← Pre-purchase inspections
What we check in a pre-purchase inspection
Our 24-point inspection covers the car from its history and bodywork through to diagnostics, underbody checks and a road test.
This is a guide to what we inspect
It is not a form to complete yourself. Your mechanic marks each item Pass, Attention or Fail and provides a written report with photos.
Ready to check the car before you buy?
Book online or call us. Tell us about any specific part, fault or concern you want checked.
Background
- Background checks — finance owing, write-off, stolen and service history
Tyres, brakes & suspension
- Tyres and wheels — condition, tread depth, age, wear pattern, matching sizes, rims and wheel bearings
- Brakes — pad wear, rotors, callipers and corrosion
- Suspension — rebound test, strut condition, dust boots and bump stops
Body & exterior
- Body and panels — bumpers, bars, panel gaps, signs of repair, panel damage, hail and rust
- Doors, locks and fittings — latches, handles, key fob, central locking, bonnet and boot struts, tailgate and spare tyre or repair kit
Lights
- Headlights, high beam, parkers, indicators, hazards, brake and tail lights, lens condition and seals
Interior & electronics
- Glass, mirrors and wipers — windscreen, tint, mirrors, wipers and sprayers
- Interior and electronics — seatbelts, windows, interior lights, hood lining, sunroof, electric or heated seats, head unit, CarPlay and steering wheel
Diagnostics
- ECU fault-code scan, kilometres since last code clear, battery and terminals, and alternator voltage
Engine & cooling
- Fluid levels — engine oil, coolant, brake and clutch fluid
- Cooling system — radiator, hoses, thermostat, water pump, overflow bottle and coolant condition
- Belts and pulleys — external belts, tensioner and pulleys
- Engine condition — sludge, blow-by, knocks or noises, turbo blow-by, harmonic balancer, vacuum hoses and intake manifold
Driveline & underbody
- Steering — rack boots, tie rod ends, steering arms, power steering pump and hoses
- Front suspension and joints — swivel hubs, ball joints, control arm bushes, diff bushes, shock bushes, sway bar links, pan-hard rod and driveshaft boots
- Rear suspension and joints — control or trailing arm bushes, diff bushes, strut bushings, sway bar links and CV boots
- Oil and fluid leaks — engine, transmission, transfer case, diffs, power steering, sump, timing cover, main seals, master cylinder, fuel, turbo or intercooler, axle and hub seals, and struts
- Exhaust and underbody — exhaust and hangers, tailshaft and uni joints, rust or corrosion, sump dents, spot degreasing and impact or accident damage
Road test
- Start and idle — cranking, idle RPM and operating temperature
- Engine performance — power, misfires or hesitation, tailpipe smoke, vibration, knocks, noises and mounts
- Transmission and driveline — gear selection, shift quality, converter slip or shudder, clutch slip and pedal, and 4WD or 2WD operation
- Steering and braking — steering play or wobble, straight tracking, brake pedal and shudder, and handbrake
- Controls and features — dash instruments, horn, steering controls, cruise control, lane keeping, reverse camera and air conditioning
How the report is marked
Pass
Needs attention
Fail
Want something else checked?
Tell us when you book. We can check any additional part of the car, specific fault, unusual noise or concern you have while we are there.
Ready to check the car before you buy?
Book online or call us. Tell us about any specific part, fault or concern you want checked.