How many miles do the British put on their car per year?

When looking at used cars, odometer readings are obviously one of the first things we check. But is a high-mileage car always a bad buy? And how does the average mileage per year in the UK stack up against the rest of the continent?

At carVertical, we’ve conducted new research analysing data from 18 European countries between January and October 2025 to understand driver habits better. We examined how often drivers change their cars, along with how many miles they clock up during ownership.

The data offers valuable insights, indicating how some cars are kept for longer stretches, meaning they are perhaps better-maintained, without technical issues that force quick sales. It also helps identify countries where vehicles change ownership more often, and which may have hidden problems or greater wear.

It’s important to remember that mileage is just one part of the picture. There are always exceptions to the rule, and a full history behind a vehicle remains crucial to understanding its true condition.

So it’s time to dig into the data. Read on to find out just how many miles are really driven in the UK compared to the rest of Europe, and whether there are countries you should avoid when looking at imported cars.

British drivers are among the lowest mileage users in Europe

Looking at the average number of miles driven per year is a good indicator of how heavily a car has been used on a daily basis. It helps us understand the driving habits of previous owners, as well as identify intensive usage that may shorten a vehicle's life. Cars which are driven hard often become ticking time bombs waiting for expensive repairs down the line.

Interestingly, our data revealed something quite surprising about UK drivers. We are remarkably conservative with our mileage! The latest figures reveal that the average British car covers just 7,897 miles per year.

Compared to the rest of the continent, the difference is stark. The average across all 18 countries analysed was 11,362 miles per year. This places the UK right at the bottom of the table for annual mileage, making British used cars statistically "fresher" in terms of distance covered than those from almost anywhere else in Europe.

At the other end of the spectrum, Spanish drivers are clocking up a massive 14,407 miles annually, followed closely by the French at 13,289 miles. When looking for an average mileage per year benchmark, the UK is well below the European norm.

British drivers cover fewer miles per ownership than the European average

It’s not just about annual figures, either. Looking at the total distance a single owner puts on a car before selling it can tell us a lot, too. One “ownership" here is the period between a vehicle being bought and then sold, re-registered, or exported.

Our research showed that during a single period of ownership, a British driver covers a total of 35,609 miles on average. To put that into perspective, the European average is significantly higher at roughly 47,179 miles per ownership.

As a result, it suggests that British cars endure less wear and tear in the hands of a single owner than similar cars from Europe. Drivers in Portugal rack up 67,267 miles during a single ownership, for example, which is nearly double the British figure. Meanwhile, Serbian drivers cover the least total distance per ownership at just 11,686 miles, though this is basically because they sell their cars very quickly.

Who keeps their cars for longer?

Longevity, or the length a car is held onto, is a useful metric for judging ownership satisfaction and vehicle reliability. A driver who has kept a car for years has probably done so because there were no issues. However, if a car was sold after twelve months, it may have had problems.

With this in mind, the UK sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, with the average British driver keeping a car for 4.51 years.

While this is a healthy figure, it’s not the highest in our data. That title goes to Portugal, where drivers hold onto their vehicles for an impressive 7.15 years on average. On the flip side, ownership is incredibly transient in Serbia and Ukraine, where the average ownership lasts just over 1 year (1.13 and 1.14 years, respectively).

Frequent changes of ownership, like those seen in Eastern Europe, can be a red flag, as it could indicate hidden defects or a car that is simply too expensive to keep running.

The most and least risky countries to buy a used car from

If you are thinking about buying an import or just want to understand the market risks, the relationship between how long someone owns a car and how far they drive it is important.

Higher Risk: The "Churners"

Countries like Spain present an overall higher risk profile for used car buyers. Spanish drivers keep their cars for a below-average time (3.97 years) but drive them harder than anyone else (14,407 miles per year). Similarly, in Finland and the Czech Republic, their cars see high mileage annually, along with quite short ownership periods. Buying from these markets means you’re more likely to encounter vehicles that have been driven intensively over a short burst of time.

Lower Risk: The "Keepers"

Conversely, data shows the UK, Germany, and Portugal appear to be much safer bets. Drivers in these countries tend to keep their cars for longer and drive fewer miles annually.

Portugal is a standout case: drivers there keep their cars for over 7 years, yet only drive around 9,403 miles annually. This suggests a culture of long-term retention and moderate use, which is the "sweet spot" for second-hand value. The UK follows a similar, positive pattern with reasonable ownership length (4.5 years) and very low annual mileage (7,897 miles).

How many miles should a used car have?

Checking the average miles driven per year offers key insights, but it’s important to remember that several factors can help determine a car's overall condition. Looking at mileage data alone, you might miss a well-maintained high-miler, which could be a better buy than a neglected low-miler.

So, what mileage is good for a used car?

• The Sweet Spot: Generally, 6,000 to 9,000 miles per year is considered normal average mileage for a typical petrol or diesel car.
• Too Low? Finding a ten-year-old car with 20,000 miles might seem like a jackpot, but stay on your guard. Mileage below 6,000 miles a year can indicate long periods of inactivity. Cars hate sitting still, as it leads to battery degradation, dried-out rubber seals, and flat spots on tyres.
• Too High? Mileage above 12,000 miles per year isn't necessarily a dealbreaker. If those miles were racked up on motorways, the engine and gearbox likely suffered less wear than a city car driven half that distance in stop-start traffic.

Regardless of the numbers on the clock, verification is key. An annual mileage calculator can help you estimate future costs, but a vehicle history check is essential for understanding its past. In a carVertical report, you get to see a wealth of information, including mileage records, enabling you to spot any potentially fraudulent mileage, and even inactivity periods.

The report's timeline section also tracks ownership changes. If you see a car that has swapped hands every six months, it should raise your suspicions immediately.

Methodology

To gather these insights, carVertical analysed an extensive dataset of car history reports from 18 European countries, covering the period from January to October 2025.

We calculated "ownership" based on specific trigger events: a vehicle being marked as sold, a new registration record, a new owner record, or an import/export record. To ensure accuracy, cars with only one recorded owner and no recorded usage data were excluded from the study. All vehicles were cross-referenced from their very first record to their most recent to provide a comprehensive view of European driving habits.