The dealership I bought my car from is no longer a Mahindra dealer and won't help with my queries

First things first: You new-car warranty is set down in Australian law, and the ACCC has pretty firm views of how warranties should work when conflicts arise between owners and car companies. So that’s one less thing to worry about.

But I would definitely recommend finding some way to ensure the service handbook is filled out correctly as this will directly affect the resale value of the car when you decide to trade-up. As a rule of thumb, the new-car warranty (and whatever roadside assistance is offered) should start on the day the car is registered. Usually, that’s the day the car is delivered to its new owner or, in the case of your car being an ex-demo, the first day it was registered as the dealership demonstrator.