Benefits of buying vehicles with full service history

Thursday 9th September 2021

Found the perfect new vehicle to buy, but it doesn’t come with a full service history record? Be careful – this could be a red flag.

Buying a car without full service history is something to be extremely cautious about. This could indicate the owner does not take sufficient care of their vehicle, hidden major repair work, problems with the vehicle that would put you off buying it, or more. Find out more about the benefits of buying vehicles with a full service history, and how to learn if your vehicle has a car service history available.

Full service history meaning

A car’s full-service history refers to the record of the maintenance or repair work your vehicle has had throughout its lifetime. This record provides documentation of not only what work was undertaken, but when this work was completed, too.

For example, the document could show you that a vehicle has had extensive repair work conducted on its engine, or has recently been advised to replace the brake pads. That’s why buying a car without full car service history could lead to unforeseen costs for repair work, fixing minor issues that have become major ones without regular servicing, and lead to a decrease in value of the vehicle.

Why is it so important a vehicle has a full service history?

So, why does having a full service history provide both the buyer and seller with benefits?

• Reputable seller – if the seller has kept strict records of their vehicle’s service history, this indicates that they are a reputable and trusted seller – which is an important attribute a buyer would look for when searching for a new car. It also shows that they have nothing to hide – instilling trust in the vehicle.
• Car care – by providing a full car service history, this proves that the owner of the vehicle took care of the car – and ensured that car care was maintained. Having regular services helps to prevent minor problems turning into major problems – so you can have the knowledge any underlying issues are likely to have been identified during the services.
• Value of the vehicle – having service history for your vehicle is likely to largely increase the value of the car, which can then provide benefit for the buyer if they decide to sell it on at a later date.

Does my new vehicle have car service history?

There are ways to check if a car you’re interested in purchasing has a full service history:

• Service book – it’s likely the vehicle that you’re buying will have a service book, with details of previous services undertaken on the vehicle over the last few years.
• Garage – if you don’t have a service book, most garages have computerised files which can help you fill in the gaps of service history.
• Manufacturer – if you don’t have access to where the car was serviced, contacting the vehicle manufacturer may also provide you with the information required.

Find out more about how to check your car service history from our detailed guide.

Whether you’re thinking of selling your vehicle or not, the importance of keeping up to date with regular car servicing is vital to the health and value of your vehicle. Book in for your next service – choose between an Interim or Full service at your local Formula One Autocentre.