The easiest way to check a vehicle’s service history is to look at its service book. This is a log of all the services the vehicle has had and any work that was done. It also records the vehicle’s mileage at the time of the service.
How can I check a car’s history for free?
You can get a free VIN check at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), VehicleHistory.com or iSeeCars.com/VIN. Just pop in your car’s digits and these sites will do the VIN lookup and give you information on the vehicle.
How can I get service records for my car?
Check the service history on the CARFAX Report
The CARFAX Vehicle History Report contains all reported service and maintenance records over the course of a vehicle’s lifetime.
Can I check my car’s service history online?
These days, manufacturers also keep an online record of any car that’s serviced by a franchised dealer. These can be retrieved by any dealership in just a few clicks.
How do I access service history? – Related Questions
What do I do if I lost my service book?
If you’re the one who lost the service book and remember where you booked your car service(s), contact the garage(s). They will either still have the records on file or be able to track them down and post them to you. You just give them a few details about you and the vehicle (to prove you are who you say you are).
Can I sell my car without service history?
It’s not recommended to sell your car until you have all the paperwork in place. Even if you have a legitimate reason for not having a V5C, it will still raise suspicion in the mind of any potential buyer – whether that’s a private individual or a professional car buyer.
Do garages keep service records?
Digital Service History Records
Traditionally, every car comes with a service manual and when a garage carries out work for you, they will complete this and stamp it. This does still happen but nowadays a lot of garages, particularly main dealers, hold the information digitally too.
How do you find out when my car was last serviced?
This means there are only two ways to find out the actual service history: Ask the car owner to show you the vehicle’s service history if he/she has the service book or invoices. Contact the garage/dealership where the vehicle gets serviced.
Can I get a Carfax for free?
A free CARFAX report is also available through many dealer websites. As you browse a dealer’s used car inventory, look for links to free CARFAX Reports. If a link is unavailable, contact the dealer and ask them for the CARFAX Report. Free CARFAX Reports are available at many car dealerships in your area.
Does CARFAX cost money?
Carfax is the most well-known provider of vehicle history reports. It dates back to the late 1980s when it faxed reports to its customers. It is also the most expensive. A single Carfax report costs $39.99.
Is paying for CARFAX worth it?
Yes, it’s worth the cost if you’re in the market for a used vehicle. But keep in mind that CARFAX doesn’t record 100% of accidents. I highly recommend having a trusted mechanic check out the vehicle before purchase. Pay the mechanic a small $20-$50 fee to take a look – it’s very much worth it.
How much does a CARFAX history report cost?
Which car history report is best?
Carfax and AutoCheck are by far the best car history reports, and we recommend them over anything else, even if alternatives are less expensive. It is worth it to pay a little extra for Carfax and AutoCheck to receive the most accurate information about a car before you purchase it.
Can I trust CARFAX?
CARFAX is a good starting place but shouldn’t be your only source of info. While CARFAX is a great place to start researching a vehicle’s history, CARFAX vehicle history reports won’t show you a history that was never reported. So a clean CARFAX report shouldn’t be considered a good vehicle.
Is there anything better than CARFAX?
AutoCheck Provides More Value Over Carfax
Even if you already have access to a vehicle history report from a provider, AutoCheck has its own set of exclusive data that may uncover further information about a vehicle you’re considering.
Why is Carfax so expensive?
Overall, the level of detail that Carfax provides is a major reason it is so expensive. The pricing helps to ensure that the information is accurate, detailed, and clearly presented to those who need it the most.
How much does Carfax cost monthly?
You can purchase a single CARFAX report for $29.99, or get a bulk deal of 10 reports for $34.99 or unlimited reports for $39.99. Regardless of which package you select, you have 30 days to use the purchased service. CARFAX isn’t the only place you can turn for vehicle-history reports.
How common is odometer rollback?
According to this NHTSA study (PDF), approximately 452,000 used cars with false odometer readings are sold each year, or 3.47 percent of all used vehicles sold. This means that if you plan to buy a used car, there is around a one in 29 chance you could experience odometer rollback fraud.
Does replacing the engine reset mileage?
An engine swap or engine replacement will not reset the odometer as the odometer doesn’t just measure the engine but all of the components of the car. In fact, it’s illegal to reset the odometer as it would not accurately reflect the age of other parts of the vehicle.
How can you tell if the odometer has been rolled over?
Determining if an odometer has been rolled back
Compare the vehicle’s wear and tear with the reading on the odometer. Is it in line with the vehicle’s current condition including wear on the steering wheel, gear level and pedals? For example, a low mileage car will likely still have its original tires and brakes.