You found the car at a dealership. It comes with a printout saying it passed a multi-point inspection, and it may even be certified pre-owned. So it is fair to ask: why pay for another inspection on a car the dealer's own technicians already went over?
The answer is not that the dealer did a bad job. Their inspection and ours answer different questions, for different people.
What a dealer's multi-point inspection is for
Before a used car goes on sale, the dealer's technicians go over it against a checklist: the store's own, or the manufacturer's if the car is going into a certified pre-owned program. They decide what the car needs before it goes on the lot. That is real work, and many dealer service departments are very well equipped.
It answers the dealer's question: is this car ready to sell? Your question is a different one: is this the car I should buy, and at this price?
The dealer's technicians work for the dealer. That is not a criticism. It is simply whose question they are answering. When we inspect a car, we work for the buyer. We do not sell cars, and we do not sell repairs.
What a checklist printout leaves out
Many multi-point forms mark each item green, yellow or red. That is quick to read. On its own, it leaves out what a buyer needs in order to decide:
- How much it matters. A yellow mark can look the same on a wiper blade as on a brake part.
- What it looks like. A color on a form does not show you what the technician saw.
- What it may cost. A color is not a repair price.
- What to ask the seller. A checklist does not tell you what to say when you talk about the price.
Ask the dealer for a copy of their inspection anyway. It is useful, and it gives you something to read next to an independent report.
What our inspection adds
One of our certified technicians comes to the car and works through it for you. Every package covers mechanical and safety systems, the underbody and structure, brakes, suspension and steering, a dealer-level diagnostic scan, and a road test when the seller allows it and it is safe and legal to drive. You get a written report with photos.
What the scan means, in your report:
- Essential: a plain-English summary naming the affected systems and next steps.
- Enhanced and Elite: that summary plus each code explained.
Enhanced and Elite add the parts buyers at a dealership tend to ask us about:
- Accident Investigation, plus a Panel-by-Panel Repaint & Body Filler Check for repaint, body filler and panel alignment, with a paint-gauge reading where the technician takes one.
- A Negotiation Leverage Summary: what to ask for, and what to walk on.
- Repair Cost Range Guidance: a non-binding range for what a repair may cost.
- Areas of Concern: name what worries you when you book, up to 3 on Enhanced and up to 6 on Elite, and each one is answered in writing in your report.
The full list for each package is on the services page.
Certified pre-owned: a warranty, not a condition report
A certified pre-owned warranty can be worth real money, and you should weigh it. But it does a different job from an inspection. A warranty pays for certain repairs after you buy. An inspection tells you the condition of the car before you buy, while you can still ask questions, ask for a repair, or talk about the price.
Read the warranty for the car in front of you: what it covers, what it leaves out, and how long it lasts. Terms differ from brand to brand and from program to program, so read that car's terms, not a general summary.
While you are at it, check the car for open recalls. It is free: how to check a used car for open recalls by VIN.
What buyers have told us
Bridget C. wrote in a Google review that we were "able to identify that the car was in an accident that the dealership didn't even know about!"
Read that again: the dealership didn't know. An independent inspection does not have to catch anyone hiding something to be worth having. It is a second look, by someone who works only for you.
DJ B. wrote that our technician "was so thorough the dealership even asked me when I arrived that evening 'Who did you use because that guy knew his stuff.'"
A good dealer has little to lose from a careful second look. A clean report backs up their work. A finding is something they can fix or price before the sale, rather than argue about after it.
How to set it up at a dealership
- Ask the dealer first. Whether a car can be inspected, and where, is the dealer's call. Get their OK before you book.
- Book, and tell us where the car is. We come to the car, in the areas we serve. When you book, tell us what worries you: a noise you heard on the test drive, a panel that looks a shade off, a warning light that came on.
- Read the report before you sign. Then decide: buy it, ask for a repair, talk about the price, or keep looking.
Plan to have the car available for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the vehicle and the package.
Frequently asked questions
Will the dealer let me get an independent inspection? That is the dealer's call, and it varies. Ask before you book.
Does a certified pre-owned car still need an inspection? A certified pre-owned warranty covers certain repairs after you buy. An inspection tells you the car's condition before you buy. They do different jobs.
What does a pre-purchase inspection include? Every package covers mechanical and safety systems, the underbody and structure, brakes, suspension and steering, a dealer-level diagnostic scan and a road test when it is allowed and safe. The full list for each package is on the services page.
How fast do I get the report? Essential and Enhanced reports arrive within 24 hours of the inspection, and most go out the same day. Elite reports arrive by 11:59 PM Eastern on inspection day, or we refund $99.
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.