Used Vehicle Pre-Purchase Inspection Service

Peace of mind – With a phone call! Purchasing a used vehicle can be risky. When excited buyers getemotionally caught up in the vehicle purchase, they often miss mechanical, cosmetic, and safety issues during visual inspections and test drives. These problems are compounded if the vehicle being purchased is located in another city and is purchased prior to being seen in person. To eliminate much of the anxiety and get an accurate picture of the condition of the vehicle, many buyers choose to have a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) done before the sale is final.

What is a pre-purchase inspection?
A pre-purchase inspection is a detailed assessment by a qualified individual to determine the cosmetic, mechanical, and safety condition of a vehicle before completing the purchase. At Atlantic Motorcar our inspections are done by a ASE and Bosch certified technician who is knowledgeable in the make and model of the vehicle being inspected. The intent of the PPI is to uncover existing conditions or to reveal maintenance shortcomings that may become potential safety or financial issues for the buyer in the future.

When should I get a PPI?
A pre-purchase inspection is highly recommended when purchasing any used vehicle, with without a warranty. When there is no warranty, the buyer is immediately assuming all the risk in the event of a breakdown or major mechanical issue. For this reason, a qualified PPI makes financial sense. Vehicles in other cities present additional challenges when the purchaser is unable to take a test drive. With just a few phone calls, we can often arrange a PPI with a local shop where the seller can drop the vehicle off for a few hours. The resulting PPI report gives the buyer added security during a long-distance transaction.

What should be inspected?
Unfortunately, there isn’t an industry-wide accepted standard or schedule for a PPI, which is why we’ve crated out own! The cost of the inspection generally determines the depth and detail of the inspection. A basic inspection will be mostly visual, which includes putting the car on a hydraulic lift and checking for leaks or broken components. Atlantic Motorcar performs one of the more involved inspections, including a detailed road test where components such as steering and brakes can be assessed. A thorough inspection will include checking engine compression and a computer engine analysis.

How much should it cost, and who pays?
The buyer typically pays for the pre-purchase inspection. A basic PPI will cost $85 to $150. For that price, you can expect a good overall mechanical and safety inspection (including a test drive) of the vehicle. We go an additional step further, and check the vehicle with our computerized diagnostic equipment, just to be sure that all systems are go!

The pre-purchase inspection is usually completed before the sale; however, in some negotiations, the sale is contingent on the completion of a satisfactory PPI. A clean report is an excellent sales tool, while a questionable PPI can end the deal. To be fair to both parties, both the buyer and the seller should agree on the terms of the PPI before the inspection takes place.
Atlantic Motorcar’s staff has been doing prepurchase inspection for over 20 years, and because they specialize in late model imported cars, they know exactly what to look for! Peace of mind, its priceless!

Call for an appointment today: (207) 882-9969

- Atlantic Motorcar -

“Earning Your Trust, Every Time You Turn The Key!”