Blog
Plain-English guides to service history, vehicle history checks and buying a used car.
New here? Start with the fundamentals, the how-to guides or buying and selling. Everything here is written for UK car owners, by the ServiceStamp team.
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Best Car History Checks UK 2026: The Complete Ranked Guide
The definitive ranked guide to UK car history checks in 2026. We review 10 providers on data quality, price, what's included and what each one misses. Updated June 2026.
3 July 2026 · 17 min read
Vehicle History Check vs Service History Check: Why You Need Both Before Buying a Used Car
What a vehicle history check covers, what a service history check covers, what each one misses, and why running both is the only way to know what you're really buying.
20 May 2026 · 13 min read
The Complete Guide to Vehicle Service History in 2024
Everything you need to know about vehicle service history: what it is, why it matters, digital vs paper records, how to check it, and its impact on car value. The ultimate resource for buyers, sellers, and car owners.
27 December 2025 · 17 min read
What is Vehicle Service History and Why Does It Matter?
Understanding the importance of vehicle service history when buying or selling a car. Learn what to look for and why it's crucial for vehicle value.
1 December 2025 · 2 min read
No Stamps in Your Service Book? Invoices Count as Proof
Whether garage invoices and receipts count as service history without stamps, what buyers and dealers actually accept as proof, and how to organise loose invoices into one record.
27 July 2026 · 12 min read
Car Service Records: What to Keep, How Long and Where
Which car maintenance documents are worth keeping, how long to keep each one, and an honest comparison of paper folders, spreadsheets, tracker apps and digital service books.
27 July 2026 · 11 min read
OEM Service Records Explained: What They Are and Why They Vary (2026)
What OEM (manufacturer) service records are, how each maker's system works, why coverage varies between brands, and what it means when no records appear on your report.
26 June 2026 · 10 min read
Full Car Check vs HPI Check: What Is the Actual Difference?
Confused about full car checks and HPI checks? HPI is a brand name, not a product type. Here is exactly what each covers, what they miss, and which one gives you the complete picture.
3 July 2026 · 7 min read
What an HPI Check Does Not Cover (And What to Do About It)
An HPI check covers finance, write-offs and stolen markers. But there is a whole side of a car's history it cannot tell you about. Here is what you are missing.
3 July 2026 · 8 min read
How to Negotiate Car Price Based on Service History (Buyer's Guide)
Learn how to use service history to negotiate better car prices. Calculate fair adjustments for missing services, gaps, and incomplete maintenance records.
18 December 2025 · 10 min read
How to Digitise a Paper Service Book in 10 Minutes
A practical guide to turning a paper service book and a folder of garage invoices into a digital service record: what to photograph, how to photograph it, and what happens next.
27 July 2026 · 12 min read
How to Fill In a Car Service Book (and Who Can Stamp It)
What each field in a car service book means, who is allowed to stamp it, whether you can stamp your own, and why the invoice behind the stamp matters more than the stamp itself.
27 July 2026 · 11 min read
Replacement Car Service Book: Why New Books Are Blank
You can buy a replacement car service book, but it arrives empty. Here is what a new book does and does not give you, and how to rebuild the history it cannot restore.
27 July 2026 · 12 min read
Vauxhall Service History: How to Check Your Vauxhall's Digital Service Record Online (2026)
UK guide to checking Vauxhall service history online via the MyVauxhall app and Stellantis Digital Service Record, plus how to verify a used Vauxhall.
15 May 2026 · 10 min read
Ford Service History: How to Check Your Ford's Digital Service Record Online (2026)
UK guide to Ford's Digital Service Record. Access service history via FordPass, model service intervals, and how to verify a used Ford before buying.
14 May 2026 · 10 min read
Aixam Service History: How to Check Aixam Service History Online (2026)
Official guide to checking Aixam service history online, dealer access, limitations, and buyer tips.
7 February 2026 · 2 min read
Service History Checks for Car Traders & Dealerships: Professional Guide to Bulk VIN Verification
Comprehensive guide for car dealers, traders, and auction buyers. Learn how to verify service history at scale, avoid costly mistakes, increase stock value, and build customer trust with professional VIN checks.
15 December 2025 · 17 min read
Car Auction Buying Guide: Using VIN Checks to Bid Confidently
Professional guide to using VIN checks at car auctions. Learn how to verify service history during previews, avoid overpaying, spot undervalued lots, and maximize auction profits.
13 December 2025 · 11 min read
My Service Book Is Live: Digitise Your Car's Service History From Photos
My Service Book is live on ServiceStamp: photograph your service book pages, garage invoices and receipts, confirm the records read from them, and share the result as a link or PDF. Free for your first car, no card required.
4 August 2026 · 6 min read
EV All Day Launches the UK's First EV-Focused Car Check, Built Around Battery Health
Our sister company EV All Day has launched a £9.99 check that estimates a used EV's battery health, real-world range and remaining warranty from just a reg and mileage.
11 July 2026 · 8 min read
ServiceStamp Now Offers Vehicle History Checks: The UK's Most Complete Used Car Check
ServiceStamp now offers full vehicle history checks alongside service history checks, plus a combined full car check covering both. The UK's most complete used car check, in one place.
19 May 2026 · 13 min read
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