Mobile pre-purchase inspections
Buying a used car privately or from a dealer? We meet you at the seller's address, run a thorough comprehensive inspection, take it for a road test, and email you a written report with photos before you hand over the money.
When you need a pre-purchase inspection
Almost any time you are paying real money for a used car. A pre-purchase inspection costs less than a single mistake on a used buy, and it is the cheapest insurance you will ever take out.
The situations where it matters most:
- Buying privately on Facebook Marketplace, Carsales or Gumtree (no statutory warranty, and the seller can disappear)
- Buying a vehicle that has been sitting unused for a while
- Buying any used car of meaningful value, where one missed fault can outweigh many inspections
- Buying a 4WD or ute that has been used hard (towing, off-road, on a building site)
- Buying any vehicle you cannot easily drive to a workshop yourself
The exception is genuine dealer warranty cars from major brands, where the warranty itself is the protection. Even then, an inspection on a high-value SUV is cheap peace of mind.
What's included
Our comprehensive pre-purchase inspection covers:
Under the bonnet
- Engine condition, leaks, mounts, drive belt and tensioner
- Cooling system inspection and pressure check
- Battery state-of-health and alternator output
- Full OBD scan for stored and pending fault codes
Underneath
- Transmission, drivetrain, CV joints, differential
- Suspension components, ball joints, bushes, shocks
- Steering rack, tie-rod ends, power-steering condition
- Brakes (pad and rotor measurement at all four corners)
- Exhaust system, catalytic converter, signs of repair welding
- Underbody rust check, especially on the chassis rails
Body and interior
- Body panel alignment (check for previous accident repair)
- Paint condition and overspray check
- All electrics: lights, indicators, dash, windows, air-con cold-test
- Interior condition, seat-belt operation, airbag indicator history
- Tyres, including spare, and wheel condition
On the road
- Cold start and warm-up behaviour
- Drive cycle including a freeway run where possible
- Brake feel under hard stop
- Transmission shift quality under load
- Any unusual noises or vibrations
You get a written report with photos, the codes we found, the road-test results, and a plain-English summary of what we would buy, what we would negotiate, and what we would walk away from.
How it works
1. Tell us about the car. Call 0451 159 954 or use the quote form with the make, model, year, asking price, the seller's location, and a link to the listing if there is one.
2. We coordinate with the seller. You give us the seller's number, we arrange the time and access. We do the inspection at the seller's address.
3. Inspection on-site. 90 minutes to two hours. We send you a quick text with the headline result as soon as we are done.
4. Written report. Emailed inside four hours, with photos. You use it to walk away, negotiate, or proceed with confidence.
What it costs
We quote a fixed price in writing before any work begins, based on your specific make, model and the actual job. Call us with the details and we will give you a real number on the spot.
Routine servicing in Brisbane typically ranges from $188 to $449 as a general market guide, depending on whether it is a minor or major service and the size of the vehicle, before any extra repairs. See how our pricing works for more.
Why customers pick us for pre-purchase inspections
- Independent. We do not sell cars, we do not work for the seller, we do not earn a commission. The report is for you, full stop.
- Honest about scope. A pre-purchase inspection is not a clairvoyant prediction. It is a snapshot of what we can observe and test on the day. We tell you what is solid, what is risky, and what is unknown.
- Real saves. We routinely find issues that turn into either a renegotiated price or an avoided repair bill — hidden frame and chassis damage, hairline radiator and head leaks, transmission slip masked by the dealership, and electrical faults that would have surfaced a week after purchase.
Where we cover
Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich and the northern Gold Coast, across South East Queensland. If you are buying further afield, call us anyway, we sometimes travel for an extra fee.
Book your pre-purchase inspection
Call 0451 159 954 or send your details through the quote form. Most inspections are booked within a few days, but if you have a serious buyer interested and need to move fast, tell us, we will often fit you in sooner.
What customers ask about pre-purchase inspection.
What does a pre-purchase inspection actually include?
A comprehensive inspection covering the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, steering, cooling system, fuel system, exhaust, tyres, interior electrics, body condition and a full computer scan for stored fault codes. Plus a road test on a route that includes a freeway run where possible. You get the full report by email with photos.
How long does it take?
90 minutes to two hours on-site, depending on the vehicle's age and condition. We need to be able to drive the car for the road test, so the seller needs to either come with us or let us take the keys with appropriate ID confirmation.
Will you meet me at the seller's address?
Yes, that is how most of our inspections work. We coordinate the time with you and the seller, turn up, do the inspection, and you do not need to be there for the whole thing. If you want to be there to ask questions, that is fine too.
What happens if you find something serious?
We call you straight away with a plain-English summary of what we found and what it would cost to fix. You decide whether to walk away or negotiate the price. The inspection typically pays for itself in renegotiated price or avoided repair bills.
Can you do an inspection on a dealer car?
Yes. Dealers are required by Queensland law to allow independent inspections. Most are happy to cooperate because they have nothing to hide. The ones who push back are usually the ones you most want an inspection on. We have done plenty of inspections at dealer yards.
What if I am buying a vehicle outside your area?
We cover Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich and the northern Gold Coast, working out of Springwood. If the vehicle you are looking at is further afield, give us a call — we can usually recommend a trusted independent mechanic in that area for the inspection.
Does the inspection guarantee the car will not have problems later?
No, and any mechanic who tells you otherwise is bluffing. A pre-purchase inspection is a snapshot of the vehicle at a point in time. It tells you what we can observe and test on the day. Hidden faults that emerge later, or faults that develop after the inspection, are outside the scope. Our job is to spot the obvious risks and the typical hidden ones, which is what often saves customers money.
We also handle these.
Warning-light diagnostics
Warning light on the dash? Strange sound at idle? Car running rough? We diagnose it on-site using professional scan tools plus physical fault-finding, then quote you a fixed price to fix it.
Read moreLogbook & general servicing
Manufacturer-spec scheduled servicing using OEM filters and the right grade of oil for your engine.
Read moreBrake repair
Squealing, grinding, or a pedal that doesn't feel right.
Read moreBook your pre-purchase inspection today.
Fixed-price quote upfront. Same-day service available.