6. Ask for the service records

Individual owners may save their service receipts. Or they may keep a record of the car’s maintenance and repairs in a notebook or computer file. Ask to see this kind of information.

Even dealers may know something about the car’s service history. For instance, if the previous owner brought the car to the dealer for service, the dealer can pull up those records for you.

What to notice when you examine a car’s service record:

• Look for signs of regular maintenance, such as oil changes and tune-ups.
• Note any major repairs, especially ones suggesting an accident.
• If the car is still under its original warranty, check that all the maintenance specified by the manufacturer was done on time.