How many kilometers does a car have to travel to be considered new?
A new car does not mean that the car has not traveled any kilometers, so how many kilometers is considered a new car?
Many consumers wonder when receiving a new car, the odometer (number of kilometers traveled) of the car shows more than 0. Many customers think that their car is a car that has been tested by many customers or has had problems before so it was returned and is no longer "unboxed".
However, according to car experts, it is rare for a new car to have never been driven. Usually, almost any new car sold has run a certain distance, at least a few kilometers, and that is acceptable.
Specifically, the odometer on a new car may show less than 200 miles (321 km), mainly due to the shipping and test drive. If the number is higher, the customer may consider asking for a discount or trading in another car.
This distance is enough to carry out the transportation from the port or between dealers. In addition, this distance is not so much that it can cause any technical problems for the car. However, the most reasonable number is usually under 160 km.
However, buying a new car with more than 200 miles on the clock has the same advantages as a car that has been broken in. If the car has been tested a few times before the customer gets behind the wheel, it means that the break-in process has been done. This process helps the piston rings in the cylinders to be more tight and ensure that they can withstand the stress of daily operation. Buying a car that has been tested for a certain distance makes the break-in process quicker and easier.
But the customer cannot control the previous test drive process, as well as the way the car was operated, so it is impossible to ensure that the car has run properly or not. Some car manufacturers recommend that customers limit the acceleration in the first 1,000 miles.
In addition, dealerships often have a number of test cars (demo cars), which are available for customers to test drive, or for dealership staff to use in their daily work. These cars are not registered, which means that they are still new on paper, regardless of the odometer reading.
And since demo cars are often quite popular, from popular product lines, buying a demo car is often the only way for someone to get the model they want.
However, just because a car is considered new doesn’t mean it’s in great condition. You might get a great deal on a car, but it can’t be guaranteed to perform like a brand new car.
