How many kilometers must a car travel to be considered new?

Many consumers are puzzled when they receive a new car and find that the odometer (mileage) is already showing more than 0. A number of customers have suggested that their car may have been test-driven by many previous customers or had been returned due to problems, and therefore is no longer a brand-new vehicle.

However, according to automotive experts, it's rare for a new car to have never actually been driven. Usually, almost any new car sold has already traveled a certain distance, at least a few kilometers, and that's considered acceptable.

Specifically, the odometer on a new car may show less than 200 miles (321 km), mainly due to transportation and testing. If the number is higher, customers may consider requesting a discount or switching to a different vehicle.

This distance is sufficient for transportation from the port or between dealerships. Furthermore, it's not too far to cause any technical problems for the vehicle. However, the most reasonable figure is usually under 160 km.

However, buying a new car that has already been driven more than 321km also has advantages, such as a car that has already been broken in. If the car has been test-driven a few times before the buyer sits behind the wheel, it means the break-in process has already been completed. This process helps to make the piston rings in the cylinders more airtight and ensures they can withstand the stress of daily operation. Buying a car that has already been test-driven for a certain distance makes the break-in process faster and easier.

However, customers cannot monitor the prior test drives or how the vehicle was operated, so they cannot guarantee that the break-in period was done correctly. Some car manufacturers advise customers to avoid aggressive acceleration during the first 1,600 km.

Additionally, dealerships often have a number of test vehicles (demo cars) available for customers to test drive, or for dealership staff to use in their daily work. These cars are not registered, meaning that, on paper, they are still new, regardless of the odometer reading.

And because test cars are often quite popular and belong to best-selling product lines, sometimes buying a demo car is the only way for someone to get the model they want.

However, even though they are considered new, test vehicles are not necessarily in perfect condition. Customers may get good deals when buying a car, but there is no guarantee that it will perform the same way as a brand-new vehicle.