Many people opt for used cars because they are more affordable. Provided the vehicle was taken care of by the previous owner, the used car can be an economical solution if you need a new car. If the vehicle was not cared for, you may end up with a lemon that costs you more money than purchasing a new car. This is where pre-purchase inspections come in.
Damage Assessment
During a pre-purchase inspection, we will assess whether the vehicle has ever been damaged. This includes damage from an automobile accident, a fire, or a flood. Unfortunately, some people do not report incidents to their insurance companies because they don’t want the increase in their premiums. As such, they may get into an automobile accident and pay for the bodywork themselves.
The same is true with fire or floods. If the cause of the fire in the vehicle was the previous owner’s fault, he or she may not report it to their insurance company. We will inspect the used car that you have your eye on thoroughly to make sure there are no signs of bodywork or other repairs to cover the damage of an automobile accident, a fire, or a flood. You do not want to buy a damaged vehicle.
Engine Assessment
In addition to inspecting for damage, we will also conduct a full assessment of the health and condition of the automobile. We will inspect the engine thoroughly to make sure that none of the engine parts need to be replaced. We will also inspect various systems, such as the brake system and the cooling system, to make sure they are in excellent condition.
We recommend that you test the various components, such as the USB charging ports, the navigation system, and the entertainment system to make sure they are working. In addition, take the vehicle for an extended test drive to make sure it can handle different types of speeds and roads. Drive the vehicle for at least 30 minutes to ensure the engine does not overheat.
Diagnostic Assessment
Finally, running a diagnostic assessment lets us know whether the vehicle has hidden problems such as a malfunctioning oxygen sensor. When we run a diagnostic test, it downloads the data from the engine control module. This data includes system error codes.
Avoid buying a lemon. Call us today to schedule an appointment for a used car pre-purchase inspection.