How To Inspect A Car Like A Professional

A thorough used car inspection is crucial to avoid buying a lemon. Using this step car inspection guide will show you how to inspect a car like a pro.

Throughout this guide I’ll share with you the tips and tricks car dealers use to quickly evaluate a cars condition. We’ll cover everything from a general walk around all the way to spotting frame and flood damaged cars.

Even though this is a very complete guide on how to inspect a car, I’d always recommend you rely on a professional mechanics expertise prior to buying a car.

The first step to your used car inspection is a general walk around of the car. As simple as this may seem, a lot can be learned about a car with this simple procedure.

One of the most important keys to performing vehicle inspection, including the walk around, is to inspect a car in the day time and with good weather.

If you were to find a great vehicle that you wanted to buy and it happened to be night time, rainy, snowing, etc., then place a *refundable* deposit on the vehicle and inspect it the next day.

I’ve had customers go so far as to request, not only a day time inspection, but they wanted to wash the car by hand. I know, when I first heard this I thought it was a little weird too. After giving it some thought, I realized this is actually an excellent way to inspect a car for body and flood damage.

In the second step to a thorough used car inspection, you’ll want to take a close look at the paint and the body of the car for signs of prior damage. At first glance, you’ll want to inspect the paint for orange peel. This is an indicator that a car has been painted.

Most paint jobs from the factory are smooth and glossy. That being said, there are some manufacturers that are notorious for orange peel paint jobs. Not a terrible thing, but make sure the panels of the car match, i.e. is the left rear quarter panel orange peeled and the rest of the car is smooth and glossy. If so, that’s a sign that work has been done.

The third step to a used car inspection is to inspect for frame damage. This not only can affect the value of a car, but can be a safety issue as well. Frame damage is bad! If a car has frame damage it can be repaired, but almost like a reconstructed knee or hip it will never be 100%.

The next step to your used car inspection is the basic mechanical inspection. This is where you get to take a look under the hood and it’s good practice to do this car buying inspection before and after the test drive.

Reinspecting after the test drive, will help to show leaks that may have been steam cleaned away and/or just leaks that weren’t there before.

The final step of a used car inspection is how to inspect a car on the test drive.

Here is what most people consider the fun part of the car buying inspection process. Although fun, you’ll definitely not want to lose focus while whipping around corners and passing other cars on the highway.

Vehicle Inspection Sydney