Used car inspection: common questions
What a pre-purchase inspection is, what it costs, and how to get one.
- What is a pre-purchase car inspection?
- An independent assessment of a used car carried out before you buy it. A certified inspector examines the vehicle against a fixed checklist — 28 points across 7 categories at Autoquiry — rates the severity of each finding, records notes and takes photographs. The result is a report you can read, keep and share.
- How much does a pre-purchase car inspection cost?
- Reading an Autoquiry report costs $49 for the Basic version and $199 for the Full version, as a one-time charge per vehicle. An Instant VIN Check, which is a records lookup rather than a physical inspection, is $1.99. Requesting a new inspection on a specific car is quoted per job once we know the vehicle and its location.
- Can I have a used car inspected before I buy it?
- Yes, and you should. You need the seller's permission for the car to be inspected, which a genuine private seller or dealer will normally give. Send us the VIN, the vehicle details and where the car is, and we arrange the inspection.
- How do I arrange a pre-purchase inspection?
- Use the private vehicle inspection request form with the VIN, the make and model, where the car is located and when it can be seen. We assign a certified inspector, and once the inspection is submitted the report is published and searchable by that VIN.
- What does the inspection cover?
- Exterior and body, interior and electronics, under the hood, undercarriage and suspension, brakes and tires, a road test, and diagnostics and history — including an OBD-II scan, a recall check and odometer verification. The full 28-point checklist is published on the site.
- What is the difference between the Basic and Full report?
- The Basic report gives you the inspection summary (inspector score, condition, risk level and recommendation), the top findings, a section-by-section condition overview, any critical safety warnings, the repair-cost total and the price check. The Full report adds every checklist answer with its rating, the inspector's written narrative and notes, measurements, road-test and scan details, the numbered photo index, and itemized critical and preventative repairs with estimated costs. If you buy Basic first, you only pay the difference to upgrade.
- Do dealerships inspect their used cars?
- Many do, and some sell cars under a certified pre-owned programme with its own checklist. That inspection is carried out by the party selling you the car. An independent inspection is commissioned by you and reports to you, which is the reason to have one even on a dealer-certified vehicle.
- How long do I keep access to a report?
- 180 days from the date of purchase. The report stays in your account for that period, so you can re-read it or show it to your own mechanic. All purchases are final and non-refundable. If an inspection you order cannot be completed, we refund your payment in full.
- Can the report be changed after it is published?
- No. The report is locked the moment the inspector submits it and cannot be edited afterwards, by the inspector or by anyone else. What you read is what was found on the day.
- Is an Instant VIN Check the same as an inspection?
- No. An Instant VIN Check is a data lookup: factory build data, open safety recalls, and stolen, salvage and flood-damage records. Nobody sees the car. Only a physical inspection can tell you the condition it is in now.