Service History Check - £4.99
Check a car's digital service history by registration. The records come straight from the manufacturer's dealer network: every service logged, with the date, mileage, dealer and work done.
Before you pay we confirm the manufacturer is one we can retrieve records for. Charged per search: the fee applies whether or not records are found.
Best results: digital service records are most complete for vehicles from 2012 onwards that have been serviced by a franchised dealer.
Why service history matters
"Full Service History" - FSH - is one of the most quoted phrases in UK used car listings, and one of the most exaggerated. A vehicle with verifiable FSH typically commands a 5 to 10% premium over an otherwise identical vehicle with no history; the temptation to overclaim is obvious.
A service history check verifies the claim. It pulls the manufacturer's digital service record - where the main dealer has logged every scheduled service directly into the brand's central system - and compares it to the listing.
What's covered
DealerPricing's service history check covers the major UK brands where manufacturers operate a centralised digital service record. Coverage continues to expand as more brands move from paper service books to digital records.
- Confirmed service dates and mileages from the manufacturer
- Dealer name and location for each service
- Service type - minor, major, oil-only, brake-fluid
- Recalls and software updates applied
- Missing service intervals flagged
Bundled with a vehicle history check for one comprehensive check
For a full picture, run a service history check alongside a vehicle history check at /history-check (£2.50 for subscribers, £3.99 for one-off). The history check covers stolen, finance, write-off and mileage; the service history check covers maintenance. Together they cover everything material to a used car purchase.
What a service history report looks like
An illustrative example: every entry the manufacturer's dealer network holds is listed with its date, mileage, the type of service, the work carried out and the dealer that logged it. The vehicle and entries below are invented to show the layout; a real report contains only what the manufacturer’s system returns for the registration you enter.
Example vehicle: 2018 five-door hatchback, 1.5 petrol, 47,210 miles at the last MOT. Five records found.
| Date | Mileage | Service | Work done | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2019 | 11,860 | Scheduled service (1st) | Engine oil and filter, pollen filter, inspection service; software update applied | Franchised dealer, Leeds |
| 22 Feb 2020 | 23,405 | Scheduled service (2nd) | Engine oil and filter, brake fluid change, inspection service | Franchised dealer, Leeds |
| 09 Mar 2021 | 31,980 | Scheduled service (3rd) | Engine oil and filter, air filter, spark plugs, inspection service; recall campaign completed | Franchised dealer, Wakefield |
| 18 Jul 2022 | 41,120 | Repair | Front brake pads and discs replaced; wheel alignment | Franchised dealer, Wakefield |
| 30 Mar 2023 | 44,760 | Scheduled service (4th) | Engine oil and filter, brake fluid change, inspection service | Franchised dealer, Wakefield |
Reading it: mileages rise steadily and the gaps are about a year apart, which matches an annual schedule. The 2022 entry is a repair, not a service, so the interval between the third and fourth services is a little over two years - worth asking about.
Where the manufacturer supplies its own PDF, it is attached to your email alongside this table. Reports stay available online for six months.
A report with no records looks like this table with no rows and a clear statement that the manufacturer holds no digital entries; see what that means.
Which vehicles have digital service records?
A service history check works with vehicles that have digital service records. Most manufacturers began introducing digital service records around 2012, replacing the stamped paper book, so vehicles from 2012 onwards that have been serviced by a franchised dealer give the most complete results.
Older vehicles may have service history held on an earlier system or in a paper book. Those entries are only shown if the manufacturer has transferred them into its digital service records, so an older car can come back with fewer records than it really has - or none at all. Services carried out by independent garages appear only where the garage uploaded them to the manufacturer.
For the full picture on a used car, combine this check with a vehicle history check (stolen, finance, write-off, mileage and keeper markers) and the free MOT history check.
Manufacturers covered
Digital service records are currently available for 20 manufacturers. We list only the brands whose dealer-network record we can actually retrieve, and we check the make before you pay: if yours is not on the list you are told straight away and not charged, rather than sold a search that is likely to come back empty. Each manufacturer page explains that brand's digital service record, what it is called, who can see it and what the check returns.
- Audi service history
- BMW service history
- Cupra service history
- Ford service history
- Jaguar service history
- Land Rover service history
- Lexus service history
- Mazda service history
- Mercedes-Benz service history
- MG service history
- MINI service history
- Nissan service history
- Porsche service history
- Renault service history
- Rolls-Royce service history
- SEAT service history
- Skoda service history
- Smart service history
- Toyota service history
- Volkswagen service history
Can I check service history for free?
If you own the car, usually yes: the stamped book, the garages that did the work, and the manufacturer's owner app or portal all show the record at no cost. If you are buying the car, no: every manufacturer restricts its digital record to the registered keeper and its dealers, so a buyer's only route to it is a check by registration. The free MOT history with every recorded mileage is the best free cross-check on any service claim.
At £4.99 with no VAT added, this check costs less than half of what most UK services charge for the same manufacturer record, and it is included for DealerPricing trade subscribers. Read how to check service history for free for every route in order.
Related checks and guides
How to check a car's service history online
Enter the registration, confirm the manufacturer is covered, add your email and pay £4.99. The manufacturer's records are retrieved in the background - usually within 10 minutes - and emailed as a PDF.
- 1
Enter the registration
Type the number plate on the service history check page and click Check Service History. We look the vehicle up on DVSA and DVLA records to confirm the manufacturer is one we can retrieve digital records for.
- 2
Add your email
The result and the manufacturer's PDF are emailed to you. If you already bought a check for this registration with the same email in the last six months, it is shown again free of charge.
- 3
Pay £4.99
Secure card payment. The fee is per search and applies whether or not records are found.
- 4
Wait for the manufacturer
The request goes to the manufacturer's dealer network. Most come back within 10 minutes; a few manufacturers take up to 48 hours. The page updates itself, and you can close it - the email arrives when the records do. If there is still no reply after 48 hours, your £4.99 is refunded automatically.
- 5
Read the records
Each service is listed with its date, mileage, type, work done and dealer. Compare the dates and mileages with the seller's claims, the stamped book and any invoices.
Service history check - questions answered
How much does a service history check cost?
A one-off digital service history check costs £4.99 with no subscription. DealerPricing trade subscribers get service history checks included on the dashboard at no extra charge.
How long does a service history check take?
Most results arrive within 10 minutes. Some manufacturers take up to 48 hours because the records are pulled directly from the manufacturer's own systems. You do not need to wait on the page: the result and the PDF are emailed to you, with a link to view the check online for six months. If the search is still running after 30 minutes we email you to say so, and if the manufacturer still has not replied after 48 hours your £4.99 is refunded automatically.
Which manufacturers are covered?
Audi, BMW, Cupra, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, MINI, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Rolls-Royce, SEAT, Skoda, Smart, Toyota and Volkswagen. The registration is checked against DVSA and DVLA records before payment, so a vehicle from another manufacturer is never charged.
What does the service history check show?
Every service the manufacturer's dealer network has recorded for the vehicle: the date, the mileage at the time, the type of service or repair, the work carried out and the dealer or workshop. The manufacturer's own PDF is attached to the email where one is supplied.
Am I charged if no service records are found?
Yes. The fee pays for the search of the manufacturer's records, and a completed search is charged whether or not records are found. A car serviced by independent garages, or one whose services were only stamped in a paper book, can come back with no digital records - that is not the same as having no service history, so ask the seller for invoices.
Which vehicles have digital service records?
Most manufacturers introduced digital service records around 2012, so vehicles from 2012 onwards that have been serviced by a franchised dealer give the most complete results. Older vehicles may have history on an earlier system or in a paper book; those entries appear only if the manufacturer transferred them into its digital records.
Is a digital service history the same as a full service history?
A digital record shows services logged by franchised dealers (and some independents that upload to the manufacturer). It is the strongest evidence a "full service history" claim can have because it cannot be forged, but gaps may be services done elsewhere. Match it against the paper book and invoices.
Is the service history check included with a DealerPricing subscription?
Yes. Trade subscribers run service history checks from the dashboard as part of their plan, with the records and PDF kept against the vehicle. The £4.99 one-off check on this page is for buyers and sellers who do not need a subscription.
Can I check the service history of a car I do not own?
Yes. You only need the registration number, so you can check a car before viewing it or before paying a deposit. Combine it with a vehicle history check for finance, stolen and write-off markers.