Why wouldn't you keep service history, receipts etc.?
Discussion
I agree completely. I have kept (save one that has been lost 
, but I will be obtaining a copy from the garage) all of my receipts since I bought the car. I was even saving my fuel receipts at one point until I added them up 
My car has a hole in its history from before I bought it, but it wasnt enough to put me off.
, but I will be obtaining a copy from the garage) all of my receipts since I bought the car. I was even saving my fuel receipts at one point until I added them up My car has a hole in its history from before I bought it, but it wasnt enough to put me off.
Kept all my receipts for my last car and the current one, but it adds no value whatsoever as they are both run of the mill hatchbacks and the market views them as virtually worthless at the ages they are / were when sold (8-10 years).
Maybe worthwhile for an enthusiast's car or appreciating classic, or something relatively new with some residual value, but otherwise why bother?
Maybe worthwhile for an enthusiast's car or appreciating classic, or something relatively new with some residual value, but otherwise why bother?
I keep receipts for anything that go's on the car, put them in date order and write the mileage on it as well.
On this subject swmbos saab cabrio, the previous owner has gone through the handbook ticking every paragraph, and underlining things,even things that are to do with the diesel estate, and hers is a petrol cabrio??
perhaps he thought there was going to be test at the end?
On this subject swmbos saab cabrio, the previous owner has gone through the handbook ticking every paragraph, and underlining things,even things that are to do with the diesel estate, and hers is a petrol cabrio??
perhaps he thought there was going to be test at the end?
I keep stuff. My MB however born "94" 1st 10yrs pretty good, book stamped and loads of recipts, last 10yrs very little. I can see where work has been done new hood, tyres and all fluids fresh when I bought it. Very little documentation (except every MOT going back to "97").
Shame really, I might have paid a little more with a few recipts etc.
Shame really, I might have paid a little more with a few recipts etc.
I have a 99 M3 Evo Convertible tucked away which I purchased form a retired gent who had bought it new now done 60K,I asked about the service history..... And he produced a fully stamped service book with 15 stamps along with three large files with EVERY bill from new Inc tyres and bulbs and the original sales invoice from new..... 
Is it bad when you reach the point where you need a second folder for all the invoices, as the first one is full? I must admit to retaining fuel receipts - but only to show the car has been treated to super-unleaded (easy to say, hard to prove). The shed's fuel receipts eventually get get recycled when the door pocket starts overflowing, but I retain all other paperwork for that too. I can't comprehend people who bemoan misplacing documents that they know are important - there are far more challenging tasks undertaken by man, no-one is being asked to determine a Langrangian whilst standing on their head.
This worked in my favour once. Enquired about a 3 year old hatchback (exact model/spec I wanted) at a huge London car supermarket. When I asked about service history the sales guy fessed up and said their was virtually none. I the asked him to tell me the name of the previous owner. By chance it was a company I had worked for years ago. I phoned up their fleet dept explained my connection and asked if they would validate the car's history. They sent by return a fully itemised printout itemising everything proving that it had been very well cared for and lots of wear & tear items fixed towards the end its life. I then went to view the car and gave the sales guy a hard time for not having any history and they offered money off which is rare for a supermarket. I have contacted previous owners on a couple of private purchases and generally people have been helpful.
Probably already been mentioned but if the car goes through auction or gets sold through a dealer they generally bin all the old receipts etc. So the chances are the owner probably did keep them until trading it in.
What will be interesting to see is what happens when the current gen Mercedes and Audis etc without paper service books get sold on a few years down the line one there a bit older. With no book or receipts you could be led to think its never been serviced even if it had
What will be interesting to see is what happens when the current gen Mercedes and Audis etc without paper service books get sold on a few years down the line one there a bit older. With no book or receipts you could be led to think its never been serviced even if it had
Xtriple129 said:
I've always been the same as the above posters: keep every reciept, bill etc. However, I've discovered that when you trade your car into a garage/main dealer they are interested in nothing but the service book and all your carefully kept history goes straight in the bin!
Unless of course you are dealing with specialist dealers I guess where such things matter.
Never understood this.Unless of course you are dealing with specialist dealers I guess where such things matter.
If a car has part history then I'd want proof that it had its clutch or belts or some such that needs replaced else walk away without price drop.
I guess most buyers don't bother with such things and traders get away with it.
va1o said:
Probably already been mentioned but if the car goes through auction or gets sold through a dealer they generally bin all the old receipts etc. So the chances are the owner probably did keep them until trading it in.
I found this when buying a car recently, most of the cars for sale only had the service book and an mot, no owners manual, receipts or anything else. Fortunately the car I bought did have a fistful of main dealer invoices. No owners manual though, bought one off eBay. How hard is it to just sling all the paperwork in the glove box?
I think its a combination of things really. Half the times I have collected a car after work has been done I have had to ask for an invoice, many people are intimidated by mechanics and are too afraid to ask for it or simply dont think to ask. I have jad to go back to a garage in the past to collect an invoice because I forgot it but most people wouldnt bother.
There is also the fact that if you only ever part exchange, a full service history does little for the value of the car, in fact you can save more by simply not servicing in the first place.
There is also the fact that if you only ever part exchange, a full service history does little for the value of the car, in fact you can save more by simply not servicing in the first place.
t about cars, they hold it in the same esteem as a fridge, so they have no interest in keeping every receipt, they part ex them in and the garage doesnt care either.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff