How To Check a Car’s Service History

Purchasing a new car—and a luxury model in particular—is a significant investment. So, of course, you want to know that your potential wheels have been well looked after and serviced as per the manufacturer’s requirements.

But, in some cases, it can feel somewhat of a challenge to genuinely check the car’s service history. The following looks at how you can check the details and make sure you’re not buying a car that’s been less than well cared for.

The Ways to Check a Car Service History

Check car service history: #1
Check car service history: #2
Check car service history #3

Check car service history: #1

The ultimate way to check a car’s service history is for the current owner to present it to you. Depending on the age of the car, this can either be through the online service records or—for a vintage model—a physically stamped service booklet.

If it’s the latter, be sure to check the mileage written into each section, that the type of service carried out matches the manufacturer’s recommendation, and, very importantly, that the service provider’s stamp is in place.

Check car service history: #2

Use a free online service checker, such as the one offered by the American Vehicle Association. All you need do is enter the car’s VIN into the website and voila! You get all the registered vehicle records. This includes:

The current and historical title records
Any accident history
A problem checklist that includes any possible problems, including salvage and reconstructed vehicle records
And, very importantly the service records, such as dealer maintenance and compliance to manufacturer-recommended service intervals
Odometer readings
Lemon check
Mileage rollback
Any theft and recovery records
Any impound and towing events
Accident history
Full sale records
Any lien or repossession records

Check car service history: #3

If the car owner specifies that the vehicle has been maintained by the dealership, you can contact them directly and as for the service history. Of course, there’s always a chance they’ll refuse to give the details to you, in which case the vendor can easily ask for the digital record to be sent to you.

Beware of any claim from a seller that a main dealer service record has been carried out, but they can’t provide any proof of this.

The Ultimate Way to Check a Car Service History

Purchasing from a reliable used car specialist

Purchasing from a reliable used car specialist

Buying a pre-owned car is always a bit of a lottery. Buying the wrong car is a costly mistake that none of us want to make. That’s why a purchase from a reliable used car specialist gives peace of mind that they have their reputation to consider, plus you have a legal comeback should they fail to sell you a car that lives up to your expectations.

Sure, it might cost you a few hundred bucks more than a private sale, but you get a whole host of advantages. These include:

A warranty
Good car sales outlets will carry out a comprehensive service and safety check before you take ownership of the car
You take possession of a clean, valeted vehicle
Most quality outlets offer driveaway insurance and inclusive breakdown cover
The peace of mind that comes with all of the above

Don’t Neglect Your Car Service History. At Autobahn of Boca we Always Update Vehicle Records.

When it comes to ensuring the value of any used car remains as high as possible, accurate and accessible service records are essential. That’s why we’re meticulous about ensuring that any car we service has its records updated when we’ve completed the work.

Whether this means physically stamping a service book for, say, a vintage classic, or filling in an online record for the latest BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi, or Porsche, you can rest assured that we always carry out this essential element of car servicing.

It’s just one extra reason that our customers return to us time and time again. Our attention to detail begins from the moment you first make contact and only ends when the job is completed to the highest standard.