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I included a stack of receipts when I sold my F-150. The buyer, a mechanic, was very impressed. He went through the receipts and observed that most of the common trouble spots had already been addressed. I'd like to think it helped close the sale.
Unless you are trying to hide a flaw that never got fixed, or maintenance that was never done, I don't see why receipts (if you have them) would not be provided. Alternatively, the applicable dealership or professional shop may provide their history with a car. If you can validate that you have diligently kept up with maintenance, that is a selling point for you to get top dollar.
Funny how many people look for used cars with all records and will pass on dodgy cars with no records, yet those same people will NOT give up records when they try to sell their cars.
I look for all records of everything that's been done to a car so I know, even without a PPI, what's been done and what is yet to BE done. You don't give up records? You don't get top dollar (no matter how clean it looks) as I'm just going to assume that it needs EVERYTHING that is common for that year and model car.
When I bought my BMW I got records for over $7k of parts/repairs in the preceding 300 miles, covering all the major trouble spots of that model, so I know now that it'll be good for the next few years with only the possibility of minor issues springing up.
Funny how many people look for used cars with all records and will pass on dodgy cars with no records, yet those same people will NOT give up records when they try to sell their cars.
I look for all records of everything that's been done to a car so I know, even without a PPI, what's been done and what is yet to BE done. You don't give up records? You don't get top dollar (no matter how clean it looks) as I'm just going to assume that it needs EVERYTHING that is common for that year and model car.
When I bought my BMW I got records for over $7k of parts/repairs in the preceding 300 miles, covering all the major trouble spots of that model, so I know now that it'll be good for the next few years with only the possibility of minor issues springing up.
I'd be more concerned that the previous owner was up to his eyeballs in repairs that he decided it was a lemon and just wanted to get rid of it.
I used to keep meticulous records and pass them along to the new owner with the receipts when I sold the car.
Then I sold an old beater Bonneville to a guy who had the alternator go out a few months after he bought it. I don't think this guy was unreasonable that he would have asked me to replace the alternator myself, but he did notice the receipt for the Autozone alternator with the "lifetime" warranty. The warranty wasn't transferable, but he figured that he could get it replaced free by telling them that he was working on the car for me. So he called me a half-dozen times just asking for details to make his story sound legit. I played along since I figured that it should have lasted a heck of a lot longer given what the damn thing cost (~$200), but the hassle of dealing with it soured me on passing along documentation when I sell a vehicle.
Definitely a good thing! Put "all service records" in the ad as a selling point. It shows you've taken care of business and kept everything in tip-top shape. Most buyers will appreciate it.
I'd be more concerned that the previous owner was up to his eyeballs in repairs that he decided it was a lemon and just wanted to get rid of it.
I looked for cars that had all the normal 150k mile known problem areas taken care of, so that I'd know that the car was good for another 150k miles. I know these cars in and out and those records, along with the inspection, made me sure that this was the one I wanted.
Things like timing chain guides tend to go bad at 120-150k miles. This car had that repair just done, so it's good for another 150k. Same with the cooling system overhaul and the front suspension bushings. All the receipts were for the known areas, and showed that it was an enthusiast owner that made sure the car was right.
I only keep records of major repairs, not every oil change or air filter. If I were to sell one of my cars, I wouldn't mind showing those records to a prospective buyer. Evidence of a new timing belt or tune up definitely is attractive to a buyer.
When I was looking for a used truck recently, I saw ads where the seller straight out said they'd already put such and such into the vehicle and just didn't want to put any more money into it. Sometimes these are a great deal. If you're someone willing to put the last $500 or whatever it will take to get the vehicle in good shape, you get a good deal on one that already had nearly everything already done to get it in great shape.
That was basically what I ended up with. Bought a used pickup that they did some work on but didn't want to put the money into it to fix the rest of the problems (which turned out to be a gasket for the intake manifold and a catalytic converter). Plus I bought some new parts for it that were broken (turning light lens, ac/vents inside, new front grill). I was willing to put the money into it to get it in tip top shape and now it should run for years and years without much maintenance.
So, you might think your car might look like a lemon, but to a buyer like me, I'd see a car that's had nearly everything already taken care of - and I'd think the car had been well-maintained, so shouldn't have the types of problems unknown cars have.
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