
UK Service Interval Research 2026: What Carmakers Publish
Research on 406 engines: a carmaker-published cambelt interval for only 18 of 106 belt-driven engines, and one badge's oil service intervals can differ 2x.
Authors

Founder & Vehicle Data Expert
George Arnold is the founder of FindServiceHistory and a vehicle data expert with over 20 years in the UK motor trade. Since 2014 he has run a 100-vehicle used-car dealership, giving him a front-line view of vehicle provenance, mileage integrity and the service records that separate a sound used car from a costly mistake. He founded FindServiceHistory to bring the same dealer-grade history and mileage checks the trade relies on to everyday car buyers.

Research on 406 engines: a carmaker-published cambelt interval for only 18 of 106 belt-driven engines, and one badge's oil service intervals can differ 2x.

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Original research on 3,815 MOT tests: a documented dealer service in the previous 12 months cut the failure rate from 15.6% to 11.0% on cars aged 4-9.

Worried a used car's mileage has been wound back? How to check for clocking using the free MOT mileage trail and the official service history, step by step.

Original research on 5,563 UK car checks: 7 in 10 have a manufacturer service record, the dealer trail stops near age five, 1 in 80 has a mileage discrepancy.
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