Service history
Also known as: full service history, FSH, digital service history
Service 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.
Until the early 2010s, service history was primarily paper-based: a stamped service book kept with the vehicle. Most major manufacturers have since moved to digital service records, where authorised dealers log each service directly into the manufacturer's central system.
A "Full Service History" (FSH) means every scheduled service has been completed and documented at the manufacturer's recommended intervals - either by a main dealer or by an independent garage that recorded the work in the service book.
Service history affects used vehicle value substantially. A vehicle with FSH typically commands a 5 to 10% premium over an otherwise identical vehicle with no history. DealerPricing's service history check pulls the manufacturer's digital record where available, so you can verify the claim before paying.
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 to 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.
- How to check a car’s manufacturer service history by registrationVerify a claimed full service history against the manufacturer’s own dealer records: service dates, mileages, dealer names and service types for 22 brands.
Related terms
- 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.
- Full service history (FSH)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.
- HPI checkAn HPI check is a UK vehicle history report that confirms whether a car is stolen, has outstanding finance, has been written off, has mileage discrepancy, or has had its plate, colour or keeper details changed.
- Vehicle provenanceVehicle provenance is the verified history of a UK vehicle's ownership, status and incidents - covering stolen markers, finance, write-offs, mileage, plate changes, and keeper history.
- 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.