The following documents are good to have on hand when you list your car for sale:

• Title (if you own the car outright)
• Vehicle History Report
• Warranty Documents
• Bill of Sale
• Owner’s Manual

While not all of the above documentation is technically required, they’re a good idea to have. Most people looking to buy used cars will either ask for a vehicle history report or will run one themselves. It can say a lot about how good of a purchase they’d be making in buying your car. Having a bill of sale, on the other hand, helps you after selling the car by releasing you from liability.

Why Do Thorough Maintenance Records Help?

Potential buyers may not just take your word for it. Showing records from car maintenance services and any necessary auto repair services is beneficial in a number of ways. It shows them that you’re being transparent about how the car has been treated under your ownership. More directly, it’s proof that you kept up with regular maintenance and auto repairs, so your car is in as good of shape as it can be. Maintenance records combined with the vehicle history report will give potential buyers a good idea of what they’d be buying.

What Can You Hold onto That Will Help Show the Car is Well Maintained?

Ahead of listing your car, it’s a good idea to run a vehicle history report so you can easily offer it to anyone interested in buying your car. Aside from that, it’s smart to hold onto any receipts from car maintenance services. This will show that you’ve kept up with auto services like oil changes, tune ups, transmission services, cooling system services, and others that are meant to keep key systems in your car working smoothly. A car maintenance schedule is built to ensure you and your mechanic stay ahead of any major repairs and should extend the life of your vehicle. That means it can be a real selling point if you can demonstrate that you followed the recommended maintenance schedule.

A Pre-Purchase Inspection Can Also Help Demonstrate the Health of Your Car

Many car owners may not think to save receipts from every time they bring their car to an auto repair shop. If you fall into that category, don’t stress about it. You can also have an inspection done just before listing your car for sale. This will help show potential buyers how well key systems in your car are operating right now, saving them the effort of getting a pre-purchase inspection of their own. It also shows that you aren’t trying to hide anything from them in the sale and gives you an opportunity to take care of any necessary auto repair services that could help improve the price you can get for your car.