Home/Inspection checklist
What I check in a pre-purchase inspection
This is the actual sheet I fill in at the car, item by item. Every line gets marked pass, monitor, fail or not applicable, and you get a written report the same day.
Perth metro8am–8pm, 7 daysPrice on quote
People ask what a pre-purchase inspection actually covers, and the honest answer is a lot more than kicking the tyres. Below is the full list, in the order I usually work through it. It takes about an hour on most cars.
Engine bay
- Engine oil level and condition
- Coolant level, condition and any leaks
- Brake and clutch fluid
- Power steering and transmission fluid
- Drive belts, pulleys and hoses
- Battery, terminals and the charging system
- Air filter and intake
- Oil, coolant or fuel leaks, and where they are coming from
- Engine noise, smoke and how it idles
- Radiator, fans and cooling
Underneath the car
- Suspension, shocks and struts
- Steering rack, linkages and ball joints
- CV joints, boots and driveshafts
- Engine and gearbox mounts
- Exhaust system and mounts
- Sump, gearbox and diff leaks
- Rust in the chassis, damage, or signs of a past repair
Brakes, tyres and wheels
- Front pads and rotors, with the pad thickness measured
- Rear pads, rotors or drums, also measured
- Brake lines, hoses and the handbrake
- Tread depth on all four tyres, measured
- Tyre wear pattern, age, and whether the brands match
- Spare, jack and tools
- Wheels, rims and wheel nuts
Body and exterior
- Panels, paint, rust and previous repairs
- Windscreen, windows and mirrors
- Lights, indicators and lenses
- Doors, boot, bonnet, wipers and seals
Interior and electrical
- Dashboard warning lights
- Air conditioning and heating, checked that they work
- Windows, locks, mirrors, audio and the camera
- Seats, seatbelts and airbag condition
Paperwork and history
- Service book and logbook stamps
- Registration and when it expires
- VIN and compliance plate, and whether a PPSR check shows finance owing or a write-off
- How many keys and remotes come with it
- Any repairs or accidents the seller has told you about
Road test
- Cold start, warm start and the engine under load
- Gear changes and the clutch
- Braking, pulling and pedal feel
- Steering, alignment and suspension noise
How each item gets marked
Pass means it is fine. Monitor means it is okay for now but will need money spent on it soon, like pads at 4mm or a tyre near the limit. Fail means it needs fixing, and I will give you a rough idea of what that costs. N/A is for things the car does not have.
The monitor column is where most of the negotiating power is. A car can pass on everything that matters and still have a few hundred dollars of work coming up, and that is a fair thing to take off the price.
What this is not
It is not a roadworthy certificate. Those have to be done at a licensed inspection station, so if the sale needs one, the seller has to get it separately. What you get from me is an independent mechanic's opinion on whether the car is worth the money.
If you want to know how the booking works, where I can meet you, and what happens after, that is all on the pre-purchase inspection page.
From customers
What people say
★★★★★
Really recommend Lucky. He did a thorough pre-purchase inspection and explained everything really clearly, which was super helpful as a first-time car buyer.
Amy W.
★★★★★
Must recommend, nice guy. Did my pre purchase inspection, saved me from getting robbed. Should give him a chance.
Anilkumar R.
Found a car you like?
Ring me with the car and where it is, or send a job card. Pre-purchase inspections are priced on quote for the car and travel involved.
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