Companies that do pre-purchase inspections on vehicles know the importance and value of what they do. However, many car buyers decide not to get an inspection and some don’t know it’s an option. Here are some of the top reasons why pre-purchase inspections should be done:
- Get True Condition of Vehicle – Having an automobile professional inspect the car will help determine the actual condition of the car. It takes an experienced eye to uncover certain issues and your average car buyer does not have the necessary experience. Some things are obvious like scratches, dents, torn fabric, etc, but often times sellers will take care of the obvious things to make the car look great while major problems could still be present.
- Learn More About its History – Major accidents, flood damage, etc can be covered up in a way that the common consumer won’t pick up on, but an experienced inspector/mechanic can. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a car that had previous flood damage or was in a major accident without knowing it. These vehicles are worth substantially less and can oftentimes have hidden damage that can cause issues in both the short and long run.
- Get an Objective Opinion – The seller wants to sell the vehicle and the buyer can get ‘blinders’ on and overlook things that maybe they shouldn’t. Now, an inspector’s job isn’t to tell you whether or not to purchase the vehicle but getting their report on the condition of the vehicle can help buyers make a better decision. Seeing a vehicle’s issues in a professional report can be an eye-opener.
- Gain Negotiating Leverage – If you find a few things that need to be repaired, this puts you in a better position to negotiate the best price possible with the seller.
- Avoid Costly Mistakes – Cars are expensive. You don’t want to buy one that is going to be a money pit especially if you could have avoided it by getting an inspection done for a fraction of the cost of the vehicle itself.
When should someone get a Pre-Purchase Inspection?
Some would argue that it is always worth it to get a pre-purchase Inspection on a vehicle and there is some wisdom in this thinking. However, if we had to lay out the circumstances where it makes the most sense they would be:
- The vehicle is being sold as is with no warranty.
- The buyer is purchasing a vehicle that they don’t have the opportunity to see in person.
- The buyer doesn’t know much about vehicles.
- The deal seems too good to be true (there is almost always a reason for a ‘great’ deal – it’s better to find out what that reason is ahead of time)
- You don’t know/trust the seller or you have reason to believe they may be hiding something.