A car’s service history is important but it could be missing for perfectly legitimate reasons (Picture © Mercedes)
No matter what shape and size, or how cheap or expensive the brand, every car needs to be maintained according to a service schedule that is set out by the vehicle manufacturer.
Often, however, the paperwork associated with the servicing of a car can be missing. That can be for all sorts of legitimate reasons, such as losing it during a house move or being mislaid by an elderly relative who is no longer driving.
Thankfully, recovering a missing service record is possible – and pleasingly straightforward. But it’s important to understand the significance of a service record.
What is a ‘service history’?
Typically, the service schedule alternates annually between minor and major maintenance jobs, plus a few extra tasks that are performed according to the car’s age and mileage.
It’s designed to keep the car running in tip top condition, doesn’t break down unexpectedly and ensure it’s safe and fit for the road. When the time comes to sell the car on, buyers like to see clear evidence that it has been serviced to this schedule. It’s often referred to as FSH or full service history in the trade.
The history can come in three forms. There’s the traditional method, which is where the garage that performed the work stamps the vehicle’s service book and records the mileage and tasks performed during the service. This book is typically kept together with the car’s handbook and various warranty documents, more often than not languishing in the glove box.
More thorough drivers will always insist on an invoice at the time of paying for their car’s service, and collect those invoices. These itemise the work carried out, cost of each job and any parts replaced. Essentially, they form a paper trail that reinforces the log book with a detailed picture of work performed over the car’s lifetime.
And finally there is the more modern approach: the online service record. Car makers now record and hold online the service history of any car maintained at a franchised dealer. It can be produced at the touch of a button, by any of the manufacturer’s dealers.
How to recover a missing service history
Franchised dealers will be able to replace the missing service history of any car maintained within their network (Picture © Mazda)
If you have mislaid a car’s log book and any accompanying invoices, yet you know the car was serviced by dealers that are franchised by the manufacturer, all you have to do is contact your local showroom. It’ll be able to access the car’s service history and produce copies – upon proof that you are the vehicle owner or registered keeper.
If you are looking to buy a used car that is missing its service history but claimed to have one at franchised dealers, speak with the service department over the phone. With basic details, such as the car’s registration, they can quickly confirm whether or not the car you want to buy has been maintained by any franchised dealer, and what work was carried out when.
If the car was serviced by an independent garage, then sellers will be at the mercy of their memory. Those that can remember where work was carried out should be able to have duplicate paperwork produced after contacting the garages in question.
Finding a car’s previous owners through the DVLA
Drivers might be tempted by a used car that’s missing servicing records for the simple reason that it’s cheap. Especially if it has been inspected by an engineer and given a clean bill of health. And once they have bought the car, they can try to piece together its service history with a bit of old-fashioned detective work. Send a V888 form to the DVLA, requesting details of the car’s previous owners. This costs just £2.50. But remember: there’s no guarantee past owners will want to help you trace a car’s service history.
Is a service history valuable?
Independent research in the UK suggests that any car without a service history is worth somewhere between 23 and 26 per cent less than the same make and model with a complete service history. Given that the average price of a used car sold at trade auctions in the UK is just under £8000, a lack of service history could see a used car’s value plummet by up to £2000.
Read more: How to check a used car’s V5C logbook and MOT are genuine
I’m purchasing a 2006 vehicle, however MOT records missing from 2013 — any explanation?
Yes maybe the car wasn’t used…and because of that the preview onner didnt make the mot
you don’t need the mot paper mate that all online
I have just purchased, privately, a Rover 75, which the elderly seller says has been serviced every year at a specific garage, but she had no proof of history. I contacted the garage, but they say they cant give me any info because of the data protection act??
A lot of newer cars now aren’t being issued with service books – the service history is logged online instead – which can be handy in case you lose the book – but it is actually just a clever way by the big car brands to make you feel you have to go to the main dealer to get a full service history logged as independent garages cant do this. RIP OFF!
Luckily I used a great little independent garage for my last service and they do a USB stick with invoice, service history etc all logged on it. Its on a keyring so I just clipped it onto my keys et voila… Service History for when I sell mine on. They even put on a couple of pics of some extra bits I had tidied up on the car, good for showing that it had been looked after.
Actually if the garage is registered they can do it. And also if the garage is genuine you will get an invoice to back it up.
How do you retrieve service history online?
Dad passed away service book lost can’t find garage that did it.car only 4 years old
Have a look on the registration/number plate – garages put their name on the bottom in small print (its a legal requirement for number plates). You can then contact the garage for the service history
I would contact the manufacturer’s local dealer and explain the situation to them. Or phone round local area having made a list of likely garages. Good luck.
I want my service book stamp history
Wow, Thanks for sharing it and it is very important to service your cars on a regular basis either it is Audi or any other cars.
I’ve got a lexes 300is but lost my service book what can I do?
You could try the showroom or dealer you bought from Linton?
I took my car to a garage for a service/Mot and 100% left my service book in the car (this being Fords instructions) they are now denying my book was in the car and saying they know nothing about its whereabouts! :((((((((((((((((((((
Hi there i bought 2005 reg. car from private seller on facebook. I got mot history Other documents but cant get services history. So where shell i get or how i know about services history of the car. Thank
Log book missing. Can I begin a service history now? How would I get a log book?
VW are now saying that they will not provide service history to potential buyers due to “data protection”. As if these are human personal records, not vehicle’s. Disappointment is understatement. So their friendly customer relations have been told where to go.
Hi, i purchased a car with full service history, had it for 7 weeks and it needs a whole new engine so i’m now at loggerheads with the dealer. Having checked the service history in the book the last service (when the dealer was the legal owner) went to a garage that’s now closed and the new garage who took over know nothing about it.
They hinted that the old owner done a lot of servicing for dealers only. Anyhow checked the last stamp and there’s no invoice number but all other services have this.
does this mean it may have not been serviced properly or ‘dodgy’ service?
In this article, I learned about the full-service history check. I also learned how important a full vehicle check is for a car.
Thanks for sharing how invoices can reinforce a logbook by having a paper trail. I have never used a logbook before. I think I’ll start doing it just to be safe and I’ll get invoices too.
I purchased my brothers old car, he’s lost the stamp book and service history … how do I recover this so I have service history when I sell it?
I am buying a 2007 Honda S2000 with full service from the same Honda main dealer. The service book has be stamped but there are no invoices. We have contacted the dealer who said they have changed computer software three times during the service period and are unable to print off the service invoices.This seams to contradict the statement given in “ How to recover missing service history” above. Should I challenge the dealership again
I got a vehicle on in May 2022.
It had an m.o.t March 2023 And that’s when I realised my car has no service history book at all. No service history from over 6 years!
Only from 2017 And a few before lauren Rjust on paper… I’ve tried the dealership I got it from And they just ignore me?
I couldn’t agree more with the importance of maintaining a service history for a car. This article does an excellent job of explaining why missing service history can be a red flag for buyers. It’s a wake-up call for anyone considering buying a used vehicle. Well-written and informative!
Maintaining a car’s service history is essential for its longevity, and this blog post addresses the issue of missing service records. It provides guidance on how to handle this situation, ensuring that car owners can make informed decisions about their vehicle’s maintenance and resale value. It’s a practical resource for car enthusiasts and owners.