How important is documented service history to you?

[RDH]

Basically, my car will be going up for sale imminently. When I bought it, it was on 22,000 miles and had just come out of its warrenty by about 2 months. I bought the car with no log book and no service history, partly because it was a serious bargain at the time, mainly because of the fact it was only just 3 years old.

As soon as I bought it I took it straight to a close family friend who owns a very reputable garage and had a full service. Over the next 3 years I've had it serviced anually, cambelt and aux belt change, new pads and didcs, new tires etc etc.. I've put it through 3 MOTs each of which it has flown through.

But, I have no documentation of any of this, as it was all done by the family friend as favours etc, and was not put through the books of his business. I also only have 1 key for the car.

I just wanted to know how many people would be put off by this? The car is immaculate inside, with usual wear and tear on exterior body work. It literally hasn't put a foot wrong in the 3 years of ownership and I haven't had to spend a penny other than scheduled maintenance.

I realise that because of this I'm probably going to have to advertise it at less than market value, but how many people would still be put off?

Thanks, Rob.

 

[*Badger*]

I wouldnt buy it, the buyer has no idea whats been done to it over the last 5/6 years its been alive. I'd imagine alot of buyers are put off, except those with very keen eyes.

It amazes me how people dont keep service history, surely you must at least have your old MOT certificates, of course these can be checked online.

 

[mx1_champ]

i wouldnt advertise it any less.. alot of people dont care about documented service history its just a bonus to get it..

 

[RDH]

Old MOT receipts, receipts for tax, tyre changes, basically everything I can document has been, just stuff such as cambelt change and services. I'm not sure if I'd be able to get them documented now. In any event any buyer that may be interested could have the car looked over at a garage of their choice and im pretty sure it could be veryfied how sound the car is.

 

[EllD90]

Can't he knock you up some backdated invoices?

 

[justin_]

personally wouldnt touch if no documents. but some people dont care all depends on the person if they really want it?

 

[EllD90]

I wouldn't be interested in paying it's full value with no documented service history.

 

[maclements]

For me it would depend on how much the car is going for, the buyer, and what car it is. If I was looking to buy a 172 or 182 or something work £3500+ (ish) it would put me off. If I was looking to buy a first car, like I did with mine for under £2000 to get started and build up NCB, I wouldn't be put off!

 

[Revels]

Unless it was majorly cheap, I wouldn't go near it.

 

[RDH]

To put things into prospetive, it's a 54 Dynamique with 45,000 miles on, in good condition both inside and out. I was hoping to get around 2000 for the car, with cars with similar age/miles going for between 2000 and 2500 on sales sites.

 

[aucky]

I wouldn't go near it.

Having said that my grandad has had his car serviced every year he's owned it, yet no service history for the last 40k.

 

[kerry-w]

I wouldnt care, this clio had no service history before I bought it was it was sent in as part ex so they guy doesnt care. Got 3 month warranty with it and in that time it had: Whole exaghst system + backbox changed, new bearings, new handbreak cables + handbreak re attatched.

No other problems as of yet, started first time everytime, runs smooth and its got 130k on the clock.

I do myself have some service history for the car though when I sell it on

 

[.Kev.]

TBH stamps in the service history book mean f**k all, they're no guarantee that the work has been carried out. There are loads of dodgy people in big name garages that will stamp you service book up for nowt. Makes a mockery of the system IMO.

 

[MartinR]

would not touch it

 

[Bramley]

i wouldnt touch it

you should of got a service book when bought the car

 

[Kane.]

Bought mine with nothing but when i buy a sport i will want it.

 

[Pep]

I would buy it if it was cheap enough.

The difference for me is it's not done 100k+. And it's pretty obvious to me that it's been serviced at least a few times through it's life when it was new etc, as who would buy a brand new car and not service it?
Can you not get a few 'invoices' written up to prove some of the work completed.

Although as a few have said they, most people wouldn't care about service history, I know 2 cars I've sold they haven't asked anything about it and I nearly had to force them to look at the receipts! So to some people they don't care!

 

[danzman1991]

It's easy to tell from the advert if you make a good one that the cars been looked after well regardless of actual paperwork (alot of paperwork is forged or not relevant to that particular car these days anyway) But at the end of the day "paperwork" adds value to cars therefore you shouldn't expect to get the same £££ as other similar cars with lots of paperwork..

The same with cars with high miles, but are looked after, are more often than not, cheaper that cars with less miles but not having been looked after so well..

 

[ForceIndia]

Easy enough to acquire a stamped history tbh.

 

[sideways danny]

i wouldn't care if i was intending to keep it for a long time (as i do with most cars) but for resale it's pretty important to get a quick and easy sale for sensible money back. No paperwork is something a decent gaggler will hammer you for on price

 

[Harpham]

I wouldnt touch it tbh... Especially with it being a Renault, i.e. generally being s**t heaps in my experience, wouldn't want to take a risk with such a car.
(Unless it is dirt cheap)

 

[Darren S]

I've tried really hard with my 182 to document EVERYTHING. It's been the only car I've had since new, so I started how I intended to go on.

Personally, a service history would only interest me on the type of car it was. A simple runaround? Meh - full service history would simply be a bonus. But on something like an Evo or a Scooby I'd want to see a wedge of receipts and other print-outs. Cars that demand a lot of TLC must show that they have received that TLC, imo.

D.

 

[RDH]

I'm going to be completely honest in the advert as thats all I can do. Other than that I will try to get some back dated invoices if he's able to do that for me. I understand that it would put people off, and whether it has or hasn't people will obviously want their car to sound amazing. Anyone who may potentially end up buying it will get a very reliable little car. Having said that, if people are going to start offering silly offers/and or it doesn't sell I will be keeping it and running it alongside my next car.

 

[Daniel]

Go on ebay.

Type in ''Renault Service History''.

Done.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

^^ Good shout who's to know eh.

 

[lemonnobby]

lol this a 3 or 5 door? and if i knew it had been looked after then fair enough.
you got a V5 now?

 

[Scrooge]

For £15 you can aquire a stamp with whatever you like on it.

 

[Djw John]

would not touch it

This

 

[blambert]

When there are people out there who keep EVERYTHING and have full folders of service history, it really is silly to go near anything without.

May as well show and tell.

Original invoice & every tax disc:

Every service sheet, invoice, MOT certificate, etc etc etc.

Obviously you will take a hit on the price, but if you act honestly and explain in detail everything that has been done, then you might instill enough confidence for someone to pay okay money for it. It entirely depends on the buyer.

 

[not normal dan]

i must admit mines fully documentated an it is always nice to have it when you buy a car an is a good selling point. But tbh its so easy to knock up "fake" history i.e service stamps, receipts an various other bits an pieces but i guess you just have to trust the vendor now days

 

[Brett]

To be honest on a non sport I wouldn't be overly concerned. My mx5 has no service history yet I've got photo's of the cambelt being changed and the cars in good condition and has a few OEM upgrades. The type of people who have cambelt changes and go far enough to document it with pic (ex owner was a pro photographer), alone with choice upgrades like mohair roofs will generally have their cars serviced.

 

[p@blo]

Personally I'd give it a swerve-no dig at the OP, but who's to say a seller hasn't just blagged the service history for a quick sale? Similar to the Cat c/d situation for me-doesn't necessarily equate to being a bad thing, but its surely leverage for a potential buyer to barter the price down should you be needing to get rid of the car in a hurry. Receipts & invoices are a good thing imo.

 

[mr angry]

Having served my time in a main dealership years ago I saw what went on with "an oily rag and a stamp" I have little faith in a service history and would make my own mind up examining the vehicle. That said if I were buying, It could be used to knock a few quid of the asking price.

 

[paddyyyyy]

I wouldn't be completely put off but would only purchase it for a price that was similar to a car that hadn't had the work done.
No offence but a persons word is nothing when it comes to selling cars.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

When there are people out there who keep EVERYTHING and have full folders of service history, it really is silly to go near anything without.

May as well show and tell.

Original invoice & every tax disc:

Every service sheet, invoice, MOT certificate, etc etc etc.

Obviously you will take a hit on the price, but if you act honestly and explain in detail everything that has been done, then you might instill enough confidence for someone to pay okay money for it. It entirely depends on the buyer.

My brother has the purchase receipt and every receipt under the sun for his 225 cup. I think having a service history and receipts for work done etc goes a long long way when selling a car.

 

[DrR]

. And it's pretty obvious to me that it's been serviced at least a few times through it's life when it was new etc, as who would buy a brand new car and not service it?
Can you not get a few 'invoices' written up to prove some of the work completed.

Quite a lot of people i bet.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Tbh, ud be amazed at the number of people that dont even look at history, even if it is there lol ....

Just buy a service book of ebay, buy a primary school 'good luck' stamp and bung a load of river island receipts in a folder. £2 says the buyer wont look anyway

 

[Skott_Dci]

i couldnt buy a car without fsh. i wouldnt be arsed about a banger to use as a temp run about, but a modern daily car its a must have in my book.

 

[gez 172]

it is always a bonus to have service history, i'd deffinatley want one for a cambelt change (clio sport)
but not having service history wouldnt put me off, you can tell if a car has been looked after or not.

 

[richy22]

Are people talking about full service history or no history at all??

I bought my old 172 in 2004 with 16K on the clock..Previous owner gave me a load of gunk which I kept. Original bill of sale etc.

I had ONE service done at a main dealer (as well as some warranty work) which was stamped. I did my own oil changes (kept receipts from opie oils) and when I ahd to buy stuff like calipers etc off here I certainly wouldn't have any history of that..especially as I fitted it myself! The rest of the work I used a local garage and kept receipts. Full DEALER service history doesnt bother me. IF it has receipts for work etc to show work has been done then thats fine.

I certainly haven't kept any receipts for silly things like tyres for the EVO (ordered from Camskill) but it is full serivce history dealer and specialist..in fact already got another service due this month!