How do I know if my cambelt has been changed?

Where should you look for evidence?

Start with the service book and any invoices that came with the car. A genuine record names the timing belt or cambelt kit, gives the date and mileage, and ideally lists what else was renewed — tensioner, idlers and the water pump where it is belt-driven. A stamp that just says "major service" is not proof the belt was changed.

Many garages also fit a sticker in the engine bay recording the date and mileage of the belt change. It is useful, but it is only as reliable as whoever wrote it. Online service records held by some manufacturers and the garage that did the work can also confirm it.

Can a mechanic tell just by looking?

Partly. On many engines the upper cover can be removed to see some of the belt, and a newer belt often looks cleaner with crisp printing and no cracking. But a belt that looks fine can still be beyond the manufacturer's age limit, and a visual check does not show the tensioner bearing or a water pump hidden behind covers. On wet belt engines the belt sits inside the engine, so it is not easy to see without specific inspection procedures.

What if there is no record at all?

The usual advice is to assume it has not been done and have it replaced, so you know exactly where you stand. The cost of a planned belt change is normally far lower than repairing an interference engine after a failure.

First check your car actually has a belt: some engines use a timing chain instead, which has no scheduled replacement, and some use a wet belt with different checks. We confirm which from the registration.

When is the belt due on your car?

It depends on the engine code, the build date and the manufacturer's current schedule, which is expressed in both years and miles — whichever comes first. Schedules have been revised on some engines, so the figure in an old handbook may not be current. Send us the registration and mileage and we will check it for your exact engine.