So, I have been driving for nearly 35 years and had around 15 cars in that time. My wife has a similar history. In that time, neither of us have ever lost any vehicle's documentation, by the simple expedient of not removing them from the car. But in so many ads on eBay, the seller 'can't find the service book (or the V5 etc) at the moment'! I can understand loss of the registration documents if there has been an insurance claim, and why, for security reasons, you wouldn't keep them with the vehicle anyway, but the service book...? If you really HAVE to remove this when carrying out maintenance, wouldn't it be the first thing you put back? Or is that just me? It certainly doesn't fill the buyer with much confidence about the supposed loving care and attention lavished on their Zed by the current owner.
Exactly how do you lose your service book?!
- Thread starter MSW
- Start date
Suppose it depends on your attitude to it all.
Nothing stays in my car. Everything comes out and goes into a clearly marked box folder, with all the receipts etc.
I suppose it would be possible to lose it all if I moved house, but unlikely.
Not disputing your issues with this, just saying that it is possible to adequately control the documentation without having to leave it all in the vehicle.
Nothing stays in my car. Everything comes out and goes into a clearly marked box folder, with all the receipts etc.
I suppose it would be possible to lose it all if I moved house, but unlikely.
Not disputing your issues with this, just saying that it is possible to adequately control the documentation without having to leave it all in the vehicle.
i'd agree, all documentation comes out the car, and is kept in a folder in the house.
i mean, the insurance documentation isnt much good being in the car if the car is stolen, how would i remember who i'm insured with that year to make a claim?
still that said, i dont understand how people can lose keys or wallets... they're literally with you all the time when you're out, or live in a key bowl when you're at home?
i mean, the insurance documentation isnt much good being in the car if the car is stolen, how would i remember who i'm insured with that year to make a claim?
still that said, i dont understand how people can lose keys or wallets... they're literally with you all the time when you're out, or live in a key bowl when you're at home?
Liverpool
Have you every tried putting an e85/86 documentation wallet in the glove box or door pockets 
Mine is kept in the house, and only taken out when it needs to be in the car for a service stamp.
When I'm travelling I will print out copies of all the documentation I need - car/travel/medical insurance, passport, driving licence, V5c, hotel/flight/ferry/tunnel confirmations - in case I can't use the electronic versions when I get somewhere, and also so that the originals (if they're paper) do not get lost/damaged.
All that little lot takes up about half the cabin space
Mine is kept in the house, and only taken out when it needs to be in the car for a service stamp.
When I'm travelling I will print out copies of all the documentation I need - car/travel/medical insurance, passport, driving licence, V5c, hotel/flight/ferry/tunnel confirmations - in case I can't use the electronic versions when I get somewhere, and also so that the originals (if they're paper) do not get lost/damaged.
All that little lot takes up about half the cabin space
its an impossible situation! if you keep the service book in the car it will be checked and stamped at each service, but then probably eventually get lost by an incompetent garage.
or, keep the service book safely at home, but then you forget to take it with you when you get the car serviced!
when i do sell my current car, i'll probably go back through my many invoices and update the service book myself.
or, keep the service book safely at home, but then you forget to take it with you when you get the car serviced!
when i do sell my current car, i'll probably go back through my many invoices and update the service book myself.
We leave nothing in the car either, MrsG's filing system at home is far safer. 
I can certainly see how people can lose documents. In fact our sun lost his P5, when he moved from his flat back into our house before leaving for NZ.
Doesn't matter that much, if you never sell the car any way. FYI. In all my years I have only ever sold two cars on. All the others I have run into the ground and scrapped.
I can certainly see how people can lose documents. In fact our sun lost his P5, when he moved from his flat back into our house before leaving for NZ.
Doesn't matter that much, if you never sell the car any way. FYI. In all my years I have only ever sold two cars on. All the others I have run into the ground and scrapped.
I wouldn't leave any paperwork in the car, in fact hardly anything stays in there.
I've got a couple of folders for the Zed, a "current" file. Plus an "archive". When I get a new MOT cert for example, old one moves from current to archive. Keeps things relatively clutter free and I can find it all quickly and easily as the folder isn't crammed with a hundred receipts, etc.
I've got a couple of folders for the Zed, a "current" file. Plus an "archive". When I get a new MOT cert for example, old one moves from current to archive. Keeps things relatively clutter free and I can find it all quickly and easily as the folder isn't crammed with a hundred receipts, etc.
....... and I always thought 'can't find service book' read 'ashamed of poor servicing' -still my bad never realised people do miss place them!
It is always possible to lose things eg if you move house. But a simple filing system ensures key documents are safely stored and readily accessible. I wouldn’t dream of leaving important documents in the car. If it is stolen you are making it easier for the thieves too. I’d agree with mmm-five and treat it as suspicious if the service book wasn’t available. :thumbsdown:
MSW said:"Doesn't matter that much, if you never sell the car any way. FYI. In all my years I have only ever sold two cars on. All the others I have run into the ground and scrapped."
Remind me not to buy off you, buzyg!
The Zed is pampered to death and has every stamp dotted and crossed. oh and not for sale. :wink:
The current daily shed will no doubt go the way of it's forebears one day. As I paid £1200 for it three years ago and it has worked faultlessly, it owes me nothing.
I never leave any documents in the car - I just take the service book when the car is going in for one then remove it straight after getting home.
It's probably a legacy of having handled motor claims many years ago. If the car gets stolen the service history is one of the few bits of ammunition you have to get a sensible valuation!
It's probably a legacy of having handled motor claims many years ago. If the car gets stolen the service history is one of the few bits of ammunition you have to get a sensible valuation!
Jfgoldfish
Active member
I personally don't treat the service book as a particularly good measure of good maintainance.
The book can be full of stamps telling you the car has been serviced 'by the book', but the book only asks for oil changes every 15-20k and the owner might have chosen to do little more than just that.
If you ask me, it's the preventative maintainance in-between that makes a car well maintained.
I would far rather buy a car with no stamps in the book but reasonable evidence of oil changes every few thousand miles than buy a garage queen that had oil changes every 4 years at the 15k mark
The book can be full of stamps telling you the car has been serviced 'by the book', but the book only asks for oil changes every 15-20k and the owner might have chosen to do little more than just that.
If you ask me, it's the preventative maintainance in-between that makes a car well maintained.
I would far rather buy a car with no stamps in the book but reasonable evidence of oil changes every few thousand miles than buy a garage queen that had oil changes every 4 years at the 15k mark
