Check Service History

A Service History Check costs £4.99 and provides a report of the available digital service records alongside MOT and mileage history.

Alternatively, you can ask the seller for the service book and any receipts or invoices for work carried out.

You can also use our free MOT Check to view previous test results and recorded mileage, but MOT records don’t replace a vehicle’s service history.

Not necessarily. The report uses available records from the manufacturer’s digital service history. Some garages may not add the work they complete to that system.

For example, a vehicle may have been serviced by a local garage that provided a paper invoice without updating the digital record. That service may not appear in the report, even though the work was carried out.

If there’s a gap, ask the seller for the service book or invoices covering that period. A missing digital record doesn’t automatically mean the vehicle missed a service, but it’s worth checking before you buy.

Service history records maintenance work, such as an oil change or replacement filters. MOT history records the results of MOT tests, including passes, failures, advisories and mileage readings.

A vehicle passing its MOT doesn’t tell you whether its scheduled servicing has been completed. Checking both gives you more information about the vehicle than relying on either record alone.

If you only need the test results, you can use our free MOT Check.

You can find your car’s service history in its service book, servicing invoices or the manufacturer’s digital service records. You can also purchase a digital service history report from our website using the vehicle’s registration.

If you’re buying a used vehicle, ask the seller for the service book and any receipts or invoices. Compare the dates, mileage and work listed with the digital records to help identify anything that needs explaining.

If the service book is missing or there are gaps in the records, contact the garage that carried out the work or a franchised dealership. Ask what records they hold and what information they need from you to access them. Some manufacturers also provide service records through an owner portal.

Keep any documents you obtain. They may help explain gaps in the digital history when you come to sell the vehicle.

A full service history provides evidence that the vehicle has been serviced in line with the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. This may be recorded in a service book, invoices, digital records or a combination of these.

A digital report alone may not contain every record, so check any supporting paperwork before deciding whether the history is complete.

A part service history means there are records of some services, but the history is incomplete. You may also see it described as a partial service history or PSH.

This could mean a service was missed, or that the paperwork or digital record is missing. Ask the seller about any gaps and see whether invoices or records from the servicing garage can help explain them.

A missing full service history doesn’t automatically mean you should rule out the vehicle, but you’ll need to investigate the gaps before deciding to buy.

Ask the seller which records are missing and whether they can provide invoices or obtain copies from the servicing garage. Compare the evidence with the manufacturer’s service schedule, especially for important work such as a timing belt replacement where applicable.

If the history can’t be confirmed, consider an independent inspection and allow for any servicing or maintenance that may be due when deciding what to pay. An inspection can help assess the vehicle’s current condition, but it can’t prove that past servicing took place.

If the seller’s explanation doesn’t match the records, get the discrepancy resolved before going ahead.

You should also be aware that the manufacturer warranty or guarantee could be affected in some cases if the vehicle hasn't been serviced in line with the service schedule.

Yes, you can still sell a car without service history, but buyers may be more cautious and it could affect the price they’re willing to pay.

Before advertising it, check whether you can recover digital service records or obtain copies of invoices from garages that worked on the vehicle. Even a partial record can give a buyer more information than no records at all.

Be clear about which records you have and which are missing. Having the vehicle serviced now gives you a record of the latest work, but it doesn’t replace its earlier service history.

Check the dates and mileage between services against the manufacturer’s service schedule for the vehicle. Look at the work recorded as well as the number of service entries, particularly if the seller says an important item has already been replaced.

If the mileage doesn’t line up, ask for supporting documents. A difference could be a recording mistake, but a larger unexplained drop needs investigating before you make a decision. Our Mileage Check explains common discrepancies in more detail.

The report also shows the last four digits of the VIN. Compare these with the physical vehicle to help confirm the service records relate to the vehicle you’re viewing.

Service records can help you ask better questions, but they don’t confirm the vehicle’s current mechanical condition. You should still inspect it in person. For additional checks such as outstanding finance and insurance write-offs, get a Car History Check.