I'm curious what people do with their service records. I used to keep detailed logs until I found I never needed to go back to them. The car tells me when the oil needs changing and the tires need rotation and all the other standard maintenance. So I just go in when the car says I should. My car also shows me the milage for my last three tanks of gas, so I just check that after each fill up to make sure it's in line with expectations (did I do a lot of city driving this tank, highway, etc). If it's not, I tell the mechanic something is wrong because the milage is too low.
I've never sold a car to a stranger before. All my old cars either go to my dad (who eventually donates them after driving them into the ground), donation, or in once case back to the dealer who didn't care about the service record at all.
So you don't plan your maintenance well-ahead, and you trust your car producer not to try to take advantage of you (like imposing shorter maintenance intervals then really needed). You also apparently own modern car, and you bought it new, and authorized maintenance is available nearby, and they are probably competent enough. Nothing's wrong with it, but as you see, there are plenty of conditions which could be different for other people. Not to forget that many actually sell their cars after some time, not leaving them to relatives.
To be clear I wasn't saying there isn't a use for this. I was saying I don't have a use for it and was curious as to what uses other people have.
> So you don't plan your maintenance well-ahead
Do people do that? I've never known anyone who plans it ahead, they just budget for it monthly and save the money to do it when they have the money and it's needed.
But this is interesting none the less.
> You also apparently own modern car, and you bought it new,
1/2 my cars I purchased used and were at least four years old when I bought them. It's true, I'm not buying 20 year old cars.
> and authorized maintenance is available nearby, and they are probably competent enough
How does having service records help with these issues? I don't see the connection.
> Nothing's wrong with it, but as you see, there are plenty of conditions which could be different for other people.
Yes, which I acknowledged. That in my situation it never comes up, but I was curious what other situations exist where it matters.
> Not to forget that many actually sell their cars after some time, not leaving them to relatives.
Only 1/2 my cars when to my dad, the other 1/2 I donated or sold to a dealer. Neither requested maintenance records. And when I bought my used cars I didn't ask for maintenance records. Which is why I asked if anyone actually asks for those and won't buy the car if they don't have it. I've only ever seen it as a nice to have during a car sale.
I've never sold a car to a stranger before. All my old cars either go to my dad (who eventually donates them after driving them into the ground), donation, or in once case back to the dealer who didn't care about the service record at all.
So what do y'all use your service records for?