Did you try carfax? I've never used it but they advertise that you can get service records for some models.

I was just hoping there was something that was more detailed that someone here had used.

If you ever buy a used car from me, you will have every service record associated withy my car. I keep them all. Unless you're lucky enough to find out the previous owner used only ONE shop for all maintenance/repairs, and lucky enough to find that shop, I'm afraid you're outs of luck. Or maybe, if you know the name of the previous owner, you could reach out to him/her to ask for the records, assuming they kept them?

http://www.carfax.com

Shows a list of what Carfax checks for, including service and repair records

We keep all our service records, too, and hand them in when we sell a car or trade it in. Knowing a car has had regular maintenance adds value.

I think your only route would be to research the car's former owner(s), and contact them to ask. I see that the CarFax examples of 'service' records are all as recorded by car dealers, sometimes only one checkup after they take a car in, prior to selling it.

Why would "Joe's Garage" bother to record a car's VIN when it comes in for an oil change or whatever?

Well I didn't think there was any, but thought that I'd ask. I take my trucks to Valvoline to have the oil changed and they do record the VIN numbers...I sit there and watch them.

I looked at carfax and I have those sort of records that nothing major has happened to the car. You can get the info for free.

I don't know about places that are just basic oil change operations, but a conscientious and comprehensive independent garage needs to use VIN numbers to identify relevant manufacturer's service bulletins and recalls. For recalls, a good garage will refer customers to a dealership to get the work done.

I wonder if some states require VIN recording for service providers. The VIN is required for reporting emissions test results to the DMV or local equivalent for states that require them.

OK - I have to say this: "VIN numbers" is redundant, just as "ATM machine" is redundant. :)

I was wondering the same thing about requiring VIN numbers when service is done. It just seemed odd that the oil change place scanned the VIN number for just an oil change. It would kind of be nice if there was a data base for repairs on cars.

OH and thanks grammar police(imstillchloecat) for catching that.

Thanks indeed.

hi arkansas_girl. I know when I take my vehicles for service they are required to input the VIN, for record purposes and because they need the information for any parts/service/recall information. It is not to report to some massive car service database (however nice that would be!!). I keep a record in the vehicle of any service which includes even stuff like when wiper blades were purchased and put on. Makes the vehicle worth more! LOL

It would for sure be kind of nice if there was a database for repairs, AND service on all cars, motorcycles, boats, and even recreational vehicles.

This is a great idea for a start up company!!

Seems you can trace ownership, accident reports, etc. on cars. I think there's even a registry of real estate known to have been used to cook meth. Are all guns traceable?

Chisue, what are you talking about? Nobody said anything about guns or meth.

small reminder for those who decide to keep and hand over service records (from KBB):

"Block out your personal information

Before you hand over all the service records to the buyer, be sure to block out any personal information with a big black marker, such as credit card numbers, phone numbers or any other information you do not want made public. If you originally bought the car from a dealer, you may have left a contract or completed credit application in your glove compartment or owner's manual. In the wrong hands, this is a perfect tool for identity theft, as it may contain your social security number and previous address'

Was the seller the owner, who'd operated it for a time, or, if a dealer, perhaps provide any info that'd be useful in seeking those records?

In some areas, privacy protections might preclude them offering information on the former owner, even if they have it.

If you asked, they might call the former owner to ask that person to contact you, in which case you might be able to find out quite a lot.

o j

I mistakenly edited out the sentence about stepping down off my soapbox. Sorry.

All of our provinces (and Territories) have required not only that all motorized vehicles that want to travel in public places (incl. highways) be registered ... but that the registration be renewed annually (at a cost, of course).

It may be that your government auto licensing office may be able to provide info regarding the previous owner(s) ... but privacy considerations may forbid them from giving it to you.

A few years ago, one federal government here spent a billion? or so registering all guns ...

... and the more individual-freedom-related next one destroyed them ...

wouldn't even give them to one province that wanted them.

ole joyful

Carfax is a joke! I ran a report on my old T-Bird, paid extra for a "detailed" report, and it came back clean as a whistle. I know it had been in five separate wrecks. One before I owned it and four afterward (all hit-and-runs while it was parked). Three times the insurance company "totaled" it. We just kept paying to restore it because I loved that car!

When an older member of my extended family reached the end of her driving career for age reasons a few months ago, her (adult) child took the car to a dealer to get a purchase bid. The response came back about 40% below Kelly Blue Book. When asked why, he was told it was due to the two reported accidents that had occurred in the past 18 months that were mentioned in the Carfax report. The car was taken to a second place to get a competing bid and the same story and reason were heard. Because the people at the second place were more polite, the car was sold to them.

Have any of you tried motosnoop.com. It's a report for free. I checked out all of our cars and the "new" one and they seemed OK as far as my cars that I've owned for many years. Only thing is they say they had a whole bunch of owners but I've owned them since new. I don't know what was up with that...HA! I guess just registrations when I moved, we did move around a LOT! Nothing untoward came up with the new car.