How to track down a cars service history?

nellocono

Hi,

I am wondering if there is a way to track down a cars service history. for example, is it possible to ring up the manaufacturers (Ford in my case) and ask them to give me details of where the car was first sold?

From there, I could contact the dealers and ask about any service history they might have...

Failing this, is it possible to contact the tax office for details of the previous owner?

Thx

Eoin

nellocono wrote: »

I am wondering if there is a way to track down a cars service history. for example, is it possible to ring up the manaufacturers (Ford in my case) and ask them to give me details of where the car was first sold?

From there, I could contact the dealers and ask about any service history they might have...

I know that BMW Ireland can check the dealership service history and where the car was first sold if you give them the VIN. You might be able to do the same.

Do you have access to the car to get the VIN and service book? If you have the latter, then you could just ring the places that stamped it.

nellocono wrote: »

Failing this, is it possible to contact the tax office for details of the previous owner?

I would hope that this can't be done, I reckon there would be a data privacy concern if so.

johnos1984

If your buying from a garage why not ask them to call the previous owner, or indeed give you their phone number so you can ask them about the car. I've done it before

nellocono

No, unfortunately I bought the car without the service manual, so I really have no idea if it ever was serviced...(dodgy, I know but the car is in great nick)

I was contemplating ringing all the main ford dealers around and see if they have any history. I could have swore I saw a car sticker for a main ford dealer in cork, when I rang they said they had no history for it...

I will keep trying maybe might get lucky

L-M

I found one before by looking at the cars reg and going to the dealer for that county... Then I found a few stickers here and there and rang those places, everything matched up!

Say if you're Ford was a C reg, ring Ford in Cork and ask them did they sell it new and ask where does the history end. The be cheeky and ask the county of the person they sold it to, then check the Ford garage in that county and so on.

Loads of ways if you're up for a bit of digging LOL

johnos1984

How old is the car, mileage etc.

If its a few years old and in great nick I wouldn't be too worried as once a car goes past 6 years or so the condition of the car will tell you more than the service history

Eoin

If it's been serviced at an independent garage, then it will be very hard to get an idea of the service history.

C Eng

eoin wrote: »

I know that BMW Ireland can check the dealership service history and where the car was first sold if you give them the VIN. You might be able to do the same.

Do you have access to the car to get the VIN and service book? If you have the latter, then you could just ring the places that stamped it.



I would hope that this can't be done, I reckon there would be a data privacy concern if so.

I tried tracking down service history off BMW Ireland and they would not give me any information. And I owned the car in question !

nellocono

Well its a 05 car with 56000 miles/89000kms. I think its in fairly good nick. I remember seeing a main ford dealer sticker on it when I first looked at the car but since then the dealer I bought it off have replaced it with their own sticker :rolleyes:

Anyway, after ringing around it seems none have service history for it...so it was either serviced by an independent dealer or worse was not at at all..

In any case I am going to buy a new service manual and try to get a few stamps in it just in case I ever try to sell up

Henry Ford III

It's much easier (and better) to ascertain a cars provenance before purchasing it.

07Lapierre

nellocono wrote: »

Well its a 05 car with 56000 miles/89000kms. I think its in fairly good nick. I remember seeing a main ford dealer sticker on it when I first looked at the car but since then the dealer I bought it off have replaced it with their own sticker :rolleyes:

Anyway, after ringing around it seems none have service history for it...so it was either serviced by an independent dealer or worse was not at at all..

In any case I am going to buy a new service manual and try to get a few stamps in it just in case I ever try to sell up

Just out of curiosity..why did you buy the car without a service history? I have owned 3 cars and with every one of them, i made sure i had the service booked stamped and I always keep the receipts. Am I unusual? Does everyone not do this? I wouldn't consider buying a car unless i could confirm the service histroy.

whippet

07Lapierre wrote: »

Just out of curiosity..why did you buy the car without a service history? I have owned 3 cars and with every one of them, i made sure i had the service booked stamped and I always keep the receipts. Am I unusual? Does everyone not do this? I wouldn't consider buying a car unless i could confirm the service histroy.

me likewise, I am pretty anal about keeping stuff like that.

I have kept every single stamp and reciept for everything that was bought for my cars, all kept in a single folder with the service history. The last car I sold the buyer couldn't understand why I had reciepts for blubs and oil !

One of my current cars even has a reciept for the likes of leather & wheel cleaners, bulbs, washer fluid etc .... these are from the previous owner and at least I know how he treated the car.