What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Will a delayed service during the pandemic affect my car's resale value?
I purchased a second-hand Volvo S90 in January 2021 from a dealership under the Volvo Selekt scheme and am very happy with the car. However, I examined the service handbook today and realised that the car does not appear to have a full service history.
The car was purchased by the original owner on 28 March 2018 and had its first service early, on 19 February 2019. According to the service handbook, the next service is always due one year or 18,000 miles after the previous one, even if the previous one was early. This would make the second service due on 19 February 2020, which it also says in the service handbook underneath the stamp for the first service. However, the second service was not performed until 29 October 2020.
I have enquired with the dealership where I bought the car seven months ago and the salesman insists that the delay was due to the national lockdown and that the car still has a full service history.
Am I right in thinking that the car does not have a full service history? And if yes, what should I do next, given that the salesman at the dealership denies the problem?
The car was purchased by the original owner on 28 March 2018 and had its first service early, on 19 February 2019. According to the service handbook, the next service is always due one year or 18,000 miles after the previous one, even if the previous one was early. This would make the second service due on 19 February 2020, which it also says in the service handbook underneath the stamp for the first service. However, the second service was not performed until 29 October 2020.
I have enquired with the dealership where I bought the car seven months ago and the salesman insists that the delay was due to the national lockdown and that the car still has a full service history.
Am I right in thinking that the car does not have a full service history? And if yes, what should I do next, given that the salesman at the dealership denies the problem?
Asked on 1 September 2021 by JJ
Answered by
Andrew Brady
There will have been lots of missed or delayed services in 2020. I agree that there should have been time to get this car serviced ahead of the national lockdown, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. No damage will have been done in that time period (assuming it hasn't covered a lot of miles in that time) and, provided you stick to the servicing schedule from now on, it's unlikely to affect the resale value of the car.
Dear Honest John,
Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
Similar questions
I'm looking at getting a used car, no older than 2015, to use for about 25,000 miles of mostly motorway driving per year. Due to my mileage, I was looking at diesels but every day seems to bring more bad...
I'm about to take delivery of a brand new Ford Focus RS with the warranty approved Mountune upgrade. When I come to eventually sell, it do I need to remove the kit to achieve be the best residual value?...
I purchased a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 12 months ago. I want to sell it but there is a lack of interest in the trade for this model. The best trade price I have obtained is £20,699 for a car that has...
Related models
Genuine premium feel with a luxury interior. 2.0-litre diesel engine is impressively quiet and smooth. Excellent ride comfort. Good value for money alongside the competition. 8-speed torque converter auto.