Buying Guide
How to Check a Car's Service History Before You Buy (2026 Guide)
A seller says "full service history" in the advert. But how do you actually verify that? How to check digital dealer records online, what they show, and what to watch out for.
Sam @ Get Car Wise · August 2026 · 4 min read
Buying Guide
Full Service History: What It Actually Means (And Why Sellers Lie About It)
There is no legal definition of "full service history." Here is what FSH should mean, how sellers misuse the term, and how to verify the claim before buying.
Sam @ Get Car Wise · August 2026 · 5 min read
Buying Guide
Service History Check vs Car History Check: What's the Difference?
An HPI check does not include service history. They are different products that use different data. Here is what each one covers and why most buyers need both.
Sam @ Get Car Wise · August 2026 · 4 min read
Buying Guide
Does Service History Affect a Car's Value? Here's What We Know
Full service history adds real money to a used car's value. We break down how much it matters, which brands benefit most, and what missing records cost you at resale.
Sam @ Get Car Wise · August 2026 · 5 min read
Buying Guide
Buying a Used Car Without Service History: What You Need to Know
No service history does not automatically mean neglect. But it does increase your risk. What to check, how much to negotiate off, and when to walk away.
Sam @ Get Car Wise · August 2026 · 5 min read
Weekly Market Update
What's Your Car Actually Worth Right Now? July 2026
Part-exchange values, negotiation tips and variant-level pricing for Fiesta, Corsa, Golf, Qashqai, Puma and Sportage. Which to buy, which to sell, and what to expect at the dealer.
Get Car Wise Data Team · 28 July 2026 · 8 min read
Buying Guide
How to Check if a Car Has Been Written Off (Cat S, C, N Explained)
Around one in five used cars has a write-off marker. What each category means, how to check for one, how much it knocks off the value, and what the different categories actually involve.
Sam @ Get Car Wise · June 2026 · 7 min read
Dealer Insights
UK Used Car Market: May 2026
Listing times, price reductions, fuel mix and stocking patterns from UK dealer forecourts during May 2026.
Get Car Wise Data Team · June 2026 · 5 min read
MOT Data Investigation
We Analysed Nearly 200 Million MOT Tests. Here's What We Found.
Government MOT data reveals which UK cars fail most, what breaks first, and the mileage at which everything starts going wrong. 1 in 4 Ford Kas. Half of all Defenders. The Suzuki Jimny. The results are genuinely surprising.
Get Car Wise Data Team · April 2026 · 10 min read
Buying Guide
Your Car History Check Is Missing Half the Picture
HPI, AA, RAC. They all pull the same two government databases. They will tell you if the car was written off. None of them will tell you what is about to go wrong. Here is the gap nobody talks about.
Get Car Wise · April 2026 · 8 min read
Buying Guide
The Real Cost of Buying a Used Car (It's Not the Asking Price)
The sticker price is the easy part. What catches buyers out is everything that arrives in the months afterwards. Here is how to calculate the true cost before you hand over any money.
Get Car Wise · April 2026 · 9 min read
For the Trade
The UK Used Car Trade Has a Data Problem
Dealer margins are at 5.4%. Cap HPI costs £800 a month. Warranty companies are pricing policies on gut feel. Finance firms are underwriting on historical data that tells them nothing about forward risk. There is a better way.
Get Car Wise · April 2026 · 10 min read