Buying guide
Is a Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Worth It?
Last updated
For the car you're about to buy, usually yes. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection typically costs $250–350, less than many of the faults it can find, and a qualified mechanic can spot problems most buyers can't. It isn't worth paying for on every car you look at: check each one yourself first, and book a mechanic for the one you're serious about.
What a Pre-Purchase Inspection Covers
A mechanic or inspector checks the body, engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes, tyres and electrics, looks underneath the car, and usually takes it for a test drive. You get a written report of what they found, which you can use to negotiate on price or to walk away.
When It's Most Worth It
The more a hidden fault could cost, the more an inspection is worth. That includes older and high-kilometre cars, diesels and turbocharged engines, utes and 4WDs that have towed or been off-road, cars sold without a service history, and anything you're paying a lot for.
It's also worth it whenever your own inspection turns up something safety critical, such as signs of crash repair, rust in the chassis or brake problems.
Check It Yourself First
Most cars you look at won't be the one you buy. Working through a checklist yourself at each viewing weeds out the obvious problems, so you only pay for a mechanic once. Start with the free used car inspection checklist, or a checklist for your model.
Shufti, the used car inspection app, goes further for $24.99 a check: it builds the inspection for that exact car from the listing, checks the government recall database, runs a PPSR check, estimates repair costs, and coaches you through the negotiation. It isn't a substitute for a mechanic, but it tells you whether a car is worth booking one for.
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