Car Service History Check

Car maintenance is crucial to ensuring the reliability and longevity of any vehicle. A documented full-service history significantly contributes to a car’s reliability and long-term performance. When buying a used car, understanding its service history can help you make an informed decision.

A partial service history provides an opportunity to contact the workshops or dealers who have previously maintained the car. These sources may have additional information not included in the service pack or batch of maintenance invoices.

A full dealer car service history check typically includes:

• Stamped service books with detailed information on the parts that were replaced, along with corresponding dates and mileage.
• Workshop invoices that list parts, labor, dates, and mileages, providing a clear record of the work done.
• Other records kept by previous owners, such as receipts and invoices for additional maintenance work.
• Itemized servicing work from franchised dealers (often the original supplying dealers), also known as main dealer service history or digital service history.

Tip: With the V5C logbook reference number, you can access information about all the past test centers that have performed MOTs on the car. These centers may have also serviced the car during its MOT.

Using the Checkreg Database to Uncover Hidden Car History

Checkreg reports provide extensive vehicle information. By simply using a vehicle’s registration number, over 50 checks are performed to uncover crucial details about the car’s history.

Fake Service History: A Growing Concern

Falsified service histories are a common problem in both private and dealer car sales. Creating a fake service history is relatively easy, and it’s often done to inflate the car’s value. To avoid being deceived, it’s important to look out for tell-tale signs of a fake history:

• Modern cars (especially those under three years old) often have their service history logged in a central main dealer database. Manufacturers typically require that the car be serviced to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty, and this work is recorded with details such as the parts replaced, labor, mileage, dates, and associated costs.
• Contact the manufacturer to verify if they have serviced the car. While they may not disclose specific details, they can confirm whether any service work has been carried out.
• Ink fading over time is a natural occurrence, so the stamps from the first few services in a service book may have faded. However, this may not help if you are looking for a vehicle’s digital service history.
• Inspect the workshops that claim to have serviced the car. Fraudsters can easily order their own service stamps and fill out a new or existing service book. Some may even invent garage names, addresses, and phone numbers to deceive buyers. A good first step is to verify that these garages actually exist.
• Look beyond the service book. Are there any receipts or invoices for past work? Most cars will have old receipts for routine servicing.
• Check for location discrepancies in the service records. For instance, if the owner lives in one city but the car was serviced in another far away without a reasonable explanation, it might be suspicious.
• Compare handwriting in the service book with the seller’s. Consistent handwriting across different entries could be a red flag.
• Use Checkreg to gather MOT history information. This will help you see which centers have MOT’d the vehicle and whether they may have serviced it as well.

Important Questions When Buying a Car

• When was the car last serviced?
• Was it a minor service or a major one?
• What are the service schedules for the car?
• Was the service carried out at a supplying dealer, local garage, or by the owner?

Many modern cars now follow a long-life servicing schedule, typically requiring service every 18,000 or 24,000 miles, or every two years, depending on the manufacturer.

Are There Periods When the Car Was Not Serviced?

If service schedules have been missed, it’s important to take a comprehensive view of the car by conducting a thorough used car history check. Consider the following:

• Is the car in good general condition?
• Has the car recently been serviced and MOT’d?
• Is the car priced competitively?
• Does the engine sound healthy? Pay attention to engine noise when cold and warm, as it may vary.

Contact Two Workshop Repair Centers

Another recommended step is to contact at least two workshops that have claimed to service or MOT the vehicle. Provide the vehicle registration number (VRM) and ask if they have conducted any maintenance or repair work on the car.

Does the information provided by the mechanic match the service records?

Using a Free Checkreg Car Service History Check

As part of our recommended car-buying process, running a Checkreg check is essential. It provides you with vital background information on outstanding finance, mileage discrepancies, theft, insurance category damage/repair, and much more.

While the free Checkreg car history check gives you basic data, our Platinum check reveals extensive information to support a worthwhile car purchase.