5 reasons you should never skip the pre-purchase inspection before buying a used car
Buying a used car is risky. Sure, it can look the part and have a clean title, but there are things you aren’t seeing. That’s why an independent pre-purchase inspection can be such a vital part of any used car-buying experience.
A pre-purchase inspection can be the difference between buying with confidence and a hellaciously spendy headache
I get it. Buying a car is expensive enough without adding the expense of an independent pre-purchase inspection (PPI). But, for around $200, you could be buying your way out of a potentially expensive, tiresome vehicle ownership experience.
- Discover a dark, hidden past
“But it has a clean title!” Granted, a clean title is a good thing, but it doesn’t mean a drama-free car. Some owners will hastily repair their vehicle after a crash without the details reaching the vehicle’s title. As such, an independent PPI can uncover past crashes or poor repair jobs.
- Identify what work your would-be car purchase needs
In addition to finding the unknowns of your vehicle’s history, you can discover what sort of work a used car needs to be in top condition. For instance, I walked away from a XK150 Jaguar XKR purchase after an inspection uncovered thousands of dollars worth of work to get the supercharged GT car into the green. Had I jumped in with both feet, I would have faced wallet-crippling expenses in the first six months of ownership.
- Get a closer glimpse into how owners treated the vehicle beyond records
Many states use salt to clear roads in the wintertime. I don’t have to tell you that road salt has an insatiable appetite for cars. It’s especially harmful to well-seasoned body-on-frame classics. A pre-purchase inspection, however, can find rust and neglect on a lift far better than crawling around under a car with a flashlight.
- Identify safety concerns
Safety is a top concern for most car buyers. Beyond looking at a year, make, and model’s safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, a pre-purchase inspection can uncover safety concerns. For instance, an independent PPI will look at brakes, tires, suspension components, and other vital safety-related concerns.
- You might be able to leverage a lower sale price
Finally, let’s say your independent PPI finds a few things that aren’t an immediate safety issue. However, you know you’ll want to address them soon. You may be able to take your PPI to a dealer and negotiate for a lower sale price based on the work that the vehicle needs.
