Compare asking prices at different mileages, work through an illustrative calculation and understand why there is no universal discount per 10,000 km.
Mileage affects a used car's price, but it does not determine it alone. Keep year, generation, engine, transmission and condition closely matched. Then look for a price difference across several offers, rather than two randomly chosen cars.
Identity History evidence Where to find the VIN Photograph: credit and licenceAcgskup · CC BY 4.0 · Resized and compressed to WebP; image content unchanged.
Start with the vehicle number
Start with available technical details for free. The OBDAuto decoder does not provide accident, mileage, theft or service history.
Free checks and what a paid report may addHow to read a history reportRead the evidence, not just a verdict
Public carVertical demonstration screenshots, not reports purchased or cases investigated by OBDAuto. An example does not guarantee the same data for your car and does not replace an inspection.
carVertical · demonstration exampleRead the event type, date and estimate range. An assessment is not a paid invoice, and amounts should not automatically be added together.
Screenshot source: carVertical ↗ carVertical · demonstration exampleCompare the specifications with the documents and the actual car. This screenshot shows technical details, not a mileage timeline.
Screenshot source: carVertical ↗ Buying guide Editorial review: 22 October 2026Resolve any difference between vehicle markings, documents and the report before paying a deposit. An empty report does not confirm that the car has never been damaged.
Request a clear photo of the VIN on the car and the relevant documents, then arrange dates and mileage readings in order. Keep a budget for an independent inspection.
There is no universal euro or percentage discount per 10,000 km. A difference between listing groups describes that sample; it does not prove depreciation caused solely by mileage.
Your first check at the car
Illustrative windscreen photos from different vehicles. The exact position depends on make, model and market; these images are not model-specific instructions for every car in the guide.
Look from outside at the base of the windscreenWesha · Public domain · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.
GM example: the plate seen through the windscreenHans Haase · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.
Some models show the VIN through the windscreen. A door-frame label or a stamped marking may be elsewhere; check the manufacturer’s manual for your model.
Compare the marking with the vehicle documents and report. Do not confuse an engine code or a part number with the VIN.
Do not scrape or alter markings. If a number is missing, hard to read or does not match, ask a specialist to verify the vehicle’s identity.
No single amount is correct for every car. Valuation platforms consider age, mileage and specification together; history and condition also matter. A mileage difference can have a different significance for a recent vehicle than for an older one.
Start with the same configuration in the OBDAuto calculator. Keep year and market fixed and change only mileage as an exploratory check. Compare medians and sample counts only when both results have enough eligible listings. Groups can differ in other ways and may include overlapping adverts, so this does not isolate the effect of mileage.
Compare asking prices at your car's mileage → Sources: Autotrader — valuation factors and mileageThe figures below are hypothetical, created to illustrate the arithmetic. They are not OBDAuto database observations or current prices for a particular model.
On a phone, scroll the table to see all columns.
3. Worked example: price difference relative to mileage| Hypothetical comparable group | Median mileage | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| A: same configuration, lower mileage | 100,000 km | EUR 15,000 |
| B: same configuration, higher mileage | 150,000 km | EUR 13,500 |
This ratio describes two groups, not a market formula. If the higher-mileage group also has lower equipment levels, incomplete history or overdue work, those differences may explain part of the gap. Adverts contain asking prices, while negotiation can change the final amount.
There is no universal mechanical cut-off at 100,000, 150,000 or 200,000 km. Check the manufacturer's schedule for the exact vehicle, invoices and inspection findings. A well-maintained high-mileage car can be worth investigating; a low-mileage one still needs checks.
Sources: RAC — used-car buying checklistCompare dated readings with service invoices, inspections and available history. In Romania, use official RAR Auto-Pass access. Missing data does not certify correct mileage; inconsistencies need clarification.
Do not pay a premium for a low dashboard reading without supporting evidence. Arrange an independent inspection and consider the total ownership budget alongside the asking price.
How to spot possible odometer rollback → Sources: RAR — Auto-Pass: informații și acces oficialRAC — used-car buying checklistStart with listings close to the car's actual mileage, then discuss differences confirmed by documents and inspection. Record upcoming work separately and avoid counting the same issue twice through both a mileage discount and the identical repair cost.
If the calculator displays a theoretical scenario based on the original new price, changing mileage shows the effect of that scenario's formula. It is not a measured difference between listings. Market comparisons require eligible samples clearly presented as such.
Open the car price estimator →How to check a used car's price before buying →Tick off completed checks. The list resets when you reload the page.
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I closely matched year, engine, transmission and equipment. I checked documented mileage history. I separated asking prices from completed transaction prices. I compared sufficient samples and recorded differences between groups. I treated the per-10,000-km calculation as a sample observation, not a rule. I checked upcoming maintenance and the calculator result's limitations.There is no universal amount. Compare medians from similar groups and relate the difference to mileage. The result remains specific to the adverts examined.
Is a car with 200,000 km automatically worn out?Mileage alone does not establish condition. Check history, the model's maintenance requirements and an independent inspection.
Can I calculate depreciation by changing mileage in the tool?You can explore differences, but listing groups may overlap or differ in other ways. A theoretical scenario shows the formula's effect, not a market measurement.
Is EUR 300 per 10,000 km an OBDAuto rule?No. It is an arithmetic example using invented data, not a recommended coefficient for an actual car.
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