Digitalisation promises more convenience, smarter systems and greater transparency. Yet in the automotive industry, the shift from physical service booklets to closed digital service records has in some cases made maintenance history less accessible for buyers.
by Vehicle Pass 7 minutes 14 May 2026
In the past, the service booklet was simply stored in the glove compartment. Today, maintenance data increasingly disappears behind closed digital systems
Digitalisation is often presented as a major step forward. More convenience, more information and above all: more transparency. After all, through the internet we can verify almost anything — from restaurant reviews to the mileage of a car. Yet there are situations where digitalisation has the exact opposite effect. A striking example of this is the maintenance history of vehicles.
In the past, anyone looking at a used car would often get immediate insight into its maintenance history. Inside the glove compartment was usually a service booklet containing garage stamps, maintenance dates and sometimes even handwritten notes. The system was simple, tangible and accessible to everyone. Both the seller and the potential buyer could instantly see how well a vehicle had been maintained.
Today, this is increasingly no longer the case. Many car manufacturers now use what is known as a Digital Service Record (DSR). Maintenance data is no longer kept in a physical booklet, but stored in an online system managed by the manufacturer. On paper, this sounds modern and efficient. Data cannot easily get lost and maintenance records should, in theory, become more reliable.
In practice, however, a new problem emerges: limited access to information. The digital service register is usually only accessible to authorised dealerships. In some cases, the vehicle owner can also view the data, but this varies significantly between manufacturers and platforms. Anyone looking to purchase a used car often has no direct access to this information. Whereas the service booklet used to sit openly in the glove compartment, buyers now have to rely on whatever information the seller or dealer is willing to share.
What makes this development particularly remarkable is that the internet normally creates more openness and transparency. In many industries, digitalisation has made information more accessible than ever before. Comparison websites, online reviews and public databases give consumers unprecedented insight. That is precisely why this development within the automotive industry feels contradictory. The technology has become more advanced, but transparency for consumers has in some cases actually decreased.
Fortunately, VehiclePass offers part of the solution. Thanks to European regulations, vehicle manufacturers are required to make maintenance and service data available to vehicle owners and other legitimate stakeholders. VehiclePass unlocks this information and transforms it into a clear, easy-to-read digital report for your specific vehicle.
For a small fee, you can instantly access the maintenance history that has actually been registered by the manufacturer — including services, dealer visits and recorded workshop data where available.
What once lived only inside a stamped paper service booklet can now be downloaded, stored digitally and even printed again whenever you need it. A modern replacement for the traditional maintenance booklet — designed for today’s used car market.
Get instant insight into your vehicle’s maintenance history.
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