Keeping track of your car’s service history used to be an exercise in paperwork, but we’re in the digital age. Capturing vehicle history and service records can often be accomplished online. However, this activity can involve multiple steps, especially if the maintenance has been performed outside a dealership. Plus, the process can be even murkier if you’re buying a used car without a detailed service history.

Keep reading to learn more about accessing your car’s online maintenance history. We’ll cover everything from manufacturer portals to third-party services to clever hacks.

Why Checking Your Vehicle’s Maintenance History Matters

A vehicle’s comprehensive service history means different things to different people. Here are three scenarios where these details matter:

Owning a Car

Maintaining good service records is essential for a successful car ownership experience. This information keeps you informed about your vehicle’s upkeep and ensures work has been performed according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. Importantly, these details can help prevent duplication of work, especially if you use different service facilities. Lastly, maintenance recordkeeping is vital for warranty purposes; the manufacturer wants to know you’re keeping your car in good condition. Otherwise, claims may not be honored. The same applies if you have an extended car warranty (also called a vehicle service contract or auto protection plan).

Selling a Car

Success with selling a car involves maximizing its value, which comes from proving it has been well-maintained. After all, no one wants to buy a vehicle with potential surprises (see “Buying a Car” below). In truth, this matters less when selling your car to Carvana, CarMax, and similar operations, but their prices already include a calculation for an uncertain amount of regular maintenance. This contrasts significantly with what you might be able to get when selling your car privately, as these buyers look for any excuse to walk away or negotiate for a lower purchase price.

Buying a Car

Purchasing a used car can be a gamble, so most buyers appreciate knowing that the vehicle for sale has been well cared for. This goes beyond a seller’s word, with maintenance documentation being a valuable seller’s tool. At the same time, a detailed service history gives the seller a competitive edge over similar vehicles that the buyer may be considering. Such information helps the seller command a higher price and a stronger negotiating position.

Buyers have a right to be suspicious about car upkeep or vehicle service history. A recent FinanceBuzz survey found that 64% of owners delayed essential vehicle maintenance tasks.

How to Find Maintenance Records Through the Manufacturer

Automakers are increasingly using online technology to link service records and used vehicles. These brand-specific platforms require owners to register their cars and provide some personal information, but the trade-off is convenient access to a car dealer-provided service history. There’s no wondering when specific work was performed. These systems also usually offer a service reminder for upcoming recommended work.

The Toyota owner portal offers access to maintenance records, owner’s manuals, recall information, and a scheduling service. Ford owners can use the FordPass app to access similar information. Lincoln offers much the same information for owners of Ford’s premium brand. Meanwhile, General Motors vehicles are covered under the respective myChevrolet, myBuick, myGMC, or myCadillac apps. Some automakers, especially luxury brands, offer online service history access and provide vehicle health status through smartphone apps. The My BMW and Mercedes Me systems are two examples.

Depending on the automaker, you can register for an account without vehicle-specific information. Still, you’ll usually need to enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) to gain full system access (and some brands require a VIN to gain even initial account access to their service history platform). These portals have one significant drawback: they only track services performed at authorized dealers. Work handled by an independent shop or previous owner won’t appear in your account.

Using Third-Party Services to Retrieve Vehicle History

As covered, manufacturer records are helpful, but only to a certain point. Looking for a vehicle’s broader history may involve third-party companies to retrieve additional details. These services compile data from dealerships, participating service facilities and body shops, state DMVs, and insurance companies.

The most well-known service is CarFax, which provides a report that usually includes:

• Title information (including salvage or rebuilt status)
• Accident history
• Service records (if reported by the facility)
• Recall information
• Ownership changes
• Odometer reading or mileage verification
• Previous use (personal, fleet, rental, etc.)

AutoCheck, owned by Experian, offers a similar report but generally doesn’t include detailed service history. Instead, the company provides a unique score that compares that specific vehicle against similar examples. An individual CarFax report or AutoCheck costs $30 to $45, with discounts for multiple vehicles. Reputable dealers and some private sellers will offer this information for free.

Meanwhile, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) focuses primarily on title issues, theft data, and salvage history. NMVTIS data is often used with a free or low-cost online vehicle history report or “VIN check.” A free vehicle history report may not offer service history, but it can provide other insights helpful to a used car shopper.

For instance, you can look up the ownership background. So, a dealer or seller who’s only owned the car for a few months can’t promise an “excellent maintenance history” unless they can produce verifiable service documentation. Likewise, an accident history can raise a red flag, especially if the seller can’t show exactly what was repaired.

Third-party records, including CarFax, have one substantial shortfall: they cannot capture maintenance performed by a previous owner or a repair shop that doesn’t supply service data to any of these databases. A recently acquired car or one under consideration may have been well-maintained, but there’s no way to verify this work without valid documentation.

Checking Maintenance History with a VIN Lookup

A VIN can unlock your car’s history using the right tools. It’s a 17-character code unique to each vehicle manufactured after 1981. As mentioned, a free VIN check doesn’t offer much in the way of service history, but there are additional resources to take advantage of:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a free VIN lookup tool that provides recall information (a license plate number can also be used).
• NHTSA also offers a VIN decoder tool.
• Select state DMVs offer limited title and registration history through their websites.
• Some automaker and enthusiast websites offer limited information through their VIN decoders. Examples include:
  Ford (Ford, Mercury, Lincoln)
  General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile, Pontiac)
  Honda (Acura, Honda)
  Mopar (Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep, Ram)
  Nissan (Infiniti, Nissan)
  Toyota (Lexus, Toyota, Scion)

What to Do If Your Maintenance History Is Incomplete

As you’ve discovered, finding service records for a car isn’t always easy. In these cases, there are some workarounds for locating the information you need. Here are a few hacks to consider:

Contact the Previous Owner

If you purchased the car from a private seller, asking if any old maintenance records are available could be worth the effort, even after the sale. You should emphasize from the beginning that you’re only trying to locate this documentation to compile a complete service history and not because you have any issues with the vehicle. Otherwise, the seller may not want to cooperate. Alternatively, ask the seller where they got the car serviced; you might be able to learn more from the repair facility.

Contact an Authorized Dealer

Extracting service information from a franchised (new car) dealer can be hit or miss, especially if you’re not a customer. However, inquiring with an authorized dealer for the car’s brand (a Toyota dealer for a Camry, a Ford dealer for an F-150, etc.) can potentially yield results.

Keep in mind that many dealers are reluctant to share service history due to liability and privacy concerns. For these reasons, a dealership service department will NEVER provide a previous owner’s contact information. At best, you’ll get printouts of prior work with the contact details removed. Some dealers may only be willing to share the service records verbally.

While picking up the phone is the most convenient option, you may get better results by visiting the dealer in person (it’s harder to say no to someone in person). You may have to try different dealers. At the very least, ask if the dealer has any service history on file for your car. This way, you’ll at least know how hard to pursue the effort. Note that the records may only cover work performed at that specific dealer or services provided by multiple dealers (it depends on the brand).

Lastly, you may need to incentivize the dealer to provide the service records. Offer to bring the car in for an oil change or other maintenance task under the condition that you’ll be given service history details when the work is completed (be sure to find out first if there is a service history to learn about).

When All Else Fails…

Despite your best efforts, service records may be limited or unavailable for your car. In this case, take a proactive approach with these steps:

• Get a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic. You should do this with any used car under consideration.
• Start fresh with documented maintenance. It’s never too late to track a car’s service history.
• Review any available records — look for clues indicating how well the car was maintained. Something is better than nothing.

How an Extended Warranty Helps Maintain Your Car’s Service History

An extended car warranty not only protects against unexpected repairs but also helps maintain a well-documented service history. Most warranty providers require evidence of ongoing maintenance as a condition of the agreement. In addition, companies like Endurance Warranty require that covered repairs be performed at ASE-certified repair facilities, ensuring you’ll have documentation when the work is completed.

Learn about everything an Endurance auto protection plan offers. Request a FREE quote or visit the Endurance online store for instant plan and pricing information. Endurance advisors are also available by phone at (800) 253-8203.

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