Check Service History by VIN or Irish Reg
Official main-dealer service records from the manufacturer, found by the car's 17-character VIN
✨ Got an Irish reg such as 191-D-12345? Enter that instead and we'll resolve it to the VIN for you
Add value to your car & find your Service History
Why the VIN Matters
🔍 One Number for Life
The 17-character VIN is assigned at the factory and stays with the car through every owner and every number plate. Manufacturers file main-dealer service visits against the VIN, not the registration.
🚢 Made for UK Imports
When a UK car comes to Ireland and VRT is paid, it gets a new Irish reg, but the VIN stays the same. A VIN check looks up whatever the manufacturer holds against that car, whatever plate it wore before.
✅ Independent of the Book
Paper books get lost, replaced or stamped by the wrong people. Records held in the manufacturer's own systems give you a separate source to check the seller's story against.
⚡ Answers in Minutes
Run it on your phone at a viewing, or before you drive across the country to see a car. No phoning round dealers and waiting for someone to call back.
Checking by VIN in Three Steps
Find the VIN
On the paperwork: your Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC, the "logbook") lists the VIN
On the car: a small plate at the base of the windscreen, readable from outside, and a sticker or plate on the door pillar (B-pillar) when you open the driver's door
What it looks like: 17 letters and numbers (e.g. WBA1234567890ABCD). VINs don't normally use I, O or Q, so a character that looks like O is usually a zero
Enter the VIN, or Your Irish Reg
Type the VIN into the search box at the top of this page
Prefer the plate? Enter the Irish reg (e.g. 191-D-12345 or 08-C-1234) and we'll look up the VIN
Add the email address you'd like the report sent to
Pay €14.99 & Get Your Report
Pay securely by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe
Your report is emailed to you and stays available online
No manufacturer service records found? You're refunded in full, automatically
What the Report Covers
✅ Included:
- ✓ Main-dealer services held by the manufacturer, typically 2012 onwards
- ✓ The date and odometer reading of each visit
- ✓ The type of service carried out
- ✓ Work done and parts replaced, where recorded
- ✓ Which dealer did the work
- ✓ A dated timeline to compare with the book and NCT results
❌ Not included:
- ✗ Independent garage or DIY servicing
- ✗ Outstanding finance (use a vehicle history / finance check)
- ✗ Write-off or crash history
- ✗ Stolen status
- ✗ NCT results (check these separately)
- ✗ Services from before about 2012 (coverage is limited)
VIN or Irish Reg: Which Should You Use?
Either one gets you to the same records
An Irish reg is resolved to the car's VIN before we search, so both routes end at the same manufacturer records. The VIN is simply the more direct route.
| Compare | VIN | Irish reg |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 17 characters | Year, county, number (e.g. 191-D-12345) |
| Changes when a car is imported | ✗ Never | ✓ New Irish reg after VRT |
| What manufacturers file records against | ✓ Yes | No, so we resolve it to the VIN |
| Where to find it | Windscreen, door pillar, VRC | Number plates, VRC |
Our advice: for an Irish-market car, the reg is quickest because it's right there on the plate. For a UK import already registered here, the Irish reg works too. If the car is still on UK plates, or the ad only shows the old UK reg, use the VIN.
Who Checks by VIN?
🚗 Buyers
Ask for the VIN before you travel. Compare the manufacturer's records with the stamps, the VRC and the NCT history, and make sure miles and kilometres line up.
💰 Sellers
Lost the book, or bought an import without its UK paperwork? Show buyers what the manufacturer holds for your car's VIN.
🏢 Dealers
Check trade-ins and cars you're sourcing from the UK before you commit. Repeat reports cost €12.99.
Common Questions
Where is the VIN on a car in Ireland?
In three places: on your Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC), on a small plate at the base of the windscreen that you can read from outside, and on a sticker or plate on the door pillar (B-pillar) when you open the driver's door. All three should show the same 17 characters. If they don't, ask why before you go any further.
Can I just use my Irish reg?
Yes. Enter the reg, e.g. 191-D-12345 or an older style such as 08-C-1234, and we'll resolve it to the VIN automatically. It searches exactly the same manufacturer records as a VIN check.
I'm buying a UK import. Why check by VIN?
The car's registration changed when it was imported and put through VRT, but its VIN didn't. Checking by VIN searches the records the manufacturer holds against that car, whatever plate it wore. Ask the seller for the UK-era service book, invoices and the previous UK reg too, and compare them with the report.
The service book is in miles but the ad says kilometres. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. Irish-market cars read in kilometres, while UK imports usually read in miles. Convert before you compare readings across the book, the report, the NCT records and the ad, then check they rise steadily over time. Our guide to spotting fake service history covers what else to look for.
How far back do the records go?
For most brands, from around 2012 onwards. Some premium brands hold earlier records, but coverage before then is limited.
What if the report finds nothing?
If the manufacturer holds no service records for the VIN, you're refunded in full automatically. A blank result usually means the car was serviced at independent garages or at home, which is worth knowing before you buy.
Check a VIN or Irish Reg Now
€14.99 • Official manufacturer records • 39 brands • Full refund if no records are found
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