Most larger shops, dealerships included, report their repairs to Carfax for ease of record keeping. Having the car properly aligned also prevents the need to replace all four tires at once (which can be very expensive) due to uneven wear.But there are some records in the service history of a car which are more important to look out for. For example, many vehicles require that the timing belt be changed every 100,000-120,000 kilometers. Front bumper, fascia, headlights, grille, and Johnson rod replaced." US Import Statistics Electrical system serviced 08/22/2005 Virginia Motor Vehicle Dept. ).Just because the previous owner cannot provide them to you directly, it doesn’t mean the service history doesn’t still exist. Today's vehicle identification number (VIN) is comprised 17 letters and digits. The rest of it though?

Flood- and fire-damaged vehicles are often put on sale hundreds or thousands of miles from where the damage occurred. Use the CARFAX search as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to … Read our article on avoiding flood-damaged cars for more information on the topic. It may not capture every single change of ownership, but Carfax will definitely tell you if the title is branded salvage/reconstructed/flood etc. A vehicle history report or a VIN check from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) can tell you if a vehicle has been reported stolen but not recovered. I've seen this happen several times before- someone buys a used car with a clean Carfax, and two years later suddenly it's got a wreck on the history from a year before they bought it. Additionally, in many cases, the mileage at the time of the service is recorded as well, giving potential buyers a deeper look into the vehicle’s past.The service history of a car should show most of the above mentioned maintenance types. during a move, accidentally thrown away, etc. CARFAX takes a look at these questions and explains the importance of the service history of a car, as well as where you can find the complete history of service records.The service history of a car consists of any maintenance work done on a vehicle, regardless of the frequency, difficulty, or cost. Accidents can occur due to an unforeseen mechanical failure. This electrical system is intergraded throughout the car to communicate with each part using a central computer which runs the engine or main electric motor. Some will send over an itemized list of what was repaired, while some will only say that the vehicle was in the shop. That's a crapshoot. Clean Carfax!" A snapped timing belt can also lead to an engine replacement being necessary, which increases the costs of repair significantly.Without having the service history of a car, it’s very difficult to know if and when this maintenance has been performed.One of the greatest benefits of buying a vehicle which includes with the service history, is the peace of mind it brings with it. This builds trust in a situation where the customer could potentially walk away from the sale.CARFAX’s ever growing database has over 14 billion records from sources around the globe. 4) Carfax does not verify its information. While a stack of service records doesn’t automatically mean the vehicle is in perfect condition, it is still a good sign.Used cars shoppers will learn quickly that the previous owner doesn’t always keep the service history of a car. Usually not. Some will report the severity of the wreck and whether the airbags were deployed. What it doesn't say is "Accident Reported." 33085 miles (10/31/06), 52629 miles (4/6/10), 56876 miles (2/14/11), 60824 miles (4/16/12) its a 2004 jeep grand cherokee with 61000 miles.
But just how important is the service history of a car? When a timing or serpentine belt fails, your car will break down wherever it is, and there is a risk that other important parts will be damaged due to the failure.