How to Check a Car's Service History Online

You can check a car's service history online using just the registration number. A service history check pulls digital records from franchised dealer networks, showing every service visit, the mileage recorded, and (on newer cars) what work was carried out. These records are held by the manufacturer and cannot be altered by the seller. It costs £6.99 and covers over 30 UK manufacturers. If no records are found, you get a full automatic refund.

How do I check a car's service history?

1. Enter the registration number at getcarwise.co.uk/service-history-check. The system confirms the car exists and shows you the make, model, colour and year.
2. Pay £6.99. If no franchised dealer records are found for the car, you get a full automatic refund. You only pay if there are records to show.
3. Read the report. You will see every franchised dealer visit with dates, mileage, work carried out (where available) and the servicing dealer. The report also includes a mileage chart cross-referenced against MOT data and AI analysis of the service pattern.

The report is delivered instantly in your browser. If you enter an email address at checkout, you also get a PDF copy by email.

What does a service history check show?

The check covers over 30 manufacturers including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Vauxhall, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Skoda, SEAT, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche.

For each dealer visit, you will see:

• Date of the visit
• Mileage recorded at the time
• Work carried out (on newer cars, typically 2012 onwards)
• Servicing dealer name (where available)
• Type of visit (scheduled service, repair, delivery inspection)

The mileage from each service visit is plotted alongside the car's MOT history on a timeline chart. This makes it easy to spot mileage that does not add up. If the car was recorded at 50,000 miles at a service and then 42,000 miles at an MOT three months later, the chart will show it clearly.

What does a service history check not cover?

Independent garage servicing. The check only covers franchised dealer records. If the car was serviced at an independent garage, those visits will not appear. No records does not mean the car was never serviced. It means it was not serviced within the manufacturer's dealer network. See What does full service history actually mean? for more on this.

Stolen, written-off, or finance status. A service history check and a car history check are different products. Service history tells you if the car was maintained. A history check tells you if the car is safe to buy. You probably want both.

What should I look for in the results?

Regular intervals. Most manufacturers recommend servicing every 12 months or every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. A service every year with steady mileage increments is a good sign. Large gaps suggest the car was not maintained on schedule.

Consistent mileage. The mileage should go up steadily from one visit to the next. If it drops or stays flat over a long period, something is wrong. The report flags this automatically.

Dealer to independent switch. It is common for cars to switch from dealer servicing to independent garages once the manufacturer warranty expires, usually at three or four years. If the digital records stop at that point, it does not mean the car stopped being serviced. But if the seller is claiming full service history, the remaining services need to be verified through other means.

Can I check a car's service history for free?

There is no free way to check franchised dealer service records. However, there are two free checks that give you partial information:

MOT history at gov.uk/check-mot-history shows the mileage at each MOT test. This helps verify the odometer but does not confirm servicing.

DVLA vehicle enquiry at gov.uk confirms make, model, tax and MOT status. It does not include service history, write-offs, or finance.