How Do You Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection Before Buying a Used Car?

Quick Facts for Pre-Purchase Inspections

• Inspecting a car when you live out of state can be challenging, but it can be done.  
• You can also take the approach of no inspection.
• Trust your instincts.

Have you ever wondered how to get an inspection before you buy a used vehicle located in another state?

Keep reading to learn about pre-purchase vehicle inspections and key things you need to know.

• Buying a Car and Inspecting It When You Live Out-of-State
• What Is the Pre-Purchase Inspection?
• Will a Vehicle Inspection Catch Everything?
• Consider Your Investigative Skills Instead
• Is a Pre-Purchase Inspection Worth It?

Buying a Car and Inspecting It When You Live Out-of-State

It’s very challenging for a buyer in one state to obtain a car inspection in another without physically going to the mechanic. But it can be done. It could be considered the single most difficult part of purchasing a used car out of state unless, of course, you buy it from one of those sellers who uses personal names for the vehicle and wants a picture of your garage to make sure it’s “going to a good home.”

Here’s how it usually works. Remember, it will take time and patience.

• Determine if you want the vehicle. Call the seller and determine if you like the car in question. Fine. That part’s easy.
• Assess the situation. Research the seller’s location and the car’s proximity to a mechanic you trust or one recommended to you by a local owner of a similar vehicle. For example, if you’re buying a Ferrari in Utah and you live in California, go on the Ferrari forums and ask for a mechanic recommendation in Utah. If you want to purchase an original Audi allroad in Connecticut and live in Virginia, go on the Audi allroad forums or Reddit and ask for a mechanic recommendation in all the major cities between Connecticut and Virginia. You get the idea.
• Call all parties involved. You’ll now need to begin a game of telephone that doesn’t end until your brain becomes so worn out it develops the same consistency as a throw pillow. Here’s what you do: You call the seller and announce you want the car inspected. Then, you call the mechanic and announce that you need a vehicle inspection. Next, you must attempt to coordinate the schedules of these two entities: a seller, who doesn’t want to be bothered to take the car to a mechanic, and a mechanic, who would rather work on cars and make money than talk to some person on the phone, located hundreds of miles away, who will never again provide him with repeat business. If you’re lucky, they’ll talk to each other and find a time to get together. You’re rarely lucky.
• Convince the seller to get the car to the mechanic. Now, you need to convince the seller to bring the vehicle to the mechanic. Hopefully, by some incredible stroke of luck, you can persuade the seller and mechanic to agree on a date and convince the seller to bring the car to the mechanic for an inspection. I once tried to buy a Ferrari in Tucson, Arizona, and I got the first part taken care of. The mechanic and the seller set a time, and after 37 back-and-forth phone calls, I thought the whole thing was done. However, the seller refused to transport the car four miles to the mechanic’s facility. I’m serious. This actually happened. He said if I wanted the inspection, I needed to transport the car. Meanwhile, I was sitting in my living room wondering if I would have to fly across the country to drive an automobile four miles.
• Get the inspection results. Finally, you have the mechanic call you when the inspection is over and give you the results. You can easily pay with a credit card over the phone.

RELATED: Buying a Car Out of State: 8 Things You Must Know in 2024

What Is the Pre-Purchase Inspection?

A mechanic looks for many things when inspecting a car, and checklists may vary. The inspection might take a couple of hours and will likely include driving the vehicle along with a visual and mechanical check that may include:

• Body — A walkaround check for damage from a collision or flood, signs of rust, and if the vehicle sits level.
• Tires — Measure tire tread depth, check tire age, and look for uniform tread wear and sidewall damage.
• Lights and wipers — Ensure headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals operate, and inspect wiper blades.
• Interior — Test air conditioning, heating, and infotainment systems, and compare the odometer mileage to the car’s overall appearance and condition.
• Computer diagnostics — Run an OBD-II check to detect any error codes.
• Test drive — A short drive helps evaluate the vehicle’s acceleration, braking, steering, suspension, and driver assistance features.
• Engine bay — Look under the hood to check the battery terminals and spark plug wires, and scaqn for evidence of leaking fluid. Inspect gaskets, belts, and hoses.
• Undercarriage — Inspect the undercarriage and frame for alignment, damage, or rust.
• Exhaust system — Check brackets, look for corrosion, and test emissions.
• Brakes — Measure brake pads and inspect rotors.

Will a Vehicle Inspection Catch Everything?

No. Sometimes, even if you do all this legwork, you’ll find that the inspection didn’t catch everything. I once had a Porsche 911 Turbo inspected by a well-respected dealership in Florida, which gave it a relatively clean bill of health. I flew down to Florida, bought the car, and discovered it needed a new clutch for $5,000. But I’ve also had the opposite experience. A Hummer dealership in Youngstown, Ohio, once inspected my Hummer before I bought it and easily found all the trouble spots, so I knew exactly what to expect.