Generic Car Service History Maintenance Record Book for All Car Makes Models

Product Information

In a handful of cases, you may be able to request a digital record of a car directly from a manufacturer. Mercedes for example allows this for some models, though you do need to state your reasons for requesting information. If a dealer cannot produce a car’s full service history on the spot, assume it doesn’t have one. Excuses like: “We’re getting the service centre to send us the details”, or: “You should be able to get that from the main dealer” are not acceptable and are almost certainly lies. What does FMSH mean? Or FPSH, or FASH, etc? Thankfully, recovering a missing service record is possible – and pleasingly straightforward. But it’s important to understand the significance of a service record. What is a ‘service history’? This can also let any potential new buyers know roughly when to expect to replace such parts later down the line.

Whatever the make or model, every used car has a story – a unique past that includes previous owners, mileage, and a catalogue of repairs. And whether you're buying or selling a used car, understanding this history is important. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula here sadly, but being realistic, the best way to find out if service history is authentic or not, is just to use a bit of common sense. Let’s start with the basics:

How to find the service history of a car

We are not independent financial advisers and so are unable to provide you with independent financial advice. We are, however, independent of the funders and brokers we work with. Also Read: How often should your vehicle need service? Can I buy a vehicle without a service history? There is no requirement in UK law to sell a vehicle with some/full service history. You could for example sell a 30 year old car without ANY services and it would be legally possible to do this. However, you’d have to go into it knowing what to expect and be very careful! If you’ve got access to the service book, it might be an idea to call the garages where work has been done to find out more about the history of the car.

PSH– Part Service History. This is when the vehicle’s owner has fulfiled only part of their service obligations. In other words, they have either lost the service logs or they have not had the vehicle serviced themselves. The service history should include any invoices and paperwork from the repair centre as well as the service book, which must be stamped by the technician after every service. If the vehicle missed one service, was taken to a non-approved service centre or is missing a stamp, then it would have a partial service history. Booking a car service regularly can help you to keep your vehicle in good condition, and enhance the resale value of the vehicle if you wish to sell in future.

How can I find the service history of my car?

Difficulty in Resale: When the time comes to sell the vehicle in the future, the absence of service history may reduce its market value. Potential buyers prefer vehicles with a documented service history as it installs confidence in the vehicle’s care and maintenance. However, an incomplete service history isn’t necessarily a bad thing and doesn’t always mean anything sinister - sometimes it may just be that the car’s service history book is missing. It means that any parts used will be from manufacturer-approved sources and will match the exact specification of the original parts taken off the car, rather than third parties which may or may not match the original ones. As stated above, the service book that comes with the car will be stamped by the garage to confirm the relevant work has been completed, with receipts detailing specific work done and any parts that have been fitted. Thanks to modern technology, you can now find your car’s service history in several places. However, if your car is a bit older, it may be a challenge to find all of its data.

Some manufacturers can be strict regarding where you are allowed to service the vehicle whilst it is in warranty - and what parts can be used. Be wary of cars being sold by a “competent mechanic” (but with minimal service history). This is often a ruse and you have no way of knowing how competent or incompetent they are. This is when the vehicle’s owner has fulfilled only part of their service obligations. They either lost the service logs or haven’t serviced the car yet. How to tell if the vehicle service history is genuine? Whenever you buy a used car, you are buying a vehicle that has been used and abused by someone else and there’s no way you can be 100% sure how well it has been looked after.If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of service history, there are a few tips you can try to find out:

You'll need to prove that you're the car's owner to get this information, and the garage might also want to see your vehicle's log book (V5C form). A number of car manufacturers including BMW and Peugeot stopped issuing service books many years ago. Instead, they keep digital service records showing the maintenance and repairs carried out on their cars. It’s not just the manufacturer’s approved service centres who can update the records – independent garages can do so, as well, though there’s no guarantee they will. In some cases, you can view the car’s history on the infotainment system or an app. Alternatively, you can get a print-out from a dealer. A well-maintained car will not only last longer, but will also perform better and more economically.

MOT, repairs, and servicing

Deceptive Practices: Falsifying service history records is unethical and may be considered fraudulent. It misrepresents the vehicle’s true condition and can lead to legal repercussions if discovered. Staying on top of regular maintenance and servicing is vitally important to the long term health of your vehicle. 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. As a buyer, it's important to ascertain that maintenance has been carried out to the manufacturer's schedule. Likewise, confirming that the car has had a full service, and not just an interim, is important too.