UKC

Given we don’t have paper service records anymore, does anyone know if/how it’s possible to recover service records for a vehicle if the servicing garage (independent) has ceased trading?

Speak to the manufacturer garage. Quite often the digital service records are logged with the manufacturers system.

It's a long shot but they might have also used a system like Digital-Servicebook (I'm sure others exist).

I doubt they created their own service if it's a small independent so they'll be out there somewhere. Does the receipt give any clues?

I don’t have receipts. I’m trying to buy a campervan.. it was serviced by the conversion company who have gone out of business (Covid).

Either it'll be entered in a manufacturer's database or you'll have a paper record book (plenty of cars still have the latter, mine does and it's a 2023 model).  At worst you've kept the receipts - you have, haven't you?

If you paid cash and got no receipt there is probably no record and you've created your own problem to assist in a bit of tax evasion

A converted campervan really should have a service book.  It's only premium cars that have it purely online and even that is very recent.

I guess they've lost it, in which case there will be no record.  Garages won't keep a record themselves.

My T6 is all online(2019 model). It got its 1st service after year 1 by the convertors though and that one is missing as they didn't have access to the VW system.

Interesting.  My recent cars have been a 2018 Ford Kuga and now a 2023 Kia Ceed and neither even has the option of online service record that I know of.  I guess VW were early adopters, but I suppose they are sort of in the premium-ish market (certainly the Transporter is an extremely expensive vehicle, particularly the factory van versions, and the Passat and large SUVs are in the same market as Beemers and Mercs).

It's mostly done to nudge people into going to main dealers for overpriced services...

I get itemised paper receipts for all services and repairs and I’d be suspicious of a vehicle without them if I was spending over £10k.

How did a campervan conversion company go out of business during covid? Campervan prices went through the roof and waiting lists to get a van converted grew like mad!  

Interesting! This is exactly the situation in the van I’m looking at (2020 t6). Maybe VW would have records. Do you just call them up?

They might help, failing that the local dealers.

Mine are always really helpful but your mileage may vary.

Well this was the win! VW provided owner with service records for all years except one (when it was converted and probably didn’t have a ‘service’ per se). Think there was a small fee but I didn’t pay it.. 😉 

Most car manufacturers do hold online records. Where online service records werent standard at the vechicles date of manufacture there will also be a physical service book. Check when the car manufacturer started online service records against when yours was made to determine this. 

Edit, just seen VW provided their service history. Happy days

Unlike work where I failed miserably I am glad to have helped someone today.

Great news!