Service history covers scheduled maintenance, repairs and the mileage at which each was performed. Franchised dealers usually report to manufacturer systems, and some independent chains share records, but a great deal of servicing is never recorded anywhere centrally.
Gaps in a service history are therefore ambiguous. They can mean neglect, or they can mean the owner used a local garage that keeps paper invoices.
What service records are genuinely good for is corroborating mileage, because every entry is a dated reading taken by a third party.
Why it matters
Consistent servicing is one of the better predictors of how a vehicle will behave, and the mileage trail is hard to fake across many independent entries.
How to check it
Ask the seller for invoices as well as the digital record, and check that the mileages increase consistently over time.
Does this apply to the car you are looking at?
Run the VIN or plate and see what is actually on record.
Related terms
Definitions are general guidance, not legal advice. Title rules, total loss thresholds and inspection requirements are set by each state and change over time, so confirm the position with the motor vehicle agency for the state the vehicle is titled in before relying on it.