Published November 2026.
A full service history is one of the best signs a used car has been looked after, and it adds real value. That’s exactly why service histories are faked. This guide explains where to find a car’s service records, how to check they’re genuine, and what a missing history means.
Paper books and digital service records
Older cars usually have a paper service book stamped by each garage. Most newer cars have a digital service record instead, held by the manufacturer and its dealers: Ford, for example, has issued digital records for cars sold since 2022, and Mercedes-Benz since 2008. The owner can often see the record in the manufacturer’s app, and franchised dealers can look it up or print it.
Work done by independent garages may not appear on a manufacturer’s digital record, so invoices matter too. Servicing at an independent garage doesn’t void a warranty, as long as the work follows the manufacturer’s schedule.
How to check a service history is genuine
- Compare it with the MOT history. Every MOT records the date and mileage. Service stamps should fit between them: a service at 60,000 miles dated after an MOT at 70,000 doesn’t add up. Our MOT history check shows every test.
- Phone the garages. Any garage that stamped the book should have a record of the work. A garage that’s never heard of the car, or doesn’t exist, is a red flag.
- Ask a franchised dealer for the digital record, if the car has one.
- Look for invoices, which should list parts, labour, mileage and the registration.
- Examine the stamps: identical ink, handwriting and pen pressure across years of services, stamps from garages far from where the car lived, or a book that looks newer than the car are all warning signs.
Fake service stamps are a real problem
Blank service books and fake dealer stamps are sold online. In 2024, Lancashire Trading Standards prosecuted a seller who had sold more than 2,200 service booklets on eBay, some pre-stamped with fake Ford dealer stamps; he was jailed for 31 months. In 2021 a Reading eBay seller was jailed for three years after around 3,700 sales of fake books, with 29 fake dealer stamps found at his home.
A fake history often goes with a clocked car, to make a lower mileage look believable. Our mileage check compares a car’s mileage with over 180 million readings, and it’s part of every Silver and Gold check.
Why service history matters
- The cambelt: many engines need the timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles or five to seven years. If it hasn’t been done, a snapped belt can wreck the engine. Check the handbook for the interval and ask for proof it was changed.
- Value: trading standards and industry estimates suggest a full, genuine dealer history can add 10% to 30% to a car’s value, and a missing one can cut it sharply.
- Warranty and recalls: a car still under warranty needs servicing to schedule, and dealers usually carry out outstanding recall work at a service.
What if there’s no service history?
It doesn’t automatically mean a bad car, but it means you’re relying on the car’s condition alone. Pay less, budget for a full service and cambelt change straight away, and have the car inspected. Run a full car history check first, so you know it isn’t stolen, written off or carrying finance.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a car’s service history online?
If the car has a digital service record, a franchised dealer for that make can look it up, and the owner can often see it in the manufacturer’s app. You can check the MOT history online for free to compare dates and mileages.
Can you check service history with the registration number?
Not publicly. Service records belong to the garages and the manufacturer. The MOT history, which you can check by registration, is the best public cross-check.
How can you tell if a service stamp is fake?
Compare the dates and mileages with the MOT history, phone the garage that stamped it, and look for identical ink and handwriting across several years.
Does a full service history add value?
Yes. Estimates vary, but a genuine full history can add 10% to 30% to a used car’s value.
Sources
- GOV.UK: check MOT history
- Lancashire County Council: counterfeit service booklets prosecution (11 April 2024)
- Reading Borough Council: jail for selling fake service history books (25 May 2021)
- Competition and Markets Authority: guidance on motor vehicle agreements (June 2023)
- Business Companion (trading standards): used car sales
Check a car’s mileage and MOT history before you trust its service book, with a full car history check.
