Knowing a vehicle's service history is one of the most important steps when buying a used car or maintaining your own. It gives you peace of mind that the car’s been looked after, helps avoid future repair bills, and can impact both insurance and resale value.
The UK government offers a free MOT history tool at gov.uk. Just enter the car's registration number and you'll see:
While not a full service history, it gives you valuable clues about how well the car was maintained.
Many car manufacturers now store digital service records (DSR) for vehicles serviced at their main dealerships.
To check:
Brands like Audi, Ford, Mazda, and Toyota offer this option.
If you’re buying a car from a private seller or independent dealer, ask for:
Garages often store service logs, especially if the same owner used them consistently.
A car with no service history isn't automatically a deal-breaker, but it comes with risks:
🔍 Tip: You can usually negotiate £500–£1,000 off the asking price if the service history is missing.
Even if your car didn’t come with a log, you can start one yourself. Keep:
Better yet, log everything digitally.
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🔗 Want to learn how often to service your car and how long it takes? Read this guide
🔗 Not sure what’s included in a full service? Here’s what’s checked
