Guide

How to keep car service records

Updated October 28, 2026

A complete service history protects your warranty, helps a mechanic diagnose problems, and is one of the easiest ways to get a better price when you sell.

Why records matter

Warranty claims

A manufacturer can ask for proof that the vehicle was maintained as the warranty booklet requires before approving an engine or transmission claim. You don't usually have to use the dealer: in the U.S., the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act generally stops a manufacturer from requiring dealer service to keep the warranty, and Canadian warranty booklets generally accept independent shops too. Either way, the burden is on you to show the work was done on time and to specification. Check your own booklet.

Resale value

Buyers pay more for a car that comes with a full, organized history. It answers the questions every buyer has: was the oil changed on time, were the brakes done, has the timing belt or water pump been replaced?

Diagnosis

Knowing when a part was last replaced, and which brand, saves a technician time and saves you from paying for the same repair twice.

What to keep

• Every invoice and receipt with the date, odometer reading, the vehicle's VIN or plate, and the shop's name.
• Parts details: part numbers, brands and specifications, such as the oil's viscosity and the manufacturer approval on the bottle.
• For your own work: receipts for the parts and fluids, the date and odometer, and a photo or two of the job.
• Warranty and recall work: even at no charge, keep the dealer's invoice. It shows what was replaced and when.
• Inspection reports and tire records: safety inspections, emissions tests, tire purchases with DOT dates, and alignments.
• Documents: warranty booklets, extended warranty contracts, registration and insurance.

How to keep them

Paper fades. Thermal receipts can be blank within a year or two. Photograph or scan each receipt the day you get it, and keep the digital copy in one place, sorted by vehicle and date. A dedicated app such as Lugnut reads the receipt, files it with the date and odometer, and keeps the image, so the record and the proof stay together.

How long to keep them

For as long as you own the vehicle. When you sell, give the buyer the records, or a printed service history, and keep your own copy.

Checklist when you sell

1. Print or export the service history, in date order, with receipts.
2. Note any open recalls and whether they've been done.
3. Include the owner's manual, spare keys and wheel lock key.
4. Keep a copy for yourself.