Should I buy a car if its service history is missing?
I have tested and driven a 2008 Volvo V70 2.4D for sale with 43,000 miles on the clock and an asking price of £9850. The car is in excellent condition, two recorded owners since new and a stamped service history logbook from a main Volvo dealer.
It had an inspection service in 2008, annual service in 2009, annual service in 2010, annual service in 2011 at approx 33,000, and another in 2013 at approx 40,000 (all main dealer Volvo).The next service is due November 2014. It therefore seems to have missed an annual service technically as it covered a period of two years between services, but covered less than 7000 miles in this time. It cannot therefore be said the car has a 'full service history'.
Does this affect this cars value, and if so by how much?
Don't buy the car. Unless it has had an oil and filter change at least every 10,000 miles or every year (whichever comes first) its servicing has been inadequate and will probably lead to problems.
Answered by Honest John on