How to buy a used car safely
Buying a used car? Before closing the deal, ask the seller for a documented maintenance history. Here's what to ask for, what to look for, and how MyCarPast helps on both sides.
What a MyCarPast looks like in a listing
Some listings include an image with the maintenance history or a short link (mycarpast.com/r/...). That link opens a public page where you can see every service (date, mileage, garage, cost) and, whenever available, a photo of the original receipt. The data is entered by the owner of the vehicle, not pulled from official databases.
What to ask the seller
- MyCarPast maintenance history (public link or listing image).
- Receipts for the latest major jobs (oil, timing belt, clutch, brakes).
- Latest inspection and dealership service when applicable.
- Consistency between current mileage and the last reading on record.
Signs of a good history
Positive signs
- Regular maintenance (oil every 10 to 15 thousand km or once a year).
- Timing belt replaced within the recommended interval.
- Receipts with consistent dates and mileage.
- Identifiable garages, not just stray invoices.
Signs to investigate
- Large mileage jumps between records.
- No maintenance at all in the last 12 months.
- Repeated repairs in the same area in a short period.
- Seller with no documented proof.
How to verify a MyCarPast link
The public link starts with mycarpast.com/r/ followed by a random code. Open it on phone or computer. Check that the license plate, make and model match the listing. Each service tells you whether a receipt is attached, click to view it. If the seller wishes, they can transfer the full history to your own MyCarPast account after the purchase.
See a real example
This is the public page a seller shares with you. A real car, maintenance entries with date, mileage, workshop, and cost, with invoices attached.
Multilanguage: link and image appear in the buyer's language — no setup needed.
Selling instead? Create your car's history for free
If you're on the other side and want to sell, create your listing page in minutes. Free for 1 vehicle.