Selling Cars

How to sell your car without a service history

Selling a used car? Then you want to give prospective car buyers as few reasons as possible for either walking away or lowering their offer. If you can't provide a valid service history, then the first thing that a buyer is going to ask is “why not?”

So what can you do if you don't have a full service history to show off?

Gather your paperwork

So, you don't have service records. However – all may not be lost in terms of supporting documents. First of all, gather together any and all receipts for MOTs and any other garage visits. If you're certain that the car has been serviced recently, but you can't find the documents, give the garage a call. In the age of electronic processing, most records are held on file for years.

Have you carried out any repairs yourself?

In many cases a service history doesn't exist because the owner has some mechanical knowledge – and has therefore been able to perform minor operations on the car. This is particularly the case with sports and vintage cars.

The key is ensuring that you've got some documentation to back up your claims.

For example – have you replaced the brake pads? If so, can you produce a receipt for the pads themselves? The same applies for any other replacements or repairs to the vehicles, from new tires to oil changes.

Have a final service before selling

Another option if you don't have a service history is to ensure that you take your car for a full service prior to selling. That way you can address any lingering issues and get some documentation that states the condition of the car. The amount you spend on the service will almost certainly be less than you would lose by offering it for sale with no service documents.

Be honest

Ultimately, it pays to be honest about your car and its service record.

If you choose to list your car in online advertising sites it's against the law to say that you have a full service history if you haven't (i.e. stating “FSH”). Of course, we always recommend using Sell Car UK for the best prices and least hassle when you're thinking sell car online!