Pay attention to history lesson

• Full service history adds 10% to value
• Buyers won't take risk of patchy service record
• Electrical glitches account for one in five vehicle breakdowns

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A full service history could add 10% to the asking price when it comes to selling your car, according to used car experts Vehicle Information Publishing.

Even the most basic models will sell for more if owners can prove they have been properly looked after – buyers are not prepared to take a risk on a car that they know nothing about.

'Paying a little bit extra for a car with a full service history makes buyers feel more confident that they won't be faced with repair bills running into thousands,' said a VIP spokesman.

Service histories are increasingly important as cars come with ever more complicated electronics. Electrical glitches now account for one in five vehicle breakdowns according to the 2006 What Car? Reliability Survey.

Servicing your car is important for safety reasons, too. For example, anti-lock brakes can be expensive to replace and often don't appear to be faulty unless tested correctly.