When buying a used car, there are many things that you need to ensure which will tell you whether it is safe to drive and doesn’t require a lot of repairs. Similarly, there are thousands of such small and big things which you need to take care while buying a used car. Such inspections help you know a lot of the car you are going to buy and for such scenarios we suggest you have a professional mechanic by your side so you won’t miss a single detail while buying it. A professional checks for the parts which can easily get damaged or not working sincerely when the car is driven for long runs multiple times. It also makes you familiar with the car and you will be confident to know what you will be purchasing.
You can ask a mechanic you trust to accompany you to the dealership and inspect the car. You can also take the car to your mechanic along with the seller for inspection. If a car is sold by any dealer then the top dealership sends the car with the salesman to the desired mechanic. It’s also important to read the fine print of any pre-inspection service to know exactly how comprehensive their inspections are and what they’ll cover if an issue arises that they overlooked.
How to set up a Used Car Pre-Purchase Inspection
Before you schedule an inspection, we suggest you check the car in its actual condition that the seller claims. You need to look out for the claims, rust, leaks and ensure the car is in running order. It can take upto few hours and cost you some money but this will help find the right car which is in good shape and will not give you problems in the near future. Before all of this you also need to ask the seller to inspect the car by a third party mechanic.
You also need to determine where you are going to do the used car inspection. If you don’t know any local mechanic you can also do a certified automotive repair shop for a comprehensive examination. All get the information like car’s make, model & registration number to more understanding about the car on the internet. This will give you an idea how this car works and if there are any modifications are done to it or not.
Dealer Inspection Reports
Many dealers around the country provide inspection reports after inspecting the cars. You can also have an independent inspection even if the dealer has already seen it. Dealers can do everything to sell a car in profit, before buying the vehicle you need to make sure that the used car must be safe to drive. Some used cars on a dealership lot may be marked as ‘certified’. Usually, this means the cars have gone through a more thorough inspection and come with a limited warranty. If the car you are interested in is “certified”, ask for a report of what was inspected and what the warranty covers.
Automobile Repair Shops
An auto repair shop can examine the different things in the car for things like bends, misalignments and other signs of frame damage that we can’t see at first glance. While the car is on the lift, a mechanic can look for rust holes in the floor pan and exhaust system, evaluate the condition of its tires as well as shocks and look for leaks, brake cylinders, axles, the radiator, and gas tank.
Using the Inspection Report
Wherever you take a used car for inspection, the evaluator should give you a written description of what he covered in the investigation, the issues the car has and their severity, the repairs you will need to make after purchase, and the estimated cost of these repairs. The evaluator may include a purchase recommendation if the vehicle is in excellent condition. If the inspection report has any red flag then you need to be alert while buying a used car. So a proper inspection from the mechanic can help you find the right car. A detailed inspection report, especially one with estimates of repair costs, is a great bargaining tool.