Less wear and tear. We want to stress that this is only theoretically true; even a car with very low mileage can turn out to be a total beater if it hasn't been cared for properly. But all else being equal, lower miles mean you can expect a longer life from most components, which helps keep ownership costs down.

As a rule of thumb, the average car will rack up 20,000 km per year ﾗ the distance manufacturers use to determine standard warranty coverage. A seven-year-old model should have 140,000 to 150,000 km on the odo. If it has traveled considerably more, deduct cash for high mileage. The ideal answer is yes.

The additional warranty and perks that come with a certified car are also built into the price. This is a tough question to answer, as prices vary widely across regions and by make and model. Generally, CPO cars add anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500 to the vehicle price.