By Richard Robinson
What does “Full Service History” mean? – a key trending article
I was intrigued to see that the following question ranks highly under the trending Car Ownership Advice topics on the Car Expert website:
Explained: What does “Full Service History” mean?
The article was written in 2019, and the fact that it ranks so high in 2023 is a testament to the importance of a full service history (FSH) – most notably, one completed by an official manufacturer-approved service centre. The independent editorial advice provides some excellent guidance for consumers and handy reminders for people in the trade both in promoting an FSH in their used car marketing and, crucially, in advocating the importance of correct OEM standard servicing and repairs to enhance customers’ car values and reliability.
Car Expert’s rationale on the value of an FSH is summed up in the line: “A car with a full service history is likely to be in the best possible shape it can be.” And when they ask the question they anticipate many consumers will ask, “Is it worth paying extra for a car with a full service history?”, their response is clear: “Whenever you buy a used car, there’s no way you can be 100% sure how well it has been looked after. However, if the car has been fully maintained by an official dealership, it’s a sign that the car is more likely to be mechanically sound. It’s certainly not a guarantee, but it’s a good start.”
While I recognise that there are economic challenges facing some people, helping customers to sustain the value of an FSH can be of real ££ value, supporting reliability and optimising a car’s future value.
For many, this post might be stating the obvious. True though this may be, if this little reminder helps to sell one more service plan or ensure an additional item of identified red or amber work is converted, then it will be a timely reminder that the opportunities we need to succeed in 2023 are often those that are right in front of us.
I hope it helps.
