Does Maintenance History Matter When Buying a Used Car?

Used Car Maintenance History: Why It Matters | Lebanon Auto

From Ken’s Desk

When people shop for a used vehicle, they usually focus on three things first: year, mileage, and price.

All three matter.

But there’s another question I think deserves just as much attention:

How was the vehicle maintained?

After decades of buying, selling, and servicing used vehicles, I’ve learned that how a vehicle was cared for can tell you just as much about it as the number showing on the odometer.

A Well-Maintained Vehicle Usually Leaves Clues

Ideally, I like to see maintenance records.

Regular oil changes are important, but good vehicle maintenance goes beyond oil. Depending on the vehicle and mileage, I may also want to know about things such as transmission service, coolant, brakes, tires, filters, spark plugs, and other manufacturer-recommended maintenance.

Complete service records are great to have.

Unfortunately, they aren’t always available.

Some people maintain their vehicles religiously but use an independent repair shop that doesn’t report service information to vehicle-history companies. Others do some of their own maintenance.

So the absence of records doesn't automatically mean the vehicle wasn't maintained.

That’s where experience and the condition of the vehicle become important.

The Vehicle Can Tell You a Story

You can learn quite a bit by looking closely at a used vehicle.

Does the engine sound right?

Are there warning lights?

How does the transmission shift?

How does it drive?

What condition are the brakes and tires in?

Does the interior suggest someone cared for the vehicle?

Are there leaks, unusual noises, neglected repairs, or signs that maintenance may have been postponed?

No single item gives you the whole answer.

But taken together, they begin to tell a story about how the vehicle has been treated.

Deferred Maintenance Can Get Expensive

This is something used-car shoppers sometimes overlook.

A vehicle can look like a bargain until you start adding up everything it needs.

Four tires.

Brakes.

A battery.

Fluid services.

Suspension work.

A check-engine light that needs diagnosing.

Individually, some of these may not be reasons to avoid a vehicle. But several overdue items together can quickly turn an attractive purchase price into an expensive ownership experience.

That’s why I believe you should evaluate the vehicle you're buying, not just the price you're paying.

Higher Mileage Doesn't Automatically Scare Me

This connects directly to something I discussed in my last article.

Suppose I'm looking at two similar vehicles.

One has 55,000 miles but very little maintenance history and shows signs of neglect.

The other has 80,000 miles, has been well cared for, drives properly, and has a good maintenance history.

I'm not automatically choosing the 55,000-mile vehicle.

I'd rather own a vehicle someone took care of than one that simply has fewer miles.

That's why mileage and maintenance should be considered together.

What If There Are No Service Records?

Don't automatically walk away.

Instead, look more closely.

Have the vehicle properly inspected. Look at its current condition. Review whatever history is available. Ask the seller questions.

And pay attention to the little things.

Owners who maintain their vehicles well often take care of the entire vehicle—not just what's under the hood.

You can frequently see evidence of that care throughout the car.

Maintenance Is Part of a Vehicle's Value

When we evaluate vehicles for Lebanon Auto Sales, we're not simply asking:

“What can we buy this vehicle for?”

We're asking:

“Is this a vehicle we're comfortable putting our name behind?”

Its maintenance history, current mechanical condition, previous use, mileage, age, and overall condition all play a role in answering that question.

Sometimes that means spending money to properly service and recondition a vehicle before offering it for sale.

Sometimes it means deciding the vehicle isn't right for us at all.

That's part of what we mean when we say:

Every vehicle has to earn its place on our lot.

Look Beyond the Numbers

When you're shopping for your next used vehicle, don't look only at year, mileage, and price.

Ask about maintenance.

Look at condition.

Review the history.

Drive the vehicle.

Have it inspected.

Because when you're buying a used vehicle, you're not just buying the vehicle sitting in front of you.

You're also buying the results of how its previous owners treated it.

And that can make a tremendous difference in what kind of ownership experience you have afterward.

At Lebanon Auto Sales, our goal isn't simply to sell vehicles.

It's to help you make a smarter automotive decision.

About the Author

Ken Ebersole is President of Lebanon Auto Sales and has spent decades in the automotive business buying, selling, and servicing used vehicles. Through From Ken's Desk, he shares practical advice designed to help Central Pennsylvania drivers make smarter automotive decisions.