What to look for in a logbook

On WithProof every seller declares the car's service history on the ad: full, partial or none. The logbook itself isn't part of the ad. It's something to ask the seller to show you at inspection, and this is what to look for when they do.

A logbook is the car's service record. Every service should be stamped or signed with the date, the odometer reading and who did the work.

What to look for: services at the intervals the manufacturer sets (usually every 10,000–15,000 km or 12 months); odometer readings that go up steadily with no gaps or backward jumps; recent work, not a record that stops two years ago; and a stamp from a real workshop, not a blank page. A missing logbook isn't proof of a problem, but it means you're taking the seller's word for it.

Ask to see it at inspection, and ask for receipts for any major work.