Full service history (FSH)
Also known as: FSH, full dealer service history, FDSH, full main dealer service history, FMDSH, partial service history, PSH, no service history
Full service history (FSH) means every scheduled service in a vehicle's life is documented at the manufacturer's intervals; FDSH means all of it was done by franchised dealers, and PSH (partial service history) means some services are missing from the record.
The abbreviations come from used-car adverts. FSH: every service is evidenced, by stamps, invoices or a digital record, at roughly the right date and mileage. FDSH or FMDSH: the same, but every service was carried out by a franchised (main) dealer of the make. PSH: some services are documented and at least one is missing or late. "No service history" means the seller can show nothing at all — which may mean a lost book rather than a neglected car.
The claims are worth money. A car with FSH typically sells for 5–10% more than the same car with none, and a car with no history is commonly valued 10–20% lower and takes longer to sell; premium brands are penalised more because their buyers expect a full dealer record. Because of that, FSH is one of the most over-claimed phrases in UK listings.
The claim is verifiable. For cars from around 2012 onwards, the manufacturer's digital service record shows every dealer service with its date and mileage; a service history check by registration retrieves it without the seller's help. Check the intervals as well as the entries: a "full" history with a two-year gap is partial.
How-to guides
- How to check a car’s service history online without a subscriptionCheck a used car’s digital service history by registration for £4.99. Records come from the manufacturer’s dealer network for 20 brands, usually within 10 minutes, emailed as a PDF.
- How to check a car’s service history for free (and when £4.99 is worth it)Check a car’s service history free: the service book, the garage that did the work, the manufacturer’s app or portal — and when a £4.99 check by registration is the better option.
- Buying a used car with no service history: what it means and what to doNo service history can cut a used car’s value by 10–20% or more. What “no history” really means, when it is a red flag, when it is acceptable, and how to recover the records for £4.99.
Related terms
- Service historyService history is the documented record of every service, repair and maintenance event a vehicle has had — typically held in the service book, on the manufacturer's dealer system, or in a digital service record.
- Digital service recordA digital service record is the manufacturer-held electronic log of a vehicle's servicing, written to by franchised dealers (and some licensed independents) in place of the stamped paper service book, and retrievable by VIN or registration.
- Mileage discrepancyA mileage discrepancy occurs when a UK vehicle's recorded mileage decreases between MOT tests or other records — the leading indicator that the odometer has been illegally tampered with.
- MOT historyMOT history is the record of every annual MOT test a UK vehicle has had since 2005, including pass/fail status, mileage at each test, expiry dates, advisories and recorded defects.