Planning to buy a car? You must want to be 100% sure about its condition. Old or new, whatever may be the status of the car, inspection of all its parts is a mandatory requirement for you as an owner to check whether it is roadworthy or not. A thorough pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle determines whether the vehicle adheres to legal standards. Here are some points to consider regarding pre-purchase inspection when you are going to buy your car.
What Is Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI)?
A pre-purchase inspection or PPI is a vital part of owning a car. It is a process of detailed assessment done by a qualified and certified professional to check the cosmetic, mechanical, and safety condition of a vehicle before the completion of the process of purchase. This process of inspection on the car is carried out by a certified professional or automotive technician who is well aware of the mechanics and engineering of the model to be purchased. It reveals existing conditions and maintenance shortcomings that may turn out to be consequential to the owner.
When Should You Get The Pre-Purchase Inspection?
Whenever you are buying a vehicle which has not have any warranty or when the vehicle is not in the same city as you are, it is highly recommended that you should get a pre-purchase inspection done. In case of no warranty, there will be a high risk when the car suffers a breakdown or a major technical or mechanical issue.
Living in a different city poses difficulty in the sense that you will be unable to take any test drive. But still, you can arrange for an inspection with the help of a local shop where the seller can keep the vehicle for a few hours and you can do it just using a few phone calls. The report that you will get after the inspection will be helpful while you will do the necessary long-distance transaction.
What Will Be Included In The Pre-Purchase Inspection?
Well, there is no industry standard for conducting PPI. The cost of an inspection generally varies depending on the depth and details. In a general mobile mechanic inspection process, a car is put in a hydraulic lift and the basic checks are done in this condition. In case of an extensive and detailed inspection process, cars are put into the drive to check the parts that are associated with driving.
In the general inspection, tyres, wheels, and brakes are checked.
Tyres are checked to see whether there is any leakage in them. Worn-out, damaged, or under-inflated tyres are unsuitable for driving. Wheel rims are checked along with brake pads, perk brakes, and other key items. If there is something that needs to be improved, a qualified professional will perform the necessary repair. Most of the time, you need to replace the brake pads. The inspector will also check the emergency brake. He will enable it and put the car in gear to see if it stays in the proper place. In the engine part of the car, different aspects including oil burning, power, and smooth running are checked.
Road tests are done to see the car’s drivability. In this test, steering and accelerator are checked.
You would love to have a smart look for your new car, right? For that, the body of your car should be well-maintained and bright. In a pre-purchase inspection, the inspectors also check the body of the car. For an old car, the presence of rust is quite normal, as the cars have come a long way in tolerating rain, dust, heat. Due to some reason, damage can also be there on the car body. Along with rust and damage, the frame is also checked subsequently.
A physical condition check will include inspection of the windscreen, suspension, lights, and exhaust. Windshields may have cracks or get affected by chips or pieces of rocks which are to be looked for because these are considered safety hazards. The functionality of lights is needed to be checked for a safe drive. The inspector will not only check the headlights but will also inspect the condition of other lights too, like high beams, emergency flashers (both front and back), turn signals (both front and back), sidelights, brake lights, and backup lights as well. Moreover, emission controls will get checked.
The most basic safety features of a car are seats and seat belts. These are given utmost priority in the process of inspection. Seat belts of not only front seats but also back seats will get checked.
Apart from these primary inspection targets, the status of the logbook will also be checked. If there is any spare key or remote is available in the car, information of which to is included in the inspection report.
Where can you get your car inspected before purchase?
As mentioned earlier, a pre-purchase inspection should be done by an expert professional or automotive technician who understands the mechanics of the car model you are buying, better than anyone else. Now, the question is, where should you go for a thorough and reliable pre-purchase inspection. Automobile dealerships and independent specialty shops are some of the best options to opt for. The reason is that these places are familiar with the process of inspection. Besides traditional automotive shops, you can also go for a national specialized mobile PPI operation. But remember one thing, the inspection should be carried out in government-approved garages or workshops. This is because, these places always go through a process that creates certainty about them doing the whole thing in a systematic manner, rather than in a haphazard way. If you want to look for who will be allowed to perform tests, you can ask the state government authority. In Adelaide, there are numerous organizations that can provide you with a mobile auto inspection service that you can search about on the internet.
How much will it cost?
As the buyer, you have to carry the cost of the inspection. It will cost several hundred dollars on average for a detailed inspection. If the car is complex and luxurious, the cost may get higher.
Ending note
For pre-purchase inspection, you may contact Mobile Mechanic Adelaide who can provide you with the necessary help for inspection. Apart from that, it may also offer you the services of a mobile mechanic if you need one.
