How to Find, Check and Verify a Car’s Service History
To check a car’s service history, you need to confirm three things: whether any records exist, where they came from and if they’re genuine.
Most servicing evidence comes from stamped service books, garage invoices or digital manufacturer systems for newer vehicles.
You find service history by checking paper records, contacting garages and accessing digital service history systems for post-2012 cars.
You verify service history by matching dates, mileages and workshop details against MOT mileage and DVLA-recorded data.
- Find records through service books, garages and digital logs.
- Verify them by confirming the mileages, dates and servicing patterns match the car’s MOT entries and paperwork.
This guide explains what service history shows, how to check it properly and how to confirm whether it’s real.
CarVeto offers a digital Service History Tool for supported manufacturers, which we’ll cover shortly.
- What a Car’s Service History Really Shows
- What Counts as Service History?
- Why Service History Matters for Reliability
- How to Find, Check and Validate a Car’s Service History (Step-by-Step)
- Checking the Service Book or Paper Folder
- Checking Through Garages and Workshops
- Checking MOT Mileage to Support Service Records
- How to Check Service History Online (Digital Records)
- Digital Service History by Manufacturer (BMW, VW, Audi, Mercedes)
- How to Verify That a Service History Is Genuine
- Evaluating Service History: Good vs Bad Records
- Buying a Car With Little or No Service History
- What to Do If the Service Book Is Missing
- Does the DVLA Provide Service History?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Car Service History
What a Car’s Service History Really Shows
A car’s service history shows how well it has been maintained across its life.
It records the work completed, when it happened and who carried it out.
These entries help you judge whether the car received regular servicing, missed important intervals or developed maintenance patterns that suggest wear or neglect.
Service History Type | What is Shows | Typical Evidence |
|---|---|---|
Full Service History (FSH) | Every service completed at the correct interval | Stamped book, invoices, manufacturer digital records |
Partial Service History (PSH) | Some services carried out, some missing | Gaps in dates, missing invoices, inconsistent mileages |
No Service History | No servicing evidence available | No book, no paperwork, no digital entries |
Where service records come from
Service history usually comes from three sources:
- Main dealers – stamps, invoices and digital manufacturer logs.
- Independent garages – paper invoices and job sheets.
- Digital Service Records (DSR) – online manufacturer systems used by many brands from 2012 onwards.
Together, these sources outline the car’s maintenance history and help confirm whether the servicing aligns with the car’s age and mileage.
What Counts as Service History?
Service history includes any proven record of servicing, repairs or maintenance.
This can be a stamped service book, garage invoices, job sheets or digital entries logged by the manufacturer.
Type | Definition | What You See |
|---|---|---|
Full Service History (FSH) | Every scheduled service completed | No gaps, dated evidence, consistent mileages |
Partial Service History (PSH) | Some records missing or incomplete | Irregular dates, occasional missing documents |
No Service History | No proof of maintenance | No documents, stamps or digital entries |
Why Service History Matters for Reliability
Service history matters because it shows whether a car has received the maintenance needed to keep its engine, gearbox and key systems healthy.
Cars with regular servicing typically run better, last longer and develop fewer significant faults.
Servicing affects key components including:
- Engine oil and filters – protect engine internals from wear.
- Timing belts or chains – prevent serious engine failure.
- DPF and emissions systems – rely on correct oil and servicing intervals.
- Automatic gearbox fluid – maintains smooth shifting and protects internal components.
A well-maintained car is usually more reliable, easier to own and less likely to generate unexpected repair bills.
How to Find, Check and Validate a Car’s Service History (Step-by-Step)
To check a car’s service history, follow a simple sequence: find any records that exist, confirm where they came from and verify they match the car’s mileage and age.
These steps help you understand the car’s true maintenance pattern and highlight anything missing or suspicious.
1. Locate the service book or paper folder
Find the stamped service book or any invoices. These show what work was completed, when it happened and who carried it out.
2. Confirm dates, mileages and garage details
Check that each entry follows a steady timeline. Dates should align with the car’s age and mileages should increase consistently.
3. Review every invoice
Read each invoice to see exactly what was done. Look for oil type, filters, brake work and timing-belt or chain replacement where applicable.
4. Contact garages for confirmation
Garages can confirm whether they serviced the car and what was completed. Most keep work records for several years.
5. Compare all records with MOT mileage
Use MOT mileage as the baseline. Entries in the service book must match the MOT’s recorded mileages.
6. Check digital manufacturer records for newer cars
Many post-2012 vehicles use digital service logs recorded directly by the manufacturer. These confirm dates, mileages and workshop entries.
7. Look for gaps or suspicious patterns
Missing years, unusual mileage jumps or vague handwritten entries suggest incomplete or unreliable records.
8. Validate findings with DVLA and MOT data
Confirm that the servicing pattern matches DVLA registration details and MOT history.
Buyer note:
If the paperwork feels incomplete or unclear, ask for explanations. Gaps in servicing, mismatched invoices or irregular mileages deserve careful investigation before you buy.
You can also check Online Car Service History for many modern vehicles using our digital service history tool.
Checking the Service Book or Paper Folder
To check a service book properly, read every entry and confirm it follows a clear timeline.
Correct stamps, matching dates and rising mileages show the car has been serviced as expected.
Look for:
- Stamped entries from main dealers or independent garages.
- Accurate dates that align with the car’s MOT mileage and age.
- Steady mileage progression with no reversals or unexplained jumps.
- Garage identifiers, such as dealer names and service codes.
- Consistent handwriting, mainly where the same garage serviced the car multiple times.
A clear, continuous paper trail gives the strongest evidence of solid maintenance.
Checking Through Garages and Workshops
Garages can confirm whether they serviced the car and what work was completed.
Most use workshop systems that store records for several years, either digitally or as archived invoices.
Garages can confirm service work but cannot share any personal keeper information, as they must follow UK GDPR rules.
Independent workshops typically hold invoices, job sheets and service logs, which help fill gaps when a service book is missing or incomplete.
This step is useful when paperwork is partial or when you need to rebuild the car’s servicing timeline.
Checking MOT Mileage to Support Service Records
MOT mileage helps verify whether the service history is genuine.
Each test records the vehicle’s mileage, creating a timeline you can compare against the dates and mileages shown in the service history.
Check whether:
- Mileages rise steadily across each recorded MOT.
- Service dates match the MOT mileage at the time.
- Large mileage jumps align with periods of heavy use or ownership changes.
- Short annual mileage is consistent with what the seller claims.
If service entries don’t match MOT readings, the history may be incomplete or unreliable.
Review the full mileage timeline using our Gov MOT check to confirm whether the servicing pattern is realistic for the car’s age and usage.
How to Check Service History Online (Digital Records)
To check service history online, start by confirming whether the car uses a digital service record (DSR) system.
Many manufacturers from 2012 onwards replaced paper books with centralised online logs.
These records show the date of each service, the recorded mileage and the workshop that carried out the work.
Digital service records are stored directly by the manufacturer, which makes them more reliable than handwritten entries.
They help confirm whether services were completed on time and whether the car followed the correct maintenance schedule.
Digital logs typically include:
- Service dates
- Recorded mileages
- Workshop or dealer information
- Type of service performed
- Additional maintenance items
How digital systems compare (examples)
Manufacturer | Digital Record System | What it Stores | Typical Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
BMW | Online service history | Dates, mileages, workshop entries | ~2013+ |
Mercedes | Digital service booklet | Full service logs and service scopes | ~2012+ |
Volkswagen Group | Digital Service Schedule | Dates, mileages, service types | ~2012+ |
Ford | Digital Service Record | Dealer-performed services | ~2013+ |
(This table explains how digital systems work. Brand-specific details appear in the sections below.)
When to use CarVeto’s digital tool
If a digital system supports the vehicle, you can view its online history using our Digital Service History page.
This is most helpful for post-2012 cars that no longer use a paper book.
Digital Service History by Manufacturer (BMW, VW, Audi, Mercedes)
Digital service records vary between brands.
Below are brief overviews explaining how each manufacturer structures their logs and what information it commonly includes.
BMW – Online Service History
BMW stores entries in the Online Service History system.
Most models from around 2013 onwards use digital logs.
Each entry includes the service date, mileage and the workshop that performed the work.
CarVeto retrieves:
- Service dates and mileages
- Workshop identifiers
- Basic service scopes
Mercedes – Digital Service Booklet (DSB)
Mercedes uses the Digital Service Booklet for most post-2012 models.
It logs detailed servicing information, including dealer entries and service categories.
CarVeto retrieves:
- Service dates
- Recorded mileages
- Workshop data
- Basic service type
Volkswagen Group – Digital Service Schedule
VW, Audi, Skoda and SEAT models from roughly 2012 onwards store servicing in the Digital Service Schedule.
Entries include the date, mileage and type of work completed.
CarVeto retrieves:
- Service dates and mileages
- Inspection vs. oil-service entries
- Dealer or workshop IDs
Audi – Digital Service Record
Audi models use the VAG digital system shared across the Volkswagen Group.
Most cars from 2012 onward store their servicing digitally.
CarVeto retrieves:
- Dates and mileages
- Workshop information
- Basic work summaries
How to Verify That a Service History Is Genuine
To verify that a service history is genuine, check whether the dates, mileages and workshop details follow a logical pattern.
A genuine record will show steady mileage progression, consistent handwriting and entries that align with MOT mileage.
Any irregularity deserves investigation before you buy.
Key signs of a genuine service history
A real service history will show:
- Steady, uninterrupted mileage increases
- Clear workshop identifiers (dealer names, garage codes, contact details)
- Consistent handwriting for services from the same garage
- Matching dates across stamps, invoices and MOT history
- Correct service intervals for the age and engine type
These signals show that the car has likely been maintained as claimed.
Warning signs of a fake or unreliable service history
Look for these common red flags:
- Stamps that look identical across multiple years (same pressure, same angle, same ink)
- Inconsistent handwriting where entries supposedly came from the same garage
- Missing invoices for major work such as timing belts or gearbox servicing
- Mileage jumps that do not align with MOT readings
- Handwritten entries with no garage name or details
- Incorrect oil grades or service descriptions that do not match manufacturer requirements
- Services recorded after long gaps without a reasonable explanation
Any of these issues reduce confidence in the record and should be discussed with the seller.
Use MOT mileage to confirm authenticity
MOT history is one of the most reliable ways to validate service records.
Each MOT test logs the vehicle’s mileage, creating a timeline that helps you confirm whether the service entries make sense.
A service history is more likely to be genuine when:
- Service mileages align with MOT entries
- No mileage drops appear between years
- Yearly mileage looks realistic for the car’s usage
If service records contradict MOT mileage, they require investigation.
Evaluating Service History: Good vs Bad Records
To evaluate a car’s service history, check whether the records follow the correct intervals, show steady mileage progression and include the work expected for the vehicle’s age and engine type.
A good service history supports reliability, while a poor one indicates higher maintenance risk.
Good vs Bad Service History Comparison
Service History Quality | Good Signs | Bad Signs |
|---|---|---|
Mileage Pattern | Steady year-on-year increase | Mileage drops, unrealistic jumps |
Service Intervals | Services completed close to schedule | Large gaps or overdue services |
Documentation | Stamps + matching invoices | Missing invoices, vague entries |
Workshop Consistency | Same garage or trusted independents | Random garages with no traceable details |
Major Works | Timing belt, transmission fluid, and DPF care recorded | No evidence of major work on age-critical items |
Recod Style | Clear dates, legible handwriting, correct stamp use | Inconsistent handwriting, identical stamps |
Signs of a good service history
A strong service history will show:
- Regular oil services at the correct intervals
- Clear evidence of major maintenance (timing belt, brake fluid, gearbox service)
- Consistent mileage progression across every entry
- Matching invoices that confirm the stamp entries
- Services carried out by reputable workshops
- Documented repairs for issues flagged on MOT advisories
These signs show that the car has been maintained responsibly.
Signs of a poor or unreliable service history
Be cautious if you see:
- Long gaps between service entries
- Missing invoices for important repairs
- Inconsistent handwriting across stamps from the same garage
- No record of age-critical work such as timing belts
- Entries without mileage, workshop identity or service detail
- Services that don’t match MOT mileage or appear after large mileage jumps
A weak service history often leads to higher running costs and unexpected faults.
Service interval expectations (quick guide)
Most cars follow predictable service intervals. These help you judge whether the history is complete:
- Oil and filter – every 10,000–20,000 miles or 12 months
- Air and cabin filters – every 20,000–30,000 miles
- Timing belt – typically every 5–7 years or 60,000–100,000 miles (varies by engine)
- Brake fluid – every 2 years
- Automatic gearbox fluid – often every 40,000–60,000 miles
- DPF-compatible oil – essential for diesel vehicles to prevent blockage
If these items are missing from the history, the car may need catch-up maintenance.
Buying a Car With Little or No Service History
Buying a car with little or no service history increases risk because you cannot confirm how the vehicle was maintained.
Missing records make it harder to judge engine wear, major repairs or whether age-critical items were replaced.
You can still buy the car, but you should inspect it carefully, factor in potential costs and negotiate the price accordingly.
It's essential to verify with a CarVeto Carhistory Report before deciding whether to buy.
Key risks when there is no service history
A lack of servicing proof can indicate:
- Unknown engine condition due to skipped oil changes
- No record of timing belt or chain maintenance
- Unverified mileage with no supporting documents
- Poor previous ownership or irregular upkeep
- Hidden repair history with no traceable workshop entries
- Higher chance of mechanical faults in the short term
These risks should always influence your offer.
What to check before buying
If the service history is missing, review:
- MOT mileage and advisory patterns for signs of neglect
- Engine condition (noise, leaks, smoke, rough running)
- Gearbox performance (smooth shifts, no delays)
- Tyre age and wear, which reflect how well the car was maintained
- Brake condition, including discs and pads
- Consistent panel gaps or paintwork, checking for past repairs
- Dashboard warning lights on start-up
A clean MOT pattern, good running condition and careful sellers can offset the risk of missing records.
Negotiation checklist (use before making an offer)
Use this list to negotiate confidently:
- Ask why the records are missing, the seller’s explanation should be clear and consistent.
- Request evidence of recent work, such as tyres, brakes, oil changes or receipts.
- Check MOT history to confirm mileage and usage patterns.
- Reduce your offer to reflect catch-up servicing (oil, filters, brake fluid, belts).
- Budget for immediate maintenance, especially timing belts or gearbox servicing.
- Walk away if the seller cannot explain missing documents or the car feels poorly maintained.
Missing history is not always a dealbreaker, but it should always lower the price.
Simple risk analysis
This quick table helps you judge whether to proceed:
Record Quality | Condition of Vehicle | Risk Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
No History | Good condition, clean MOT pattern | Medium | Buy only with a reduced price |
No History | Signs of neglect, poor MOT pattern | High | Avoid |
Partial History | Good condition, consistent mileage | Low-medium | Proceed with caution |
Partial History | Gaps around major services | Medium-high | Negotiate hard or avoid |
Pricing considerations
Missing or weak service history affects value. As a guide:
- Reduce your offer to cover catch-up servicing (£200–£800 depending on work needed)
- Increase reduction if major work is overdue (timing belt, DPF, gearbox fluid)
- Expect lower resale value, as the next buyer will face the same issue
- Avoid paying “full market price” without proven records
A fair rule is simple:
No service history = lower offer + careful inspection.
What to Do If the Service Book Is Missing
If the service book is missing, you can rebuild the service history by gathering evidence from garages, MOT mileage, invoices and digital manufacturer records.
Most servicing can still be traced as long as the work was carried out by recognised workshops or stored in digital systems.
How to rebuild service history when the book is lost
1. Check the glovebox and paperwork folder
Loose invoices, job sheets and old receipts often sit outside the main book. These help rebuild dates and mileages.
2. Contact previous garages
Garages keep records for several years and can confirm service dates, mileage and completed work. They cannot share keeper details, but can confirm maintenance.
3. Match invoices with MOT mileage
Use MOT mileage entries to confirm that dates and mileages on invoices follow a correct timeline.
4. Retrieve digital records for eligible manufacturers
Many post-2012 cars store servicing online. Digital entries show dates, mileages and dealer identifiers and help replace lost paper books.
5. Ask the seller for supporting documents
Sellers may have emailed invoices, online service confirmations or PDF receipts.
6. Build a chronological record
List services in order by date and mileage. Even partial documentation helps confirm the car’s maintenance pattern.
7. Replace the missing book if needed
You can buy a new service book and have garages re-stamp entries they can verify. Only confirmed services should be added.
8. Investigate any gaps
If mileage jumps or missing years appear, ask garages and the seller for explanations before making a buying decision.
Troubleshooting: Rebuilding Service History
Problem | What it Likely Means | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
No service book | Book lost or never used | Ask for invoices, contact garages, check digital logs |
Only a few invoices | Partial history | Build a timeline from available records |
Handwritten entries with no garage details | Lack of traceability | Verify using MOT mileage; ask seller for evidence |
Major work missing (e.g). timing belt) | Uncertain maintenance | Budget for immediate replacement |
Mileage gaps or inconsistency | Possible mileage correction or missing records | Validate using MOT history and garage confirmations |
Digital records not showing | Car may pre-date DSR systems or used independent garages | Contact independents for stored records |
When digital retrieval helps most
Digital records are especially useful when:
- The paper service book is lost
- The car is from a brand that uses centralised logs
- The seller cannot provide invoices
- You need to confirm exact dates and mileages for post-2012 servicing
These entries help rebuild a history even when physical records are missing.
Does the DVLA Provide Service History?
The DVLA does not provide service history.
The DVLA only holds registration data, tax status, keeper change dates and vehicle identity information.
Service records are stored by garages, dealerships or digital manufacturer systems, not by the DVLA.
DVLA vs MOT vs Service History
Information Type | DVLA | MOT History | Service History |
|---|---|---|---|
Vehicle identity (make, model, fuel, colour) | Yes | No | No |
Tax status & SORN | Yes | No | No |
Keeper change indicator | Yes | No | No |
Mileage records | No | Yes (at each MOT) | Sometimes (on invoices) |
Advisories & failures | No | Yes | No |
Service dates & maintenance works | No | No | Yes (garages, dealers, digital logs) |
Workshop details | No | No | Yes |
Major repair history | No | No | Sometimes, if invoiced |
This table shows why MOT history is useful for confirming mileage, but only garages and manufacturer systems can prove servicing.
Why the DVLA cannot show servicing data
The DVLA’s role is to manage:
- vehicle identity (make, model, colour)
- taxation and SORN status
- keeper change notifications
- basic V5C record management
It does not receive servicing information from garages, dealerships or manufacturers.
No UK database merges servicing data with DVLA records.
Where service history actually comes from
Service history is held by:
- Dealerships (for manufacturer servicing)
- Independent garages (paper invoices and job sheets)
- Digital Service Records (DSR) for many post-2012 vehicles
- The owner, who may keep a service book or invoices
These sources provide the only verifiable servicing evidence.
How MOT mileage helps when DVLA cannot
Although the DVLA does not store servicing work, MOT tests record mileage each year.
These entries help confirm whether the service history follows a realistic timeline.
A service record is more trustworthy when:
- service mileages match MOT mileages
- there are no unexplained drops
- dates align with MOT test history
This cross-checking is one of the simplest ways to confirm whether servicing entries are credible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Service History
Yes. You can check a car’s service history online if the vehicle uses a digital service record system.
Checking a car’s service history online works for many post-2012 models where manufacturers store dates, mileages and workshop entries digitally.
No. You cannot find a car’s full service history with just the registration number.
Finding service history by reg only returns MOT and DVLA data.
Servicing must come from garages, invoices or digital manufacturer systems.
No. The DVLA does not provide service history.
DVLA service history information is limited to tax, SORN and vehicle identity details. Garages, dealerships and digital manufacturer logs hold all servicing data.
No. There is no free way to check full service history.
Free service history checks show MOT mileage only; full servicing requires invoices, garage confirmation or access to digital manufacturer records.
Yes. You can recover service history if the service book is missing.
Recovering missing service history involves contacting garages, reviewing invoices, checking MOT mileage and retrieving digital manufacturer logs for supported vehicles.
You know a service history is genuine when the dates, mileages and workshop entries match MOT history.
Knowing if service history is genuine depends on steady mileage progression, consistent handwriting and identifiable garage details.
Yes. You can buy a car with no service history, but only with caution.
Buying a car with no service history increases risk, should reduce the price and requires a full mechanical inspection plus budget for catch-up servicing.