Service book

[Noonoo632]

When I got my car at in middle of March I noticed when I checked my document wallet there was no service book. I emailed the salesman and asked why and he told me that VW don't give service books now but he was sure there was a way to get one and was going to take it up with service department then lockdown happened!!!
I know that Skoda have done this for a few years now but my last car a Seat had one and it was fully stamped up.
What are folks views on this? Do you think you should have one? I have seen them available on ebay from £4.95 to £15.99!! Views please

[SRGTD]

VW service records are digital and have been for some time.

Although you had a service book for your previous car - a Seat - Seat service records are also held digitally now, so new Seats will also no longer have service books. I dare say this is the same for the other VAG brands too.

Whether or not dealers can or will provide a service book if customers ask for one maybe down to individual dealers, and some dealers may make a charge for this. If service books are specific to car models, there may not actually be printed service books for the current model Polo if VW introduced digital service records before the current model Polo was launched.

Although my car is old enough to still have a service book, I have always kept the receipts/invoices in a folder for all servicing and repair work carried out so I have a hard copy record of my car’s service history if I ever need this - e.g. if I were to sell my car privately, to show prospective buyers that it had a full service history. Dealers will also provide a printout of a car’s service history if customers request this.

[Steve_2019]

Digital service book all well and good but what do you do for prove if you have the car serviced at a non VW garage. Surpose You just keep the invoice etc as proof.

It’s a way of VW locking you into having your car service at a VW garage.

[Simonz]

Yes it’s a way of trapping you into VW dealerships. If you went to a Ford garage to part exchange and stated you had full service history there is no proof. Only VW can check on their systems. Down the line in used car dealers expect many VW with no service records 5+ years old or a random invoice kept by original owner. I don’t like the apps either.

[SRGTD]

Digital service book all well and good but what do you do for prove if you have the car serviced at a non VW garage. Surpose You just keep the invoice etc as proof.

It’s a way of VW locking you into having your car service at a VW garage.

Yes, I dare say this is a way of VW attempting to lock you in to the dealer network for servicing.

Keep your invoices - don’t people do this anyway? Also, a VW dealer can also provide a print out of service history if the car’s been serviced within the VW franchise network. I’ve read that some independent garages also have access to the service records database, so it’s possible for them to update a car’s digital service record.

Yes it’s a way of trapping you into VW dealerships. If you went to a Ford garage to part exchange and stated you had full service history there is no proof. Only VW can check on their systems. Down the line in used car dealers expect many VW with no service records 5+ years old or a random invoice kept by original owner. I don’t like the apps either.

It seems that the general trend is a move towards digital service histories - other manufacturers are doing too, so it’s not just VW. A quick Google search and the following manufacturers have gone digital - there are probably others too;

Audi, BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Seat, Smart, Skoda, Toyota, Volkswagen

However, for anyone with a VW who wants a service book for either the VW dealer or an independent garage to stamp, there are generic service books available on well known online auction sites that can be bought for a couple of pounds. A generic book won’t cover certain manufacturer-specific or model-specific servicing and maintenance jobs though. However, a generic service book and / or a comprehensive set of invoices for servicing and maintenance work should provide evidence and reassurance that a car has been well cared for.

I agree though that for anyone looking to buy or sell a car that’s 5+ years old, it might be more difficult to prove the car’s service history, but hasn’t that always been the case? As a car gets older, IMO the chance of an incomplete service history is likely to increase whether a service book exists or not - and even if an older car has a fully stamped up book, can you be sure it’s genuine?

[Simonz]

Digital service book all well and good but what do you do for prove if you have the car serviced at a non VW garage. Surpose You just keep the invoice etc as proof.

It’s a way of VW locking you into having your car service at a VW garage.

Yes, I dare say this is a way of VW attempting to lock you in to the dealer network for servicing.

Keep your invoices - don’t people do this anyway? Also, a VW dealer can also provide a print out of service history if the car’s been serviced within the VW franchise network. I’ve read that some independent garages also have access to the service records database, so it’s possible for them to update a car’s digital service record.

Yes it’s a way of trapping you into VW dealerships. If you went to a Ford garage to part exchange and stated you had full service history there is no proof. Only VW can check on their systems. Down the line in used car dealers expect many VW with no service records 5+ years old or a random invoice kept by original owner. I don’t like the apps either.

It seems that the general trend is a move towards digital service histories - other manufacturers are doing too, so it’s not just VW. A quick Google search and the following manufacturers have gone digital - there are probably others too;

Audi, BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Seat, Smart, Skoda, Toyota, Volkswagen

However, for anyone with a VW who wants a service book for either the VW dealer or an independent garage to stamp, there are generic service books available on well known online auction sites that can be bought for a couple of pounds. A generic book won’t cover certain manufacturer-specific or model-specific servicing and maintenance jobs though. However, a generic service book and / or a comprehensive set of invoices for servicing and maintenance work should provide evidence and reassurance that a car has been well cared for.

I agree though that for anyone looking to buy or sell a car that’s 5+ years old, it might be more difficult to prove the car’s service history, but hasn’t that always been the case? As a car gets older, IMO the chance of an incomplete service history is likely to increase whether a service book exists or not - and even if an older car has a fully stamped up book, can you be sure it’s genuine?

True - once cars get beyond 3 years they drift into the independent garage sector for annual MOT and service and the history gets lost, often nothing. It's a bonus to find the handbook and a sheaf of paperwork from previous service history. I keep the paper invoices from VW for annual services to pass on when I part exchange as if it goes to auction (which a lot of p/ex cars do from dealership) then the link to main dealer computer records is lost. If you sell to WBAC.com they all get sent to auction so any documents would be of use to a trader who re-sells the car on their pitch.
Will be interesting to see how COVID affects future car selling - currently it's all online / email and no sitting at dealership desks with a coffee whilst the sales person goes and speak to their manager to get a better price etc...service history may be less of an issue if they can just look it up on their systems. We may return to a desk based process but who knows?

[stuartrendall]

Not sure if i'm right in saying but can't you access the service history via the infotainment system. I'm sure i've stumbled across it while fiddling with my car. It believe it comes up with a list of services and a notes section. I'll double check this when I go out to the car next, I could be wrong.

[Plend]

Don't most independant VAG specialists have access to the VAG online database for updating serving etc.?

I know mines have all been done that was for the past few years (albeit Audi models)

I'm sure if buying a car second hand you can call the main dealership and they can provide details of the service history (they will probably charge a nominal fee for it though)

[monkeyhanger]

Don't most independant VAG specialists have access to the VAG online database for updating serving etc.?

I know mines have all been done that was for the past few years (albeit Audi models)

I'm sure if buying a car second hand you can call the main dealership and they can provide details of the service history (they will probably charge a nominal fee for it though)

You could insist on it under the freedom of information act, but there's always a right to charge with those kinds of requests. I'm sure it wouldn't come to that if they have even a hope you might come to them for future business. I do think electronic service records are a step backwards for the consumer if they can't easily recall and print those records.

[Steve_2019]

Personally when my car goes beyond the warranty stage I’m just going to do a print out of the electronic VW service history and order a service book of Ebay for when it goes to a independent garages for services. Plus keep the invoices.

[PeteJ-]

I worked for an independent Mercedes specialist. Mercedes have been doing digital service records since 2009. But we had full access to Mercedes Benz DSB (Digital Service Book).
We were able to record all aspects of servicing and kept customers records up to date. We could also print off full records of services for customers. It cost the business to have this but meant so much to customers to have that approval and knowledge that their service records were still in the Mercedes approved system.
Most VAG specialists should also be able to access the VW digital service records. Unfortunately the system does not record how efficiently and correctly the service was carried out or short cuts and parts not fitted that sometimes occurs at dealers and other garages.


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