General trade-in question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
General trade-in question
When owners trade in their cars at dealers, is it typical or unusual for the dealer to provide the buyer with service records, assuming the seller provided service records to the dealer?
Is it typical or unusual for sellers to even give the service records to the dealers at trade-in?
I ask because the dealer I am looking to purchase through does not have any service records on the trade in and I don't know what to think of that.
Thank you
Leslie
Is it typical or unusual for sellers to even give the service records to the dealers at trade-in?
I ask because the dealer I am looking to purchase through does not have any service records on the trade in and I don't know what to think of that.
Thank you
Leslie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I dont think there is any standard, but its most likely you wont get the service records unless its a real selling point. I think you would be lucky if the dealer doesnt loose them in the paperwork schuffle.
When i traded in my 95, I didnt expect to really trade it in that day and didnt have the mound of paper work (records) with me. I still have them and if i see a post from some one who bought my old car, I will contact them and give them some history.
When i traded in my 95, I didnt expect to really trade it in that day and didnt have the mound of paper work (records) with me. I still have them and if i see a post from some one who bought my old car, I will contact them and give them some history.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
buying from a dealer, you never know where the car came from.. usually if the car was serviced at the dealer.. they have records..
many people dont keep records of service, and many that do usually do the bare minimum.. it is not unusual to find a car at a dealership with no records.. I have a binder with every slip of paper that my car has been involved in from bank papers to receipts from walmart for oil.. to receipts for mods.. wheels tires and other services..recall receipts.. warranty work.. and extended warranty work.. maintenance records and scheduled maintenance records..
many people dont keep records of service, and many that do usually do the bare minimum.. it is not unusual to find a car at a dealership with no records.. I have a binder with every slip of paper that my car has been involved in from bank papers to receipts from walmart for oil.. to receipts for mods.. wheels tires and other services..recall receipts.. warranty work.. and extended warranty work.. maintenance records and scheduled maintenance records..
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,494
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Tx
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '05
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
buying from a dealer, you never know where the car came from.. usually if the car was serviced at the dealer.. they have records..
many people dont keep records of service, and many that do usually do the bare minimum.. it is not unusual to find a car at a dealership with no records.. I have a binder with every slip of paper that my car has been involved in from bank papers to receipts from walmart for oil.. to receipts for mods.. wheels tires and other services..recall receipts.. warranty work.. and extended warranty work.. maintenance records and scheduled maintenance records..
many people dont keep records of service, and many that do usually do the bare minimum.. it is not unusual to find a car at a dealership with no records.. I have a binder with every slip of paper that my car has been involved in from bank papers to receipts from walmart for oil.. to receipts for mods.. wheels tires and other services..recall receipts.. warranty work.. and extended warranty work.. maintenance records and scheduled maintenance records..
Damn forgot the wal-mart receipts 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Thank you friends. Since I am very careful about maintaining all my cars and always keep all my service records, I guess I assume that all people who carefully maintain their cars do so as well and would give to the dealer. But I guess we cannot expect the dealer will be so careful.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
It would be highly unusual for a dealer to provide a new buyer with service records from the previous owner. While the service data would undoubtedly be a selling point, there's a lot of liability issues there. The previous records would have personal data such as name, address, phone numbers, possibly check numbers and even credit card information.
In addition, as others have pointed out, the dealer selling the car is rarely the one that took it on trade. For example, if you trade a Corvette for a new Mercedes, the Mercedes dealer will probably wholesale it to a Chevrolet dealer. Not too many people go to Mercedes dealers looking for used Corvettes, and vice versa.
In addition, as others have pointed out, the dealer selling the car is rarely the one that took it on trade. For example, if you trade a Corvette for a new Mercedes, the Mercedes dealer will probably wholesale it to a Chevrolet dealer. Not too many people go to Mercedes dealers looking for used Corvettes, and vice versa.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Killeen TX
Any dealer who is selling the same make car should be able to pull up any service records for work that was done at a dealership. I've found very few owners will pass on service records unless it's a collectible car with important documentation. I've had better luck when buying direct from the owner. However, the original owner of my 2000 wouldn't part with the original window sticker because it was their first new Corvette, and they had it framed hanging on their wall. Pestered them for a year or so, but they never could give it up. Thank goodness for NCM!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,425
Likes: 24,608
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I've never had a dealer offer the records - I have always had to ask and then they just gave me the name of the previous owner to contact. Would be a good policy to implement, but probably seen as a pain for the dealers.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,481
Likes: 1,807
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
I've never had a dealer offer the records - I have always had to ask and then they just gave me the name of the previous owner to contact. Would be a good policy to implement, but probably seen as a pain for the dealers.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
You can get some idea of a car's maintenance if you are buying something fairly new and from the type of dealer that sells that line of cars (GM car from GM dealer, etc)...
Before buying the car, talk to the service manager and have him pull up all the records for that vehicle's VIN... You'll at least get an idea of whether or not the car had problems early in it's life (warranty) and if you're lucky, the owner had their vehicle maintained at the dealership as well...
Other than that, most of the time service records are not included with a used vehicle... I even offered to give a couple of dealers service records from vehicles I traded in, they weren't interested...
Before buying the car, talk to the service manager and have him pull up all the records for that vehicle's VIN... You'll at least get an idea of whether or not the car had problems early in it's life (warranty) and if you're lucky, the owner had their vehicle maintained at the dealership as well...
Other than that, most of the time service records are not included with a used vehicle... I even offered to give a couple of dealers service records from vehicles I traded in, they weren't interested...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,088
Likes: 1
From: NC
Originally Posted by wake
You can get some idea of a car's maintenance if you are buying something fairly new and from the type of dealer that sells that line of cars (GM car from GM dealer, etc)...
Before buying the car, talk to the service manager and have him pull up all the records for that vehicle's VIN... You'll at least get an idea of whether or not the car had problems early in it's life (warranty) and if you're lucky, the owner had their vehicle maintained at the dealership as well...
Other than that, most of the time service records are not included with a used vehicle... I even offered to give a couple of dealers service records from vehicles I traded in, they weren't interested...
Before buying the car, talk to the service manager and have him pull up all the records for that vehicle's VIN... You'll at least get an idea of whether or not the car had problems early in it's life (warranty) and if you're lucky, the owner had their vehicle maintained at the dealership as well...
Other than that, most of the time service records are not included with a used vehicle... I even offered to give a couple of dealers service records from vehicles I traded in, they weren't interested...
Having just done this yesterday, it is an individual dealer choice.
I offered the dealer all my records to the new owner and gave
permission that if a new owner asks question or requires docs, that
they can forward them to me. I'd answer any and all questions about
the car I traded and feel confident anyone who does buy my car will
be very satisfied. I also gave the dealer the option of offering my
extended warranty as well. I said I'd give them a week before I applied
for a refund just in case they sold it quickly.
The dealer was very appreciative.
They gave me a Carfax and ran the VIN for me as well on my new one.
I checked the car over and among the things that impressed me was
that the oil had been changed, and the tires were all properly inflated
and exactly the same. They also did the two recall items (Column Lock
and the Steering washer thing) before I picked it up.
It is just attention to detail that I liked.
...George
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,088
Likes: 1
From: NC
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
buying from a dealer, you never know where the car came from.. usually if the car was serviced at the dealer.. they have records..
many people dont keep records of service, and many that do usually do the bare minimum.. it is not unusual to find a car at a dealership with no records.. I have a binder with every slip of paper that my car has been involved in from bank papers to receipts from walmart for oil.. to receipts for mods.. wheels tires and other services..recall receipts.. warranty work.. and extended warranty work.. maintenance records and scheduled maintenance records..
many people dont keep records of service, and many that do usually do the bare minimum.. it is not unusual to find a car at a dealership with no records.. I have a binder with every slip of paper that my car has been involved in from bank papers to receipts from walmart for oil.. to receipts for mods.. wheels tires and other services..recall receipts.. warranty work.. and extended warranty work.. maintenance records and scheduled maintenance records..
BTW ET...That is sick
...George
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,840
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by georgec114
BTW ET...That is sick
...George
...George
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
When I traded in my 95 coupe on a 96 vert (to the same dealer) I left all the repair/service receipts in the car. They sold it to a club buddy. I found out later they didn't pass any of this on to him. When I called they played dumb.
Tom
Tom
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 41,790
Likes: 153
From: Houston,Texas USA
When I traded in my 99 coupe on the 04, the dealer said they would just throw away any of the records that were left in the car. They respect the previous owners privacy, and don't want the new owner contacting the previous owner. I did sign a statement, that would let the dealer give my name and phone number to the new owner. I never herd anything, and still have all the service history, and window sticker.