Last Updated 29th of June, 2010

What if I'm selling a used car and I don't have complete service records?

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Missing Records

Service records can be very important to buyers to show you have:
  • Properly maintained the vehicle.
  • Not had any major damage.
Yet, perhaps you moved and lost your records; or you did the oil changes and repairs yourself. If you don’t have complete service records, ask your mechanic or service center for a printout, or order a vehicle history report. Dealers usually maintain complete computer service records and should be able to provide you that information easily enough. Other mechanics may not maintain records long enough or may not be willing to spend the time. Vehicle history reports are available to anyone with the car's VIN and the money to pay for it.

Marketing a Used Car

If you’re selling a used car, you want to do everything possible to assure prospective buyers that your car is in good running condition. Nobody wants to buy a lemon and be stuck paying repeated repair expenses after laying out a lot of money for a car.  Regardless, buyers may be skeptical of your service records given how easily it is to fabricate receipts.

A good way to provide objective and complete service records when selling a used car is to order a vehicle history report. Vehicle history reports provide all kinds of historical information on a car, including:
  • Oil changes and other preventative maintenance performed at a service center.
  • Repairs.
  • Accident records and insurance claims.
Since any prospective buyer can verify this information by ordering a vehicle history report themselves, they’ll be no question as to the authenticity of the service records. You can order your own vehicle history report today and make the job of selling your used car that much easier. Ordering online is the fastest way to get your vehicle history report, because you can print it right at home or even e-mail it to your buyer.

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