A service history check and a car history check (HPI check) are different products that use different data sources and answer different questions. A service history check shows franchised dealer maintenance records. A car history check shows stolen status, write-off markers, outstanding finance and keeper history. An HPI check does not include service history. Most used car buyers need both.
Key facts
- An HPI check does not include service history
- Service history checks use manufacturer dealer databases. Car history checks use police and insurance databases
- A service history check shows maintenance records, mileage and work done
- A car history check shows stolen, written off, finance and keeper status
- There is almost no overlap between the two. Running one does not replace the other
What does a car history check cover?
A car history check (sold under brand names like HPI, AA, and RAC) queries national databases to find out whether a car has any red flags that would make it risky to buy. The main things it covers:
- Stolen status. Whether the car has been reported stolen to the police.
- Insurance write-off marker. Whether the car was written off by an insurer and given a Category A, B, S or N classification.
- Outstanding finance. Whether there is money still owed on the car under a hire purchase or PCP agreement. If there is, the finance company legally owns the car, not the seller.
- Keeper count. How many registered keepers the car has had, based on DVLA records.
- Plate changes. Whether the registration number has been changed, which can sometimes be used to disguise a car's history.
A car history check answers the question: is this car safe to buy? It does not tell you anything about whether the car was serviced, what condition the engine is in, or whether the timing belt was changed on schedule.
You can run a free car history check at getcarwise.co.uk. It covers write-off status, keeper history, plate changes and MOT data.
What does a service history check cover?
A service history check pulls franchised dealer maintenance records for the car. Every time a car goes into a manufacturer's dealer network for a service, that visit is recorded digitally. The date, the mileage, the work carried out. These records are held centrally by the manufacturer and cannot be altered by the car's owner or a seller.
A service history check shows:
- Date of each service visit. When the car went in and which dealer carried out the work.
- Mileage at each service. The odometer reading recorded at each visit, which is one of the most reliable ways to verify whether the mileage on the car is genuine.
- Work carried out. On newer cars (typically 2012 onwards), the records include what was actually done at each visit.
A service history check answers the question: was this car looked after? It does not tell you whether the car is stolen, whether it has been written off, or whether there is finance outstanding on it.
What is the difference between them?
This is what each check covers. They barely overlap.
| Service history check | Car history check (HPI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer service records | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mileage at each service | ✓ | ✗ |
| Work carried out | ✓ | ✗ |
| Stolen status | ✗ | ✓ |
| Write-off marker | ✗ | ✓ |
| Outstanding finance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Keeper/owner count | ✗ | ✓ |
| MOT history | ✗ | ✓ |
The table makes the point clearly. There is almost no overlap between the two. Running one does not replace the other.
Does an HPI check include service history?
This is the single biggest misconception buyers have. People assume that because they paid for an HPI check or an AA check, they have seen the car's service history. They have not.
An HPI check tells you the car is not stolen, not written off, and not on finance. It says nothing about whether the car was serviced.
HPI, AA, RAC and similar providers query the Police National Computer (for stolen markers), the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (for write-offs), and finance databases. None of these systems hold service records. Service records are held separately by each manufacturer's dealer network.
If a seller tells you the car "has a clear HPI" and uses that as evidence it was well maintained, those are two different things. A clear HPI means the car is not flagged as stolen, written off or on finance. It does not mean the car was serviced on time, serviced at all, or serviced at the right intervals.
Do I need both a service history check and a car history check?
Think of it this way. A car history check protects you from buying a car that is not legally the seller's to sell, or that has hidden structural damage from a previous write-off. A service history check protects you from buying a car that has been neglected, has had its mileage wound back, or has missed critical maintenance.
Neither check on its own gives you the full picture. A car can have a spotless HPI report and still have missed every scheduled service for the last four years. A car can have a perfect dealer service record and still be on finance.
The cost of both together is low compared to the cost of getting it wrong. A service history check is £6.99. A basic car history check can be done for free. Together they cover the two main categories of risk: legal problems and maintenance problems.
Check a car's service history
Franchised dealer records, mileage verification, work carried out. Over 30 manufacturers covered. Full refund if no records found.
Check service history →Only £6.99 · Full refund if no records
What about MOT history?
MOT history sits in a grey area between the two. It is included in most car history checks. It shows the mileage at each MOT test, which helps verify the odometer reading, but it does not confirm whether the car was actually serviced. A car can pass every MOT and still never have had an oil change.
That said, MOT mileage readings are useful when combined with service history data. If the service records show 40,000 miles at a service in March and the MOT shows 38,000 miles six months later, something is wrong. The service history check on Get Car Wise cross-references both sources on a mileage timeline to flag exactly this kind of inconsistency.
Summary
A car history check tells you if the car is safe to buy. A service history check tells you if the car was looked after. They use different data, cover different risks, and answer different questions. An HPI check does not include service history. If you are buying a used car, run both.
You can run a free car history check at getcarwise.co.uk. For the service history check, go to getcarwise.co.uk/service-history-check.