A car’s service history contains dated records of the repair and maintenance work carried out on the vehicle. This information is extremely useful for car valuations, as it provides valuable insight into how well the car has been looked after – and the vehicle’s condition. Depending on the make and year of the car you buy, you may or may not receive a paper book to get stamped at your local garage – this will depend on the manufacturer, as opposed to the DVLA or the government. Although an MOT-certified vehicle meets the minimum standards for road safety, this does not necessarily mean that it is running at an optimal standard. Conversely, the servicing guidelines outlined by vehicle manufacturers are much more thorough. During a service, mechanics may replenish engine oil and replace parts such as spark plugs, fuel and air filters to help keep the vehicle running smoothly.

Understanding the service history of a car can be the difference between finding a great used car or one that’s set to be a dud. Just like anything mechanical, a poorly-maintained car will eventually give way.Servicing should be carried out at least once a year, or every 12,000 miles – whichever comes first. Although many people tie this in with their annual MOT.

This can be done with a stamp in the service book, an invoice from the garage or by doing the process digitally. For starters, the evidence a service history provides shows that all routine servicing has been carried out according to the manufacturer's schedule. If this hasn't been carried out, then there's little hope any further preventative maintenance has been performed either. With an incomplete service history, you won’t have the full picture of how the car has been treated and what condition it is in. Therefore, you could be purchasing a car with hidden or developing faults that could end up costing you more money in the long run. If you’ve ever been in the market for a used car, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard the term ‘full service history’ (or commonly FSH).If you have used a franchised dealership or national garage, then they will likely keep digital and paper records of the work carried out on their vehicles. A car’s service history is a little bit like a health record. It shows when work has been carried out, where it was done and — for those particularly well kept — the cost of maintenance.