Different ways to check the service history of your car | Rooster
Knowing the service history of your car is essential for maintaining its performance, value, and safety. Whether you’ve just purchased a used car or want to ensure your own vehicle is up to date, checking the service history can help you keep track of past maintenance and identify any future needs. Luckily, there are different ways to check the service history of your car, ensuring you have all the information you need.
Why Is a Service History Important?
A service history provides a detailed record of all the maintenance and repairs performed on your car. It’s important for several reasons:
- Maintains Value: A car with a complete service history is more appealing to buyers and often commands a higher resale price.
- Ensures Safety: Regular servicing ensures your car is roadworthy and less likely to suffer a breakdown.
- Highlights Issues: Service records can show recurring problems, giving you insights into what to watch out for.
Different Ways to Check the Service History of Your Car
- Look for the Service Book
Most cars come with a physical service book that is stamped and updated by the garage each time the vehicle is serviced. This book typically includes:- Dates of servicing
- Mileage at the time of service
- Details of the work completed
If the service book is missing, don’t worry—there are other ways to find this information.
- Contact the Previous Owner or Dealer
If you’ve recently purchased the car, reach out to the previous owner or the dealership where the car was bought. They may have records of the car’s service history or can point you to the garages that performed the work. - Check Online Service Records
Many modern cars come with digital service records that can be accessed online. Manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes, and Ford offer portals where you can check your car’s service history using the vehicle identification number (VIN).
This method is especially useful for newer cars, as digital records are becoming the norm.
- Contact the Garage or Mechanic
If you know where the car was serviced, contact the garage directly. Most reputable garages keep detailed records of the cars they work on and can provide you with a copy of the service history.
Be prepared to provide the car’s registration number or VIN to help them locate the records.
- Use Rooster’s Tools
Rooster makes it easy to manage your car’s servicing needs. While we can’t recover past records, we provide features to ensure you never miss a service again, including reminders for regular maintenance and insights into your car’s condition. Keeping track of your own records moving forward is just as important as finding past ones so get Rooster today. - Check MOT Records
In the UK, you can use the government’s MOT history service to check a car’s MOT status and history online. While this doesn’t provide a full service history, it can give you an idea of how well the car has been maintained over the years.
What to Do If the Service History Is Missing
So, if you’ve exhausted all options and the service history is missing, here’s what you can do:
- Get a Full Service: Start fresh by booking a full service to ensure your car is in good condition. Keep all receipts and records moving forward to create a new service history.
- Perform a Diagnostic Check: A diagnostic scan can reveal potential issues and help you understand the car’s current state.
- Negotiate on Price: If you’re buying a car with no service history, use this as a bargaining tool to lower the price.
Stay on Top of Servicing with Rooster
Keeping track of your car’s service history doesn’t have to be complicated. Rooster provides:
- Reminders for upcoming services
- MOT and repair predictors
- Tools to track and manage maintenance costs
With Rooster, you can ensure your car remains in top condition, with all records kept securely and easily accessible.
