Do you keep maintenance records?

[Whitworth]

And if so, how long, what kind?

I used to keep everything - oil changes, tires, windshield replacement, tax bills, body work, heck, even parking tickets, - but never, ever in my life has any buyer, prospective buyer, dealership or anyone ever expressed any more than passing interest in vehicle records, if even that.

Once, I traded in a car at a dealership, and had to bring in the title the following day. I brought the title, along with a manila folder about an inch thick and gave it to the salesman. He laughed, and waved it in the air and exclaimed to all in the showroom, "Look!, He brought us everything!"

 

[Buckgnarly]

I record everything I do maintenance wise, but have never traded in a car. I would have walked out if the salesman acted like that.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Yep, keep them just so I can keep up with what needs to be done and when.. the record book that I keep stays in the glove box. Shop invoices stay in the office in a hanging file marked accordingly.

 

[Brunel]

Yes, I do. A decent service history helps when selling a car. Many cars need cambelts changing periodically, and if this hasn't been done and it snaps, it will trash your engine (this has happened to me because a dealer lied about it). So that's something I would definitely want to check. Likewise clutches and DMFs wear out and are costly to replace - having proof they have been replaced can make your car more attractive to buyers.

A stamped service book and invoices for major items is probably all that most buyers will be interested in.

 

[bwringer]

I keep records until the warranty runs out.

After that, I keep receipts or records for major items like timing belts or tires. Timing belt kits usually come with a sticker you can fill in and place on the engine, and with tires you just stick the latest receipt in the glove box.

After a certain point (150-200K or so for cars), resale value isn't much of a consideration either.

I'm lousy at keeping records, so I normally time maintenance so that it's done at easy to remember intervals. For example, the cars get oil changes at 5,000 mile intervals, ATF at 30,000 miles, plugs at 60K, etc.

Same for oil changes, valve checks, etc. on my bikes. The vintage Suzuki gets oil every 2K and valve checks every 4K, as specified in the manual. The V-Strom gets oil every 3K and valve checks every 15K. I also attempt to keep track of how long chains and tires last, but the information is usually somewhat depressing...

I've never seen a buyer care much about maintenance records; a few feel reassured that you have them, but they never look at them. Generally buyers I've seen only look at the vehicle's current condition and how well it runs and drives.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Records? I have a three drawer file cabinet that is 1/2 full.

Purchase receipts, owner's manuals, parts diagrams, parts invoices, service records...

Tommy

 

[Boilerhouse]

I do 99% of my own maintenance. I keep receipts and maintenance logs, in individual equipment file folders, for most of the equipment which has an IC engine - tractors, vehicles, logsplitter/generator/roto tiller etc. I do this as a personal FYI and will often refer back to them when I am about to get into a task. It has come in handy many times.

 

[Handyfarmer]

I talk a magic marker or sharpie, and write the millage and what was serviced under the hook and they last for a few years, (harder now that they put the insulation blankets under the hood now, but I have never traded in a car, all have been ran to there loving end, most have had over 300,000 and most are older in age, still have a 53 truck, still running my 78, and 80 (that one was given to me), 91 car, the 78 van will run but has not been run in a number of years, it is about 275,000, on it,

 

[bczygan]

Ha, ha, ha!

If I actually DID the maintenance, then I'd have something to keep a record of.....

Bill

 

[A-R-K]

I keep all my maintenance records in Evernote, including a pic of the work in progress and receipt. When I trade a car in, I write my email address in the maintenance log section of the owners manual with a note saying to contact me for the records.

2 out of 3 cars I was contacted by the new owner. So owners seem to care, dealers don't unless it's on the carfax.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

 

[holdover]

Have 10 vehicles with plates and insurance, 4 of them antique, another 4 or 5 farm vehicles plus a tractor. Too much to keep track of without a log for each vehicle. Oil changes, batteries, tires, repairs etc. Do all the work myself. Too old to keep all that in my head...

 

[bwringer]

Ha, ha, ha!

If I actually DID the maintenance, then I'd have something to keep a record of.....

Bill

Yeah, that was my Dad's usual practice. I think I was 15 or 16 before I knew that you're supposed to change oil every so often.

 

[Git]

Blue Painters Tape - Under the hood somewhere. I write down the date, mileage and what I did. Makes it real easy for me

 

[schultz]

I keep maintenance records and receipts on everything requiring service/maintenance.

 

[Two Speed]

I keep a log of what I do/have had done. Used to keep it on paper, then migrated over to a dos based record keeping program (It closely matched the order and way I kept my paper records). I still use it to this day. Gotta like backing it up, just drag and drop the entire directory and I have everything backed up and ready to go as is.

Paper receipts I hang onto, just in case, and even for warranty purposes I've only had to cough up my copy of a receipt on a couple occasions.

Alex.

 

[CJM8515]

Got a manilla folder for every vehicle I owned. Throw away all the records if I sell the vehicle.

 

[jd_1138]

I am handed an oil change receipt from the shop, so when I get into my car I toss it into the glovebox. Seems easy/natural. May need the receipts if there's a major engine problem and the warranty is going to be used.

Also, I get top dollar when I go to sell my cars because I have documented proof of maintenance. To the right buyer, it's important. Granted, 95% of the buying public are morons who wouldn't care one way or the other.

I sold my mom's 6 year old 25k mile Jetta for her for $13k to an engineer for his daughter. My mom had complete records which was important to him. Dealer had offered her $2,500 trade in for her VW Jetta. lol

 

[richeyc2000]

I keep everything including an excel sheet of every time I fill up the car with diesel/petrol. Just to check car consumption v's actual consumption and see how every service affects it! I'm boring like that!!! [emoji6]

Last car I had:






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[larry_g]

No................

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jwh]

Yes. I have loose leaf binders for the car, truck, and motorcycle. Also have binders for 3 vehicles I no longer have.

Also have spreadsheets for fluid changes, repairs, and part numbers.

John

 

[slow]

excel sheet and or write in the book of the car.

 

[PelicanPines]

Everything is recorded and kept in the glove box. If I have to add oil... it's written. If it's a repair I pay for... paper receipt is folded and clipped. It's all recorded on a 5 x 9 notebook or neatly folded.

 

[nehog]

... I brought the title, along with a manila folder about an inch thick and gave it to the salesman. He laughed, and waved it in the air and exclaimed to all in the showroom, "Look!, He brought us everything!"

Sadly, he then proceeded to throw away that folder, too. Dealers don't want any more information than they are required to have by law.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I keep all my maintenance records in Evernote,

What is Evernote?

 

[Git]

What is Evernote?

https://evernote.com/

 

[GreyOwl]

What is Evernote?

10 second answer
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=evernote

 

[Mustang1167]

I did until the power train warranty ran out. Now I just do the regular scheduled maintenance but no long document it. The only thing I can see is for resale. It may make a private party feel better driving away with your used car but anyone can fake those documents so they don't hold much weight.

 

[James-W]

I keep a notebook in the car and I write everything down, even gas. When I buy gas for the car, I write down the date, how many gallons, and the cost. If I need to know when the oil was changed last, I can look it up in just few seconds. It is just something I do that may or may not ever be needed. But if I DO need it, then I have it.

 

[mister z]

I keep folders with parts receipts and any service work i.e. tires in individual folders in one of those old steel file cabinets.Each vehicle has its own folder. Have a separate group folder for small engine stuff also. That sales guy sounded like a real buffoon.

 

[sberry]

Hahahahahahaa no

 

[pmiranda]

I keep them all in a pile, but more important I keep a memo in my phone with the most recent mileage and date for oil change, tires, etc.

 

[MO-Iron]

I keep a binder with dividers in it for the farm and construction equipment.
I include filter part numbers and the part numbers of any repair parts that have been bought for each machine. Often times just having a number for something like a broken v-belt will get me back in the field when the dealer is closed, but the auto parts store is open.

No maintenance records are kept on the autos or light trucks.

 

[mikegt4]

For high end enthusiast cars like Ferrari and Porsche maintenance records are a BIG deal. Complete service records can add $$ to the value of the vehicle. Receipts for parts used in DIY work (for those of us who do all our own work) are good to have but don't add as much value.

For everyday cars, few people care at resale time. For your own information on your own car they are nice to have. I do oil changes on a mileage schedule so I know when the last service occurred. For brakes, tires, timing belts etc. I usually keep the receipts and can generally figure out about, mileage wise, when it was done.

 

[frank001]

And if so, how long, what kind?

I used to keep everything - oil changes, tires, windshield replacement, tax bills, body work, heck, even parking tickets, - but never, ever in my life has any buyer, prospective buyer, dealership or anyone ever expressed any more than passing interest in vehicle records, if even that.

Once, I traded in a car at a dealership, and had to bring in the title the following day. I brought the title, along with a manila folder about an inch thick and gave it to the salesman. He laughed, and waved it in the air and exclaimed to all in the showroom, "Look!, He brought us everything!"

I have four cars that that get driven at least every few days, and have had as many six cars that were driven regularly. If I didn't keep records, there is no way I could remember which car I last serviced or what was done when.
I keep a small notebook in each car and note date/mileage for oil changes, brake jobs, brake fluid flushes, tire rotations or any other maintenance I did.

 

[richeyc2000]

For VAG cars here in Ireland it is a big thing for those enthusiast to record everything and have services done at the dealerships.

Even the guys who do their own interim services or slight modifications for original stock it's a big thing. This is also valuable in confirming mileage as per service record and national car tests when selling / buying cars.

Plus, if they have this stuff it looks like they actually took car of the car.. Which also helps. [emoji6]

 

[kaymccampbell]

I keep all my receipts in a manila envelope. One for each vehicle/machine. The envelope goes when the pos goes.

 

[GOLF for LIFE]

I have always kept a complete record book on every car that I've owned. And give it to the next owner if he/she want it. Even receipts from gas purchases.

 

[justanengineer]

No.

 

[PeterT]

Just an excel sheet on my laptop with what and when. I don't track my gas or diesel purchase,, just oil, fuel filter, air filter, normal maintenance items.

 

[gtae07]

I deal with enough paperwork and detailed **** at work. So, no.