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How many services should my car have had?
Enter the registration date and mileage. Add the service book stamps to see exactly where the gaps are.
On the V5C logbook, or the year in the number plate.
Whichever comes first. The handbook has the exact schedule; long-life (variable) servicing can stretch to 2 years.
Enter the registration date and mileage to see the result.
Runs in your browser. The link updates as you type, so you can share the result.
How the count works
Service schedules run on two limits, time and mileage, and the car is due at whichever it reaches first. A car on a 12-month / 12,000-mile schedule that covers 7,000 miles a year is serviced every 12 months. One covering 18,000 miles a year hits 12,000 miles after 8 months, so it needs a service about every 8 months.
The checker works out how many miles the car covers a year, decides which limit comes first, and divides the car's age by that cycle. It assumes the mileage was spread evenly, so treat the answer as a guide rather than an exact figure.
Services expected by car age
On a 12-month / 12,000-mile schedule. The average car covered 7,100 miles in 2025 (DfT National Travel Survey).
| Car age | Average mileage7,100 mi/yr | High mileage15,000 mi/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1 | 1 |
| 2 years | 2 | 2 |
| 3 years | 3 | 3 |
| 4 years | 4 | 5 |
| 5 years | 5 | 6 |
| 6 years | 6 | 7 |
| 7 years | 7 | 8 |
| 8 years | 8 | 10 |
| 10 years | 10 | 12 |
| 12 years | 12 | 15 |
What counts as a gap
When you add service book stamps, the checker walks the timeline from first registration to today. Any stretch longer than the schedule, with an allowance of one month or 1,000 miles, is flagged as a gap. It also flags mileage that goes down between stamps, which is a common sign of a typo, a replaced instrument cluster or a clocked car.
Stamps only show what someone wrote in the book. To see the visits dealers actually logged against the car, check the service history held by the manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
How many services should a car have per year?
Most cars need one service a year, or sooner if they reach the mileage limit first. The most common schedule is every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Some cars use variable or long-life servicing that can stretch to two years. The handbook or the manufacturer's website gives the exact schedule for a specific model.
How many services should a 5-year-old car have had?
On a 12-month / 12,000-mile schedule, a 5-year-old car covering fewer than 12,000 miles a year should have had 5 services. A car doing 15,000 miles a year reaches the mileage limit first, so it should have had about 6.
Is a missed or late service a big problem?
One service a month or two late is rarely a deal-breaker. Long gaps matter more: oil that has been left in too long, timing belts past their change interval and warranty claims refused for missing maintenance are the real risks. If there is a gap, ask the seller why, and price in a catch-up service with any overdue items.
What does "full service history" mean?
Full service history (FSH) means every scheduled service has been done on time and recorded, usually as stamps in the service book or entries in a digital record. Full main dealer service history (FMDSH) means every one was done at a franchised dealer. A seller can call a car "FSH" with gaps, so count the services against the schedule yourself.
What if the service book is missing or incomplete?
Many manufacturers keep a digital record of dealer services logged against the VIN, so a lost book doesn't always mean lost history. VIN Story retrieves those dealer records. Services done at independent garages may not appear in the manufacturer's records, so ask the seller for invoices too.
Does an interim service count?
This checker counts the services on the manufacturer's schedule. Interim services (an oil and filter change between main services) are a good sign of a careful owner, but they don't replace a missed scheduled service.