Buying a new car can be stressful. What do you choose? From whom do you buy? And how do you make sure don't get played?
In a perfect world, we could all rely on the honesty and straightforward nature of a car purchase without fear of being taken for a ride.
However, particularly for those of us less mechanically minded souls, getting a pre purchase vehicle inspection makes a whole lot of sense – whether it's for a used car advertised by a private seller or new car inspection at a dealership.
Nobody wants to drive a lemon. A pre-purchase vehicle inspection is designed to let you know what you're buying before you spend your hard earned cash and potentially save you money on future costly repairs.
Remember, not everyone is as honest as you’d like them to be! It’s never in the seller’s best interests to disclose any hidden problems in the negotiation period. It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of a brand new ride, but it pays to slow your roll and call an expert in. A pre-purchase vehicle inspection will give you the information you need to decide whether the asking price is worth it.
Armed with expert knowledge, it's up to you whether you want to negotiate a more amenable deal that takes into account the cost of any potential repairs.
This information could potentially save you far more than the cost of the pre-purchase inspection plus even more in personal time and stress. Or it can help you make a decision to walk away knowing you’ve dodged a seriously bad deal – and that kind of peace of mind is priceless!
What should you expect from your pre-purchase car inspector?
A professional auto technician should thoroughly inspect and assess the car you want to buy for its safety, mechanical, performance and easy maintenance potential. He or she will look beyond the car's general appearance (which, if we non-mechanical individuals are being honest, tends to be what we're attracted to first), making sure everything is in order and will be for a reasonable time to come.
Your trained inspector will look for a range of issues, such as:
- Paintwork
- Road test for engine performance
- Tyres, wheels and brakes
- Engine and transmission
- Steering and suspension
- Exhaust and brakes
- Interior (locks, hinges, seat belts, trims, etc.)
- Electrical elements
- Exterior body (Rust? Signs of crashes? Structural or cosmetic repairs?)
The exact list of elements checked will alter depending on your service and the car in question.
Do I really need to do a new car inspection?
After your home, a car is the biggest purchase you can make. Many people have to get a long term bank loan to afford it.
You wouldn’t buy a house without a pre-purchase inspection, so why not a car? It’s not unusual for a brand new car to have mechanical problems – you only have to google “car manufacturer recalls” to see 478 million hits, including some very popular makes and models.
Don’t risk it. Get your inspector to give you the green light, and buy your next car with confidence!