If you are looking for a new ride, a pre-used car may be a good option, especially if you are on a tight budget. A pre-owned car can save you over $5000 in purchase costs because new cars depreciate by 20% the moment they hit the road. But before buying the pre-owned car, you need to conduct a professional inspection to ensure it's in good condition.
Conduct A Pre-Purchase Inspection
It's important to take the used car to an independent auto repair shop for a pre-purchase inspection before buying it. A qualified specialist mechanic does a pre-purchase inspection. The inspection involves the mechanic conducting a test drive on varied landscapes to identify suspension problems and engine performance issues.
The independent inspector will prepare an inspection report highlighting all the major issues and recommend whether it's a good idea to buy the car. If the mechanic identifies parts that need replacement, you can go back to the dealer and negotiate a lower price to account for these repairs.
The cost of inspection ranges from $100 to $200 and includes a detailed description of the points covered in the inspection. Some of the functions covered in an inspection report include:
- The general condition of the car, including tire wear and the state of the vital motoring parts such as brake pads and gears
- Verifying the VIN
- Verification of the functioning of the various parts and equipment
- Revealing major problems in the frame, body, or engine
- Checks trouble codes for mechanical and electrical problems
- Check for original, replaced, replica, and modern parts
The inspection will also reveal red flags that should deter you from buying the pre-owned car such as:
- Frame damage: this indicates that the car was involved in a serious accident and has stability problems.
- Poor repair history: the previous owner neglected critical maintenance requirements such as engine service or accessories repair.
- Fire or flood damage: unless the title is falsified, the vehicle's History Report indicates if it was involved in a fire or flood. An inspector will easily identify a falsified title.
If you need a pre-purchase used vehicle inspection, give Portland Automotive a call today!