Some buyers book an inspection with a list a chatbot wrote for them. Ten things to check, sometimes twenty.
That's a good instinct. You want to know what you're buying. Here is how to turn that list into something that gets you better answers.
Most of the list is already covered
A chatbot list for a used car tends to look the same: check the brakes, the suspension, the tires, look for leaks and rust, scan for codes, test drive it. Those are whole systems, and they are already part of every inspection.
Every inspection includes a mechanical and safety check, a dealer-level diagnostic scan (availability varies by make and year), photo documentation, and a road test when the seller allows it and it is safe and legal to drive. You can see the full list on our full inspection checklist.
Our order page says it in one line: "Whole systems like 'the engine' are already covered by the standard checklist."
What a chatbot can't know
A chatbot hasn't seen the car. It can tell you what often goes wrong on a model. It can't tell you what is wrong on the one you are about to buy.
It can also be wrong about the car itself. Stephon, who owns Car Pro Inspections, once went looking under a seat for a module because a chatbot said it was there. It wasn't. And what he needed to know, whether its software had been updated, was a simple lookup with a scan tool.
So use the list as a starting point. The car has the final word.
Turn the list into Areas of Concern
An Area of Concern is one specific thing you want us to look at more closely. On Enhanced (up to 3) and Elite (up to 6), you name them when you book. Your inspector gives each one a closer look than the standard checklist does, and answers each one in writing in your report: where they looked, what they found, and anything that could not be seen without taking parts off.
Here is how to pick yours.
- Start with what you know about this car. A noise the seller mentioned, a leak spot in the listing photos, a past repair on the history report, or a part you think may be aftermarket.
- Write one specific thing per line. "A noise over bumps on the front left" gets a better answer than "check the suspension."
- Ask about parts by name. For example, "are the wheels factory?" or "is the exhaust original?" The more specific you are, the more we can tell you.
- Put the most important ones first. That is how you choose your 3 on Enhanced or your 6 on Elite.
Before:
- Check the engine
- Check the transmission
- Check the brakes
- Look for rust
- Look for leaks
- Scan for codes
After:
- A noise over bumps on the front left (the seller mentioned it)
- A wet spot under the engine in the listing photos
- Are the wheels factory?
The first list is already in the inspection. The second one tells your inspector what is different about this car.
What happens to the rest of your list
Type each item on its own line when you book.
- On Essential, your inspector sees what you list before the inspection. Enhanced and Elite give each Area of Concern a closer look than the standard checklist, answered in writing (up to 3 on Enhanced, up to 6 on Elite). If what you list needs Enhanced, our team will let you know.
- On Enhanced, up to 3 are included. If you list more, the page tells you: "Enhanced includes up to 3. Elite includes up to 6. Or keep Enhanced, and our team will contact you if these need extra time."
- On Elite, up to 6 are included. Past that: "Our team will contact you if these need extra time."
One more thing to know: it is still a non-invasive inspection, so we do not take anything apart. If part of an Area of Concern can't be seen without taking parts off, the written answer says so.
After the report, ask the people who saw the car
If something in your report raises a question, ask us. On Enhanced you can request a 15-minute consultation call with your inspector or our lead technician. Elite includes a 30-minute priority consultation you can request, plus we follow up with you. Essential comes with email support.
Buying a used car in the Atlanta or Orlando area? Call us at 833-644-0800 and talk it through before you buy. Then book your inspection at carproinspections.com.
Quick answers
Can I give the inspector a list of things to check? Yes. Type each one on its own line when you book. Your inspector sees them before the inspection. Enhanced and Elite give each one a closer look and a written answer (up to 3 on Enhanced, up to 6 on Elite).
What does a pre-purchase inspection include? A mechanical and safety check, a dealer-level diagnostic scan (availability varies by make and year), photo documentation, and a road test when the seller allows it and it is safe and legal to drive. The full list is on our full inspection checklist.
Will you check everything on my ChatGPT list? Most of a typical list (brakes, leaks, suspension, the scan) is already part of every inspection. For the things that are specific to this car, name them as Areas of Concern. Each one gets a closer look and a written answer (up to 3 on Enhanced, up to 6 on Elite).
Do you take anything apart? No. It is a non-invasive inspection. If part of an Area of Concern can't be seen without taking parts off, the written answer says so.