How to Get a Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Done
by Debra Morgan
Are you looking to purchase a used car? One of the most important things to do after finding the car you like is perform a pre-purchase inspection. This type of inspection is meant to reveal any hidden problems that you need to know about in order to make an informed and confident car purchase decision. After all, it is the safety and performance of a car that matters the most—not its appearance.
If it is your first time buying a used car, you may not be familiar with how the pre-purchase inspection process works. But don't fret, you've come to the right place. Below is a basic overview of how to get the inspection done.
Inform the seller that you'd like to have the car inspected.
First, you will need to contact the seller to inform them that you are interested in buying their car, but you would like to have it inspected first. If you're buying the car from a car dealership, they may offer their own mechanic to allow fast and convenient inspection of the vehicle. It is, however, best to pass on the offer and insist on having your own mechanic inspect the vehicle. This will ensure you get a truly independent report on the condition of the car. If your car dealership or private seller has nothing to hide, they will grant your request.
Look for a trusted mechanic located close to the seller's location.
The next step is to look for a mechanic you trust. However, you will have to make sure they're located close to the car seller's location in order to minimise the cost and hassle of taking the vehicle to the mechanic shop. Your car seller may not be willing to drive a long distance to bring their car to your mechanic for pre-purchase inspection service.
Schedule when the inspection is to be done.
Finally, coordinate the schedules of your car seller and your mechanic and determine a time when it is convenient for both to get together. Your mechanic will perform a thorough inspection and let you know when they are done. You will get a report on the condition of the car, as well as any repair work that may be required. Give the seller a copy of the report and ask them to either fix all the issues identified or lower the price they had asked for without having knowledge of the identified problems. If they agree with you, go through with the purchase of the car.
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About Me
I've been running an auto service shop for the past 30 years. The trends in cars have changed a lot over that time, and cars are becoming a lot more complicated and automated. People can't fix many items on their own cars any more as you need a computer to diagnose most issues. People use their cars a lot more these days as we live further away from workplaces and schools so it's important for me to be able to get cars back quickly. I have had to keep learning about how the new cars run and I keep a lot of hints on this site so you can all learn the things you can do to make your cars run better.