Find Seized Car Auctions Near You

Know Where To Buy Your Dream Car For A Low Price!

Whether It Is A Mercedes, BMW, Honda, SUVs, Trucks...

Drive Your Dream Car For 90% Below Retail Prices!

Start Looking For Your Dream Car Now!

I want to buy an used car from either a dealer or private seller. Before I do, how would I take the car in for an inspection?
If I find a car that I like from a dealer, how would I set it up where I take the car to an inspector before purchasing? Is there an inspector that I can pay for him to go to the dealer to inspect?

From a private seller, do I just ask the seller to take the car for an inspection, and I would pay for it?

5 Comments »

1. 

   Wow that’s really a judgment call, the way you put it. Although, in the past I just told them that I was interested and said that a passing inspection was a condition of my offer. Remember it IS your money they are wanting to relieve the burden of carrying from you. I consider it my right. TO me, the big question is, do you know a good mechanic you trust? A good factory dealer could be considered.

   Comment by TeQuest — March 4, 2011 @ 4:15 pm

2. 

   set one up with any shop you would like.then just tell the daeler what you wont to do and they should let you take it.my buddy has a shop and every time iv test drove a car from a dealer i just made a stop by his shop as part of the test drive.

   Comment by robert d — March 4, 2011 @ 4:15 pm

3. 

   In either case you would ask if it was possible to take the car for a few hours in the afternoon for an inspection. All sellers should agree. If they don’t they are probably trying to hide something.

   Never ask the seller to have the car inspected without you being present. Then it’s just his word against yours all over again.

   The mechanic won’t come to the car, you must take the car to the mechanic unless your mechanic is set up with a mobile garage. A mobile mechanic will charge a lot more if he has to come to the car.

   Call your mechanic and set up an appointment in advance so there is no wait when you arrive. The inspection should take one hour maybe less. Wait there for the car to get finished. Discuss the finding with the mechanic. Determine if what he found was enough to make a yes or no decision on the car. Drive it back to the seller when you are done.

   An inspection is usually only done as a final step in the purchase decision. It’s usually "If the inspection finds nothing wrong with the car, I’ll take it at the price we agreed upon." You’ve basically already agreed to purchase the car and as long as the inspection comes out good you will buy the car. Only if the inspection finds hidden damage or major repairs that need to be done can you back out of the deal.

   Comment by mccoyblues — March 4, 2011 @ 4:15 pm

4. 

   I contact my mechanic ahead of time and talk to them and try to figure out what their schedule is like, so that when looking for a used car I can try to get it to the shop and either wait there while he inspects it, or at least set it up so its a minimum of inconvenience for the owner, after all to be fair, he is trying to sell his car, and tying it up all day at your mechanic is downright rude. and if the mechanic needs the car for a couple of hours, ask the owner to drive it down,and offer to pick him up and bring him back to get his car, (unless of course you decide to buy it) Some people may not want an unknown mechanic to mess with their car. You had another good idea I have used too, is find a mobile mechanic and make a deal with him to go to the car and inspect it at its current location. I try to test drive a car when its cold, and has been sitting at least overnight. I start it up, and if it does not make loud bangs, or clangs, and no big puffs of smoke, I give it a minute or two to warm up, then drove it like I stole it. Any used car, that will run, drive and stop good cold, may not be in too bad of shape. I want a car that can get up to freeway speed (55) easily in the first five to ten minutes. And I plan on a 30 to 40 minute check ride, Some dealers do just reset check engine lights and fix nothing, a long test drive, tells me what I need to know (and check to see the radio works, turn it off after that) I check all the brake lights and taillights and turn signals to make sure it all works and is safe. During the test drive, I check the heater the ac the power seat, tilt steering cruise control, power windows (up and down, all the way, several times each) radio whatever, so I don’t have to pay the mechanic to do it. I then talk to the mechanic beforehand, explain I want an hour of his time (70 bucks) and have the mechanic focus on the front end, the engine the transmission, the frame and under carriage, and the brakes. I prefer a wheels off inspection, as this makes it much easier to check the braking system. (and sometimes the time goes over a bit, depends on what you run into. A shop with a lift helps a lot. But if I do the mobile mechanic, then I skip the wheels off part, and if I decide I am interested in the car after the mobile mechanic, most good tire and brake shops like Les Schwab for example can do a good front end and brake inspection anyway. (just have to be make them aware it is an inspection and and estimate because you are considering buying the car. Otherwise some shops will take all the wheels off, pull the rear drums, do the inspection, then call you over while the car is disassembled and try to get you to spend some money while your car lays in pieces all around you. (that’s why I clarify UP FRONT WHAT I WANT.) ALSO some people have service records, things like that, so from a used car standpoint, if I find a one owner car, and the guy has service records for every little thing he bought, I can see for myself the history. (one owner cars like this with records, sell just that fast too, there are very few people who take that much care, so to me, a car like this is a no brainer.Another thing you kind of get figured out, is if you look at enough broken crap cars out there, when you run across the jewel in the sea of turds. you have been looking at for 3 weeks, IT STANDS OUT. so you find a good car, you have been checking the nada price guide regularly already and you know its a good deal with all service records, snap it up, because the next guy in line, will if you don’t..
   You can offer to a dealer to bring the employee back to work if they drop off the car, but I leave it up to them to go get it, unless I buy it.

   Comment by dick car guy — March 4, 2011 @ 4:15 pm

5. 

   You give them the keys to your car and take the car you’re looking at buying to the mechanic.

   Comment by Hank Scorpio — March 4, 2011 @ 4:15 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website