When I had to sell my car like most of the general public, we are at the mercy of people who want information about every minute detail of how the car was treated, how long you have had it and any problems you have had with it. This is why keeping a log book and Service History is pretty important. Even if you bought the car second hand and the car didn’t come with a log book – start one. This way you can present the seller with everything that you have done to the car since you have owned it. Many people neglect keeping a log book up to date, when it comes time to sell the car they have trouble answering questions about how the car was maintained.
You don’t need the original dealers log book that came with the car if the car is second hand. Just get a notepad and rule up some lines to make some columns. Create a date column, a column that records what you had done on said date and a column that records how many miles were on the clock when it was done. You may also want to add another column that records when you when you next need to perform that maintenance again. That way when you are selling the car the potential buyer knows when they need to do the same. Selling a car is far from rocket science and neither is maintaining it; keeping a log book makes it even easier.
Many new cars come with a log book for doing just this. I have even gone as far as having a second log book that records the miles per gallon I am getting. This also helps you work out how weather, city driving (or country driving) and the car’s engine health has an effect on your fuel consumption. All of this will be pretty handy to have when you are selling a car as it goes a long way to show how well you have cared for your car. It may seem anal but if the buyer sees how much work you have invested in recording information about the car they will feel like you have been equally meticulous with caring for the car.
Some information that is worth recording in a log book includes the date of your last oil change, the date of your last tyre change and wheel alignment, any major mechanical work you have had done and any major body work that has needed doing. Knowing all of this will help you know everything about the car so you won’t be disarmed by any questions the buyer throws at you when selling a car. While it may seem like a chore it will pay dividends when the buyer is concerned about how the car is likely to perform in the future. They may have a family or are buying it for a loved one to drive. The last thing they want is the car failing on them or putting them at risk. They will also know when to change the oil next.