7 and 88,300 at 12. A reading well above or below that is a question to ask, not a verdict.
How many miles should a 5 year old car have?
For all MOT-tested vehicles, including vans and motorbikes, the middle reading at 5 years old is 40,300 miles. Half had done between 27,400 and 56,700. Under 17,200 puts a vehicle in the bottom 10%, and over 79,100 in the top 10% (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
How many miles should a 10 year old car have?
For all MOT-tested vehicles, including vans and motorbikes, the middle reading at 10 years old is 76,600 miles. Half had done between 54,300 and 102,100 (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). So 100,000 miles at that age is on the high side of the middle half.
What is the average annual mileage in the UK?
The DfT figure is 7,100 miles a year for a car in England in 2025, from drivers’ own estimates. It isn’t a UK-wide figure, and it isn’t split by the age of the car. Petrol cars average less, and diesel and electric cars more.
Is low mileage a bad sign?
Not by itself. A low reading can mean a car used little. It can also be a reading that doesn’t add up, so check that the mileage rises at every MOT.
Sources
- NTS0901: Annual mileage of cars by ownership, fuel type and trip purpose: England, 2002 onwards. Department for Transport, 2026.
- Vehicle mileage and occupancy (NTS09). Department for Transport, 2026.
- MOT anonymised data. DVSA, 2026.
- Changes to the date of the first MOT test and research into other MOT enhancements: consultation outcome. Department for Transport, 2024.
- Getting an MOT: when to get an MOT. GOV.UK.
- Check the MOT history of a vehicle. GOV.UK (DVSA).
- Getting an MOT: fix mistakes on your MOT record. GOV.UK.
- How to buy the best used car. Which?, 2026.
- Seven questions you need to ask before buying a used car. Which?, 2024.
