How Can You Get You Vehicle's Service History

You've establish your potential side by side car, and are well-nigh ready to purchase information technology — but at the dorsum of your heed something isn't correct, and you want to check if the service history is legitimate or non. Sadly, despite clampdowns in contempo years, imitation service history is still relatively commonplace in the UK today.

But how exercise yous actually spot it?

And what do you do if the vehicle you lot've already bought has a dubious service record?

And is at that place a single 'cheque' that y'all tin purchase that will verify the Service History for you lot? Read the FreeCarCheck Service History guide here to find out – it always pays to be prepared.

How do I bank check that a vehicle'due south Service History is 18-carat?

There'south no one-size-fits-all formula hither sadly, but beingness realistic, the best fashion to notice out if service history is accurate or not, is just to utilise a scrap of common sense. Let'due south offset with the basics:

Inquire to see a copy of the service book. (If the vehicle has been manufactured inside the last three-5 years then it's likely that in that location volition be no physical Service History booklet bachelor to view – every bit most mod cars have moved over to digital service logs now. Run across the section beneath on how to cheque that).
Cheque over the service book carefully and if you're suspicious, notation down at least Two of the garage addresses listed. If you lot don't know them or oasis't heard of them despite it being local to yous, then that's the showtime red flag. If the seller doesn't mind, it's sometimes easier to take a photo on your telephone of the service logs. You lot'll need this data later.
Look at the mileage at the time of each Service. Generally, most cars take a service interval of between x,000 and 15,000 miles between each service.
If the vehicle is a sports/luxury car, then it'south possible that in that location should have been a "running-in" service performed at around the grand – 3000 miles mark. If the vehicle is high end and there is no running-in service recorded in the Service History, then ask the seller why. It's oft a expert practice to expect up beforehand on web forums etc, to find out almost the service interval of your vehicle. For example this thread here on M3Cutters lists the required service intervals for a BMW M4 (2015-).
Take to Google! Try searching online for the contact details of the mechanics or garages that serviced the vehicle, taken from pace (2) to a higher place. While they won't be able to give you lot details of what the service entailed, they volition be able to confirm if the vehicle was really serviced there (in many cases). A common scam is to impress faux service history logs using real garage details – this is the easiest way to avoid this ruse.

Can I view the Digital Service History myself?

In some cases, yep. You tin can request a copy of a vehicle'due south Digital Service History – for example, Mercedes Benz allow anyone to make full out a form and request it, although you will need to annotation down your reason(s) as to why you are requesting information technology (for example: "I am interested in buying this vehicle").

However note that this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and if you tin't become access to information technology by requesting it from them, the only person who will be able to, is the seller.

Note that most sellers – both merchandise and individual – will show yous the service history logs if requested. By law, information technology's a requirement for trade sellers to advertise bones service history to you lot. Some of the common abbreviations that y'all may see, are:

FDSH – Total Dealer Service History (sometimes called Main Dealer Service History / MDSH). This is when the vehicle has always been serviced past the manufacturer. A "Main Dealer" for example will be a Vauxhall dealer, possibly where the car was bought from, when make new. FDSH is the all-time selection, but yous will pay a premium for the privilege.
FSH – Total Service History. This is well-nigh equally every bit skilful; it's applicable only when the vehicle has a full service history, i.e. none have been missed or failed.
PSH – Part Service History. This is when the vehicle's possessor has fulfiled only role of their service obligations. In other words, they have either lost the service logs or they have not had the vehicle serviced themselves.

Should you buy a vehicle with no service history?

There is no requirement in U.k. law to sell a vehicle with some/full service history. You could for example sell a 30 yr old auto without ANY services and it would be legally possible to do this. However, yous'd have to go into it knowing what to expect and be very conscientious!

When information technology comes to buying & selling cars, it'southward worth making some generalisations. It pays to know the divergence between a proficient seller and a poor seller. A adept seller will keep nearly receipts for larger purchases made for the vehicle. They volition also proceed the vehicle fully insured, MOT'd and taxed. They will service the vehicle when required and not overrun the service intervals. Verify if the seller is a adept or poor seller by using our free machine bank check service here.

How much tin can I salve past buying a motorcar without Full Service History?

Equally per the Telegraph article here from a few years agone, according to their research: a vehicle *without* Full Service History (FSH), i.e. only partial, volition sell for around -23% less, than the equivalent vehicle with full dealer service history.

If you're seriously considering buying a vehicle with merely partial service history then be sure to take this into account. Be ready to haggle with the seller. Vehicle values are seriously dented past missed services, and so become negotiating.

What about Main Dealer Service History? Does that make a difference?

Generally, the difference betwixt Principal Dealer and Full Service History in terms of purchase price is minimal. Information technology's really simply a personal preference, although research shows that as long as there's a Full service history with the vehicle (and it's genuine), then that's without dubiousness the all-time way to purchase or sell a vehicle privately.

Exist wary of cars being sold past a "competent mechanic" (only with minimal service history). This is often a ruse and you lot accept no way of knowing how competent or incompetent they are.

Is there such a thing every bit a 'Total Service History Bank check'?

Not actually. There is no such thing every bit a service history check from us or any other provider… although you tin run most of the above checks yourself in a few minutes. If you want to check for things similar: outstanding vehicle finance, import/export condition then brand sure to run a vehicle check with us here.

Summary: Be sure to check the mileage history, the garage/mechanic details, and the type of service. Run your own checks on each of them. Of class this may involve some lengthy legwork if the vehicle is older, simply these due diligence checks are definitely worth your time now. The worst case scenario is that you lot get scammed into buying a consummate dud.