CarTickMake the source of each statement visible
“Fully serviced” is a seller’s statement until you have reviewed supporting information. A useful viewing record keeps that statement, the documents you saw and the questions still open as separate entries. It should be possible for another person to understand how you reached each note.
Begin with the vehicle identifier supplied in the listing and the date of the viewing. Record which documents were available and which were only described. Do not turn an unavailable record into either proof of a problem or proof that everything is fine.
Record dates, readings and descriptions
For each service entry you review, note the stated date, recorded mileage or distance, and the work described. Include the document type and where it came from: an invoice shown by the seller, a service book entry, or a statement made in conversation.
With permission, keep a legible photograph of the relevant portion. Avoid copying unrelated personal or payment details. If a date or line is unreadable, say so in the note instead of filling the gap from memory. The purpose is a usable record, not an impressive-looking volume of images.
Turn gaps into questions
If two records leave a period unexplained, write the gap as a question for the seller or inspector. If a part replacement is mentioned without a supporting invoice, retain both facts: the replacement was claimed, and the document was not provided at the viewing.
A web checklist cannot authenticate a document or tell you whether the work was performed correctly. Ask an appropriate independent professional to interpret maintenance evidence in the context of the specific vehicle. Avoid using a generic schedule or a single entry as a universal condition verdict.
Prepare a concise handoff
Before the inspection, select the records that relate to your actual questions. Put the most important unresolved items near the top and identify the photos or documents that support them. A short, well-labelled brief is easier to discuss than a folder of unnamed screenshots.
The Inspection Brief Builder lets you practice this structure in your browser and print or download your notes. It does not assess the car, store an account or send the brief to a mechanic. You decide what to share and with whom.
Use CarTick on your iPhone to keep the viewing checklist, notes and photos together. Its role is screening and record keeping. A professional inspection and relevant independent history checks remain separate steps.