Pat Goss' Tips & Expert Advice
Obtaining A Pre-Paid Car Inspection
If you have never taken advantage of an online pre-paid car inspection, you might be leery of the process. What does the inspection include? Will my investment be worth it? How do I get the results? How long does it take?
A standard pre-paid inspection should include:
- Checking out the condition of the body of the vehicle for dents, scratches, mismatched paint and the like. These can be a sign the car was involved in a collision.
- Checking out the tires and wheels for rust, uneven wear and other defects. These can be a sign that the car has not been well maintained by its original owner.
- Performing a test drive to determine how the engine and transmission are responding. A car that looks beautiful on the outside can be hiding many defects under the hood.
A pre-paid inspection usually takes about three days or less to complete from the time it is ordered. Before you order such an inspection, review the policies, procedures and FAQs listed on the site.
Keep in mind that this type of inspection often does not include performing a vehicle history report of crashes, potential odometer roll-backs or fraudulent title changes. However, these services can now also be handled online.
