How to check a car's service history

"Full service history" is one of the phrases that makes a used car advert look good, and for good reason. A car that's been serviced on time is more likely to be reliable, and it's usually worth more when you come to sell it. But what counts as a full service history, and how do you check the seller's claim?

Where service history comes from

There are three places a car's servicing is usually recorded:

• The service book. The traditional stamped booklet, with a garage stamp, date and mileage for each service.
• Digital service records. Many manufacturers stopped using paper books years ago. Instead, their dealers record every service on a central system. So a newer car with no book isn't necessarily a problem.
• Invoices. Services at independent garages won't appear in a manufacturer's system, so the paperwork from the garage is the proof.

Most cars end up with a mix of all three, especially once they're out of warranty and the owner switches to a cheaper local garage.

How to check it

Read every entry. Each service should have a date, a mileage and a garage. Check the gaps between them against the manufacturer's schedule, which is usually every 12 months or a set number of miles, whichever comes first.

Compare the mileages with the MOT history. This is the quickest way to spot a problem. The mileage at each service should fit neatly between the MOT readings either side of it. If a service stamp shows 40,000 miles but the MOT a month later says 52,000, something doesn't add up. You can see all the MOT readings for free with our MOT check.

Call the garage. If you're unsure about a stamp, ring the garage and ask whether they have a record of the service. Most will confirm it if you give them the registration.

Check the digital record. For cars from manufacturers that use digital records, a service history check shows the dealer services on file, with the date and mileage of each.

Warning signs

• A service book where every stamp is in the same pen and looks brand new.
• Stamps from garages you can't find anywhere online.
• Service mileages that don't fit with the MOT mileages.
• Big gaps with no explanation, followed by a burst of recent servicing just before the sale.

Mismatched mileages can be a sign the car has been clocked, so it's worth reading our guide on how to spot a clocked car as well.

Does a missing service history matter?

It depends on the car and the price. On an older, cheaper car, some gaps are normal and not worth losing a good car over, provided it drives well and the MOT history looks healthy. On a newer or more expensive car, especially a performance car, missing history is a bigger deal. Engines with timing belts or specialist parts need specific maintenance at specific times, and it's expensive if it's been skipped.

Either way, the price should reflect it. A car without history is usually worth noticeably less than the same car with a full record.

Checking by manufacturer

How digital records work varies by brand. We've got pages for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Ford, Land Rover and Porsche.