Pre-purchase inspection, anywhere in Perth

Buying a used car privately is the one moment where an hour of a mechanic's time is worth more than anything else you can spend money on. A car that looks tidy in a driveway can be hiding a slipping transmission, a head gasket on its way out, or a cluster of fault codes the seller cleared that morning.

I come to wherever the car is, in your own time, and go through it while you watch.

What I actually check

• Engine. Cold start behaviour, idle, noises under load, oil condition, coolant condition, and any sign of oil and coolant mixing.
• Fault codes. A scan for stored and pending codes, including ones recently cleared. A seller who wiped the dash light an hour ago leaves a trail.
• Brakes. Pad and rotor thickness, fluid condition, handbrake travel, and anything pulling or grinding on the test drive.
• Suspension and steering. Shocks, bushes, ball joints, wheel bearings, and how it tracks on the road.
• Fluids and leaks. Where the puddle came from, and whether it matters.
• Body and structure. Panel gaps, paint overspray, mismatched colour, and the signs a car has been in something serious.
• Tyres. Age, wear pattern and whether the wear tells you something about the alignment or the suspension.

That is the short version. The full list I work through at the car, item by item, is on the inspection checklist page.

What you get

The honest verdict on the spot, in plain language. Not a checklist you have to interpret yourself. If I would not buy it, I tell you why, and roughly what it would cost to put right.

You also get a written report the same day, which is useful for two things: negotiating the price down, and having something in writing if the seller has told you a story that does not match the car.

Why a mobile inspection makes sense

Most private sellers will not let you drive their car across town to a workshop, and plenty of buyers do not want to ask. Because I come to the car, that problem disappears. You can arrange it at the seller's house, at a work car park, or at a dealership before you sign anything.

Common questions

How long does it take?

Usually around an hour, depending on the car and how much comes up. If something significant turns up early I will tell you straight away rather than running the clock.

Can you inspect a car at a dealership?

Yes. A dealer who refuses an independent inspection has told you something useful for free.

What if the car turns out to be fine?

Then you buy it knowing what you are buying, which is exactly the point. Plenty of inspections end with me telling someone the car is a good one.