Checks & Reports Help
What happens after you buy.
This page covers your report after purchase: when it arrives, where it lives, and what the edge cases mean. If you are still deciding which check to buy, start with how it works and the sample report. Back to all help topics.
When your report arrives
Reports are generated straight after payment. Most are ready within seconds; some manufacturers take up to about five minutes. The order page shows live progress while you wait, and you get an email with a direct link to the report the moment it is ready, so you do not need to keep the page open. In the rare case a report is still running after ten minutes, the page stands down and we email you as soon as it completes.
Can't find your report?
Check the email first. Search your inbox and spam folder for ServiceStamp; the report-ready email contains a direct link that works without signing in. Every report is also in your dashboard: sign in with the same email you used at purchase and it is listed there. If it is genuinely missing, use the contact form and we will resend the link.
If we can't produce your report
You are refunded automatically. If a report cannot be generated, you will see the message that service history is unavailable and your payment has been refunded. The refund is for the amount you paid, is issued without you needing to ask, and appears on your statement within 5 to 10 business days. See billing and refunds for timings, and the refund policy for the full conditions.
A report with no service records
Zero records is a result, not a failure. A successfully generated report can contain no manufacturer service records at all: the car may have been serviced at independent garages, be very new, or have records the manufacturer never digitised. The report still contains the MOT history, mileage timeline and vehicle details, so for retail customers it is a delivered report and is not refunded; the refund policy has the full rules. Trade accounts work differently, covered under trade account help.
How long reports are kept
Two years from purchase. Your report stays available through the emailed link and your dashboard for two years, after which it is automatically deleted. If you want to keep it beyond that, download the PDF and store it with the car's paperwork.
The free check vs paid checks
The free check answers the basics. The free car check needs no sign-up and shows official DVLA and DVSA data: tax status or SORN, MOT status and full MOT history, a mileage timeline with an anomaly flag, and the road tax cost. Paid checks add what the free sources cannot: manufacturer service records with the Service History Check, and finance, write-off and stolen-marker data with the Vehicle History Check.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does a report take to arrive?
- Your report is generated straight after payment, usually within seconds and occasionally up to about five minutes for some manufacturers. You get an email with a direct link the moment it is ready, and the order page shows live progress while you wait.
- Where is my report?
- Two places: the link in your report-ready email, and your dashboard. Sign in with the same email you used at purchase and every report you have bought is listed there. If you cannot find the email, check spam and search for ServiceStamp.
- Do I get a refund if my report has no service records?
- For retail customers, no. A report that generates successfully but finds zero manufacturer service records is still a delivered report, and it still contains the MOT history, mileage timeline and vehicle details. The refund policy has the full rules, and trade accounts work differently.
- How long can I access my report?
- Reports stay available through your emailed link and dashboard for two years from purchase, after which they are automatically deleted. Download the PDF if you want to keep it longer.
Still stuck?
A person reads every message. If this page did not solve it, send us the details through the contact form and we will reply within 24 to 48 hours. For quick answers to common questions, try the FAQ first.
Buying or selling vehicles in volume?
Flat trade pricing from £3.99 per check, plus dedicated support and a team dashboard.