In the excitement of finally finding a car that you think will be perfect for your needs, many buyers overlook one very important step in the used-car buying process: the pre-purchase inspection (PPI).

Most buyers know that you should always look at a car yourself and give it a test drive before purchasing it, but getting the vehicle inspected by a trusted, experienced mechanic can help you find problems that you wouldn’t have been able to see with just a simple glance and a test drive. Let’s discuss why a pre-purchase inspection is so important, how to set one up, and where you can go to get one.

Why You Should Get a PPI

Depending on the type of used car you’re buying, it may seem silly to pay extra money to get an inspection done. I think most of us will probably agree that if you’re purchasing a collector car that’s very rare or old, getting an inspection will definitely be worth the extra money. If the vehicle you want to buy is only a couple of years old, you might be tempted to forgo the inspection and just buy the car, as that process is expensive enough. However, this is not a good idea.

Even a car that’s a few years old might have problems, so if you don’t have proper warning about potential issues, they could blindside you and cost you a lot of money in repairs. For most people, their car is the second-biggest purchase they will make, aside from their house. You wouldn’t buy a house without having it inspected first, so you shouldn’t buy a car without an inspection, either.

Also, requesting a PPI can help you get an idea of the seller’s intentions, even before the inspection is conducted. A reputable seller should have no issue with having the vehicle inspected, so if the seller seems reluctant to agree to the request or flat-out refuses, they may be hiding something. In that case, you might want to rethink working with that person.

How to Set Up a Pre-Purchase Inspection

Most of the time, a pre-purchase inspection is paid for by the buyer. The cost will be different depending on what shop you take the car to and how detailed you want the inspection to be, but generally, the price is around $100-$200. That extra cost is worth it for the peace of mind the inspection will give you.

To make sure you’re getting the best results possible, you should have the vehicle’s pre-purchase inspection done by a mechanic who is knowledgeable about the specific make and model of the car that you are buying. If possible, it’s a good idea to bring the car to a shop that you have already formed a solid relationship with.

Get Your PPI Done at Woodinville Sports Cars

These days, with so many people buying cars online, you may not always know about the mechanics in the area near the seller’s location. In that case, you may not want to rely on the seller to recommend a good place for the inspection to be done. If you have any friends or family who live in the area, you may want to ask them to recommend a good place to get the inspection done or look into inspection services that help buyers looking to purchase cars long-distance.

Barring that, doing a Google search and reading the reviews of repair shops in the area may be useful for helping you determine what the best option is for the vehicle’s pre-purchase inspection.

If possible, the best course of action is to buy locally, so that you can personally look at the car and take it to a mechanic that you trust in your area. For customers in Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Monroe, Redmond, Snohomish, or Woodinville, Washington, Woodinville Sports Cars is happy to provide this service. Our ASE-certified technicians have many years of experience diagnosing, servicing, and inspecting European import brands.

The next time you’re looking to buy a used car and you need a pre-purchase inspection, we’d be happy to help you out. If you’d like to learn more or set up an appointment, feel free to contact us by calling (425) 402-7878 or filling out our online form.