Let’s say I’m interested in buying a used car, private party. The seller says that a bunch of transmission work was done years ago (2003) at a local AAMCO shop. Then he says a few years later (2008) he had some transfer case work done at the same shop. But gosh, he lost the paperwork, so ok just going to have to take his word for it. Yeah, right.
Assuming I have the license plate #, or even the vin#, and I take that info along with the owner’s name to the local AAMCO, will they give me a report on what services were performed and when? If not, and I decide to to buy the vehicle, can I, as the new owner, get this info, even if it was done while owned by someone else? Are they required or willing to do this?
and the most help you’re gonna get is by calling up whichever aamco the guy claims the work was done at. Try to get the original owner’s name and license plate number. That should be plenty for aamco to find the record…if it exists. That’s a big IF.
That’s sorta my issue. If the repair shop has some hangup about privacy, they might just say “we have no record of that”, even if the work was done. It would be nice to know the seller is being honest without having to take it to my own mechanic to verify, which he may not be able to do, in which case I’m back to square one.
I’m happy to share repair history of the cars I’ve worked on with my customer’s permission. The car is not my customer, the person is, and I don’t feel I have the right to make the decision about divulging what is essentially personal information. The hangup won’t be with me, it will be with the person selling the car.
I will share some insight on relevant human nature – people tend to underestimate how long it’s been since work was performed. “Had it done last year” usually means two or three years ago; “two or three years ago” usually means five or more. They’re not trying to deceive, they just misremember how long ago it really was.
ETA: There are no laws requiring what you’re asking about, and I suspect few if any prohibiting it. It’s up to the seller and/or shop in question — you’ll have to ask them.
For me I would be asking him to get the paperwork - I would expect that anyone with a computerised system would be able to find the work, if it had been done.
It would be trivially easy for the owner to get a copy of the invoice - if a sale rested on it.
I wouldn’t be bothering with calling myself, if the owner can’t provide then tough titty.