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A lot of car ads say things like "Has been serviced regularly", "serviced every 6 months" etc but when I ask the dealer or the seller for the recorded service history they say they don't have it and either they have not kept the records or it has been serviced by the prior owner. If they advertise that its serviced or cam belt replaced and the car breaks down due to lack of oil change, trans fluid change or old cambelt do you have any comeback?
Many private sellers don’t keep receipts of past services and general repairs so it can become a matter of trust on the buyers side. Looking for a service label (on the windscreen normally) is one way to check when the last service was carried out or when it is next due.
Same for the cambelt, a label is normally attached either to the engine cam cover or on a visible location around the engine bay. Once again it should show either when the belt was replaced or when it is next due for replacement
If sellers do happen to keep receipts and are able to prove beyond doubt exactly what servicing has been done, then it does make their cars a lot easier to sell in many cases.
Dealers should be able to provide records very easily if they have carried out a service or maintenance work prior to sale.
Interpretation of the word ‘service’ can also led to some confusion and unrealistic expectation on a potential buyers side. A service can simply mean a engine oil and filter change only with a check of levels and the occasional inspection of brake condition etc.
Often, depending on the age of a vehicle, more in-depth servicing such as changing the transmission fluid is ignored because of increased costs.
A vehicle cannot be deliberately misrepresented whether it be advertised for sale by a Registered Motor Vehicle Trader or a private seller. It may be far harder to seek any reimbursement from a private sale however especially if comments around service history were verbal and not in print.
If buyers are in doubt about a vehicles past service history or what has been said without proof, then its often best to simply walk away.