Pre-purchase vehicle inspections are an optional task when trying to buy a vehicle. However, it’s crucial to do before you spend your hard-earned money, and it could save you a lot of trouble down the line.
A pre-purchase vehicle inspection ensures that the seller you’re dealing with is honest. Besides that, it’s also necessary to accurately assess the vehicle’s condition, identify current and potential future problems, and ensure it can meet your needs. Overall, getting an inspection done maximizes your negotiating power so you can get the best deal possible or walk away if necessary.
Read this article to the end to understand why a pre-purchase vehicle inspection is necessary, what it should cover, and who should perform it.
Why Must You Do A Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection?
Before you finalize the deal on that car you want for yourself, you must do a pre-purchase vehicle inspection.
Here’s why:
#1 To Ensure The Seller Is Honest
First and foremost, a pre-purchase vehicle inspection is crucial to confirm whether or not the seller is being honest with you. Unfortunately, it’s not worth taking the car’s sales advert or the seller’s claim at face value.
Most people are truthful when it comes to selling their cars. Those are the kinds of sellers who will be upfront about the vehicle’s history, any damage it has suffered, and other things you should know as its potential new owner.
Sadly, some will try to hide the vehicle’s flaws or past damage while exaggerating its positive qualities. These people are only interested in getting you to buy the car so you can take its problems off their hands.
Some dishonest sellers will also try to take advantage of you if you’re buying the car from far away, such as online and in different states.
That adds to the importance of getting the car inspected by an independent third-party, so you can confirm whether or not the seller has been honest with you all along.
Once you confirm they are, you can make an informed buying decision with much more confidence and trust.
#2 To Get An Accurate Assessment Of The Car’s Condition
Even if you’re dealing with an honest seller, a pre-purchase vehicle inspection is still necessary to understand the car’s overall condition.
Getting the car looked at by a neutral set of eyes will give you an objective understanding of how much wear the vehicle has experienced. But, more importantly, you’ll also get a clear sense of how long the car will last if you make it yours.
That’s especially true when getting an automotive technician or trained mechanic to inspect the car for you.
With their knowledge and experience, they can tell you a much more detailed story about the car, including elements that the current owner might not even be aware of.
With a pre-purchase vehicle inspection, you and the seller will clearly understand how much the car is truly worth.
#3 To Identify Current And Future Problems
A pre-purchase inspection is also crucial to identify current and future mechanical problems. For example, the seller might point out all the car’s current issues.
However, future problems that aren’t obvious today could lead to costly repairs that you must pay yourself. Those costs will undoubtedly outweigh any savings you might when purchasing the car in the present.
A few good examples of hidden problems include:
- Hidden body damage that’s been painted over
- Worn-out brake systems and components
- Faulty electrical wiring and components
- Old trunk seals that don’t keep water out
An experienced vehicle inspector will have no problems identifying these problems and bringing them to your attention.
Of course, that’s only possible if you get a pre-purchase vehicle inspection done in the first place.
#4 To Ensure That The Vehicle Meets Your Needs
Inspecting a vehicle you want to buy isn’t just about keeping the seller honest and identifying technical problems. It’s also a matter of figuring out if the car meets your needs.
Buying a passenger vehicle, for example, is pretty straightforward. Everything is good to go as long as it’s safe and in good condition.
But what if you require that vehicle for work or commercial uses? Or you may need to ensure that it can carry or tow as much weight as you need.
Whenever you have specific needs and preferences like the ones mentioned above, you must perform a pre-purchase vehicle inspection yourself.
A third-party inspector can check for mechanical issues. Still, a self-inspection will confirm whether or not the vehicle can perform to suit your needs.
#5 To Maximize Your Negotiating Power
When you combine #1 to #4 detailed above, it’s clear that you must get a pre-purchase vehicle inspection done to maximize your negotiating power.
You and the seller can only negotiate a fair deal once all the vehicle’s facts are on the table, including its overall condition, current or potential future problems, and whether it’ll suit your needs.
Most importantly, having the information from a pre-purchase vehicle inspection helps you understand if and when you should walk away from the deal entirely.
Remember: buying any vehicle, new or used, involves a significant financial investment on your part. Plus, you’ll most likely be stuck with that vehicle for several years.
So no matter how long you’ve been waiting to get that car or how badly you want it, waiting a couple of extra days for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection is more than worth it.
Who Should Perform A Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection?
An important factor to remember when getting a pre-purchase vehicle inspection done is understanding who should be the person to do it.
When it comes to figuring out whether or not the vehicle is suitable for your needs and preferences, you should inspect the vehicle yourself.
However, a thorough technical inspection should be done by a trained professional who knows what to look for, such as the following:
- Mechanics and automotive technicians
- Mobile vehicle inspection services
- Car dealerships
- Other speciality automotive service providers
Hiring an expert costs a bit of money, but think of the value that you get in return. Their expertise, training, and experience enable them to inspect the vehicle thoroughly and provide you with the most detail possible.
On top of that, they’ll serve as an impartial third party that has no biases towards you or the seller, focused only on providing an accurate assessment of the car or truck.
What A Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection Should Cover
A qualified technician will have a long list of items to include in their pre-purchase vehicle inspection, which typically covers the following:
- The engine
- The exhaust system
- The vehicle’s electrical system, lights, and indicators
- The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
- The vehicle’s body
- The tires, suspension, and brake system
- And more.
Final Thoughts
A pre-purchase vehicle inspection costs time and money, and some eager sellers might try to discourage you from getting it done. However, it could potentially prevent you from making a bad investment in a car that’s more trouble than it’s worth.
So, before you spend your hard-earned money and commit yourself to that car, be sure to get a thorough inspection done. It could save you from an empty wallet and a ton of headaches.
