For most used-car buyers, yes: about half the used cars we inspected had something that needed attention right away. Of the 429 used cars our technicians inspected from April to October 2026, 216 had at least one item marked for immediate attention, and on 113 of those it was a tire or a brake.
Nothing in a listing or a short test drive tells you which half the car you want is in. An inspection costs $259 to $649 depending on the package, and what it finds is something you can raise with the seller before you buy, not a bill you pay after.
A finding is any item our technician marked Concern or Immediate attention in a report we sent to the customer.
All but 3 of the 429 cars had a cosmetic note, which is normal on a used car. These are the findings that came up most often after that:
| What we found | Cars | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic trouble codes worth a note on the report | 182 of 367 scanned | 50% |
| Tire tread depth flagged | 147 of 428 | 34% |
| A fluid level or condition flagged | 131 of 427 | 31% |
| An oil leak or oil residue | 114 of 367 | 31% |
| Warning lights on the dash | 117 of 425 | 28% |
Every finding we counted, and how: What 429 Used Car Inspections Found.
A clean-looking car with a good history can still need tires, brakes or an alignment, and the dashboard will not tell you about a stored code. One of our certified technicians comes to the car, checks it item by item, scans it where the car allows it, takes it on a road test when the seller allows it and it is safe and legal to drive, and sends you a written report with photos.
Once you know what the car needs, you have choices: ask the seller to fix it, ask for a lower price, or walk away. After you sign, it is usually yours to pay for.
On Enhanced and Elite, the report adds a Negotiation Leverage Summary and Repair Cost Range Guidance (non-binding), so you go into that conversation with the findings laid out and a rough idea of what they may cost to fix.
The objections buyers raise most (the dealer already checked it, the history report is clean, I know cars) are answered one by one in should you get a car inspected before buying?
If a mechanic you trust can get to the car before you buy, and the seller will let them, that may be all you need. Most buyers find that harder than it sounds: how an inspection compares with your own mechanic.
If the car costs so little that you would keep it whatever it needs, an inspection may cost more than the risk it takes away.
For everyone else, the question is whether you find out before you pay or after.
Mechanical and safety, underbody and structural, brakes, suspension and steering, a dealer-level diagnostic scan (availability varies by make and year) with a plain-English summary, and 30+ photos.
Book EssentialEverything in Essential, plus Accident Investigation, the Panel-by-Panel Repaint & Body Filler Check, each scan code explained, up to 3 Areas of Concern, the Negotiation Leverage Summary, Repair Cost Range Guidance and 60+ photos.
Book EnhancedEverything in Enhanced, plus up to 6 Areas of Concern, a detailed video walk-through, Priority Scheduling, 80+ photos and a report by 11:59 PM Eastern on inspection day.
Book EliteFully electric cars (no engine at all, battery only) are inspected on Enhanced or Elite. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids can choose any tier.
See a full breakdown of what each level includes
We come to the car. A travel fee may apply depending on where the vehicle is, and we confirm it with you before the inspection.
Some vehicle types have a minimum package. Classic, collector, performance and modified vehicles start at Enhanced, and so do fully electric cars (no engine at all, battery only). Exotic, rare and specialty vehicles start at Enhanced too, and for them we strongly recommend Elite. Full package detail is on the services page.
For most used-car buyers, yes: about half the used cars we inspected had something that needed attention right away. Of the 429 used cars our technicians inspected from April to October 2026, 216 had at least one item marked for immediate attention, and on 113 of those it was a tire or a brake. Those are things you can raise with the seller before you buy, not after.
Across 429 used cars we inspected, all but 3 had a cosmetic note. After that, the most common findings were trouble codes (182 of 367 scanned), worn tires (147 of 428), a fluid level or condition (131 of 427) and an oil leak or residue (114 of 367). Most of it is wear and upkeep any used car can need, which is why a car that looks clean and drives fine can still need tires, brakes or an alignment.
With us, $259 for Essential, $399 for Enhanced and $649 for Elite, depending on how much detail you want. We come to the car. A travel fee may apply depending on where the vehicle is, and we confirm it with you before the inspection.
Yes. The report lists what our technician found, item by item, with photos, so you can show the seller exactly what the car needs. Enhanced and Elite reports add a Negotiation Leverage Summary and Repair Cost Range Guidance (non-binding).
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.