Loading your confirmation…

If this takes more than 30 seconds, please check your email or call (833) 644-0800.

Know before you buy

Pre-Purchase Car Inspection

You found a car you want to buy. Before you hand over the money, someone who works on cars for a living should look at it. We come to the vehicle, wherever it is parked, and go through it the way a technician would go through it in a shop. You get photos, a diagnostic scan, and a written report you can read before you commit. Prices start at $259. Most reports go out the same day.

5.0 on Google · 168 reviewsCertified & fully insuredSame-day & 24-hour reports
The service

What a pre-purchase inspection actually is.

A used car looks its best on the day it is for sale. It has been washed. The interior has been cleaned. The check engine light may have been cleared last week.

None of that tells you what the car has been through. An inspection does. We are looking for the things you cannot see in a parking lot and would not find on a test drive: leaks that have started, brakes near the end of their life, structural repair from a collision, water damage, and fault codes stored in the vehicle's computers.

We work for you, not for the seller. We do not sell repairs and we do not have a stake in whether you buy the car. Our only job is to tell you what is there. Still weighing whether you should inspect before buying? Start there.

Included at every price

What we check.

Full mechanical & safety

Engine, transmission, drivetrain, cooling, exhaust, fluids, belts, and the safety systems. We note what is worn, what is failing, and what is fine.

Dealer-level diagnostic scan

We scan the vehicle's computer modules with professional equipment, not a parts-store code reader. Stored and pending codes across systems, including ones with no warning light.

Plain-English interpretation

A list of codes is not useful to a buyer. We explain what each code means, which system it affects, and what it is likely to take to put right. Included at every price.

Underbody & structural

We get under the car. Frame, subframe, mounting points, rust, and evidence of collision repair or structural work.

Brakes, suspension, steering

Pad and rotor condition, leaks, worn bushings, play in the steering, and anything that affects how the car stops and holds a line.

Road test

We drive it. Cold start behavior, shift quality, noises under load, braking, tracking, and vibration. Some problems only show up with the car moving.

Paint, body & interior

Paint condition and thickness readings, panel fit, glass, trim, seats, electronics, and the features you are paying for.

The full checklist

Every checkpoint gets a recorded result, not a tick. See the complete inspection checklist.

The deliverable

What you get back.

  • Photos of what we found. 30 to 45 on an Essential inspection, 60 to 80 on Enhanced, 80 or more on Elite.
  • A video walkthrough on Enhanced and Elite so you can see and hear the car instead of reading about it.
  • Findings sorted by seriousness, so you know what is a safety problem, what is a repair, and what is normal wear for the age and mileage.
  • Plain language throughout. If you do not work on cars, the report still makes sense.
What it costs

Three levels. The difference is depth, not effort.

Essential

$259

The full mechanical and safety inspection with the diagnostic scan and interpretation, underbody, road test, and 30 to 45 photos. The right choice for a normal daily driver where you mainly need to know that it is sound.

Book Essential
Most buyers pick this

Enhanced

$399

Everything in Essential, plus accident repair evaluation, flood screening, up to two areas of concern you choose, repair cost ranges, a negotiation summary, and a consultation to talk it through. It answers "what will this cost me, and what do I say to the seller".

Book Enhanced

Elite

$649

Everything in Enhanced, gone through in more depth, with three or more areas of concern, priority scheduling, a guaranteed same-day report, and a longer priority consultation with follow-up. For high-value cars and any purchase where getting it wrong is expensive.

Book Elite
Speed and coverage

Same day where possible, within 24 hours otherwise.

Reports go out the same day where possible, and within 24 hours otherwise. Enhanced is prioritized. Elite is guaranteed same-day. Speed matters here: deposits get taken and cars get sold while a buyer is waiting on a report, so we do not sit on them.

We cover the Atlanta metro and the Orlando metro. The advice buyers usually get is "just use a local mechanic", and the reason it fails is that most local shops will not travel to the car and are booked out for days. That is the gap we exist to fill: a local operator who actually comes to where the vehicle sits.

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.

If you are not sure whether the car's location is covered, call (833) 644-0800 with the address and we will check it while you are on the phone.

Who does the inspection

Certified, factory-trained technicians.

Real years in the trade rather than a weekend certificate. Between them the team holds certifications including ASE, manufacturer and factory training, collision, and diesel, and the work goes to whoever fits the vehicle in front of them.

That matters more than it sounds. A technician who has spent years on European cars sees different things on a European car than a generalist does. See what our customers say.

In their words

What buyers say about us.

"Both Carfax and AutoCheck showed no accidents or issues, but that turned out to be untrue. Car Pro Inspections found suspension and engine problems that weren't shown anywhere. They saved me from one of the biggest vehicle purchase mistakes of my life."
Kevin Jacobs
"A pre-purchase inspection saved me from flying to GA and buying a vehicle that would not have made it back to TX. Dealers love to share great photos but don't disclose issues."
Vanessa
"Very pleased with the service from Car Pro Inspections. They were quick, efficient and provided a great level of detail with a report that included pictures and explanations."
Michael Johnson, Atlanta, GA
Frequently asked questions

Quick answers before you book.

What is a pre-purchase car inspection?

An independent inspection of a used vehicle, done before you buy it, by a technician who works for you rather than the seller. We check the mechanical condition, safety systems, structure, and computer fault codes, then give you a written report with photos so you can decide whether to buy, negotiate, or walk away.

How much does a pre-purchase inspection cost?

Ours are $259, $399, or $649 depending on the level of detail. Every level includes the full mechanical and safety inspection, the dealer-level diagnostic scan and its interpretation, underbody and structural review, a road test, and photos. The higher levels add accident repair evaluation, flood screening, repair cost ranges, and a negotiation summary.

How long does the inspection take, and when do I get the report?

Time on site depends on the level you choose and the vehicle itself, so call 833-644-0800 and we will tell you what to expect for your car. The report goes out the same day where possible, and within 24 hours otherwise. Enhanced is prioritized for same-day and Elite is guaranteed same-day.

Do I need to be there for the inspection?

No. Most buyers are not there, and plenty of them are not even in the same state. We coordinate access with the seller or the dealership directly, and everything you need is in the report. You are welcome to attend if you want to.

Can you inspect a car at a dealership?

Yes, and we do it constantly. Most dealerships allow an independent inspection on their lot. We arrange the time with them so nobody is left standing around.

What if the seller will not allow an inspection?

Treat that as information. A seller with nothing to hide has no reason to refuse. Some sellers are simply worried about time or liability, and that can often be solved with a phone call from us explaining what we do and how long it takes. If they still refuse, we would think hard about that car.

I am buying from another state. Can you still help?

Yes. A large share of our customers are buying remotely and have never seen the vehicle. The report, the photos, and the video walkthrough are built for exactly that situation, and the consultation on Enhanced and Elite gives you someone to talk it through with before you send money.

Is this the same as a state safety inspection or an emissions test?

No. Those check whether a vehicle meets a legal minimum on the day it is tested. A pre-purchase inspection is far broader. We are assessing condition, wear, repair history, and what the car is likely to cost you, none of which a pass or fail test tells you.

Ready when you are.

Book online in about three minutes, and tell us anything specific you are worried about. If something felt wrong on your test drive, say so. We will check it and answer it directly in the report.