Official manufacturer service records-7 in 10 cars have manufacturer service history
Glossary
Car Service & Vehicle History Glossary
Every term explained in plain English
The used-car world is full of acronyms. Here is what the key service and vehicle history terms actually mean, so you know exactly what you are buying or selling.
- Full Service History (FSH)
- A complete, documented record showing a car has been serviced on the manufacturer’s recommended schedule, with no missed intervals. FSH can include work done at both franchised main dealers and reputable independent garages, and the records can be paper or digital.
- Full Manufacturer Service History (FMSH)
- A stricter form of full service history where every service was carried out within the official manufacturer dealer network and recorded in the manufacturer’s systems. Also called Full Franchise Service History (FFSH).
- Service History Check
- A report that retrieves a vehicle’s maintenance records, including service dates, mileage at each service, the work carried out and the servicing dealer or garage. ServiceStamp sources these from official manufacturer (OE) systems for 39 brands.
- Vehicle History Check
- A background report on a vehicle’s status rather than its servicing, covering outstanding finance, insurance write-off categories, stolen markers, mileage anomalies, previous keepers and import/export status. Sometimes called an HPI check.
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- The unique 17-character code that identifies a specific vehicle. It is stamped on the chassis and shown on the V5C logbook, and is used to look up manufacturer service records accurately.
- OE (Original Equipment) service records
- Service records held in the original vehicle manufacturer’s own systems, populated when a car is serviced through the franchised dealer network. They are more complete than the generic databases many check providers rely on.
- Digital Service History (DSH)
- Service records stored electronically in the manufacturer’s database rather than stamped in a paper service book. Most brands moved to digital service records from the mid-2010s onwards.
- MOT
- The annual test required for most vehicles over three years old in the UK, checking roadworthiness, safety and emissions. The MOT history is separate from service history but is often reviewed alongside it.
- SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)
- A declaration to the DVLA that a vehicle is being kept off public roads and is not taxed or insured for road use. A SORN remains in place until the vehicle is taxed again.
- Outstanding finance
- Money still owed on a vehicle under a finance agreement such as HP or PCP. If finance is outstanding, the finance company can legally repossess the car even after it is sold, so buyers should always check for it.
- Write-off categories (Cat A, B, S, N)
- Insurance classifications for damaged vehicles. Cat A and Cat B must be scrapped (Cat B may allow some parts reuse). Cat S means structural damage that has been or can be repaired, and Cat N means non-structural damage. Cat S and Cat N cars can legally return to the road once repaired.
- Mileage discrepancy (clocking)
- A mismatch between a vehicle’s recorded mileage history and its current odometer reading, which can indicate the odometer has been wound back (clocking) to inflate value.
- Service interval
- The manufacturer’s recommended period between services, set by time or distance (commonly every 12 months or 10,000 to 12,000 miles, whichever comes first). Some cars use variable servicing that adjusts the interval to driving conditions.
Ready to check a specific car? Run a Service History Check or read the ServiceStamp guides.
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