Guide
Pre-purchase inspection checklist: what gets checked on a used car before you pay
A proper pre-purchase inspection covers the engine and cooling system, the brakes, tires and suspension, the underside, the electronics and stored fault codes, and a road test — then gives you a written report you can negotiate with. Here is the list a mobile inspection runs at the seller's address.
Updated 2026-08-22 · Frank's Mobile Mechanic 24/7
Under the hood
Oil condition and level, coolant, belts, hoses, leaks, mounts, the battery and charging system, and signs of recent "tidy-up" work meant to hide a problem.
Brakes, tires, suspension, steering
Pad and rotor wear, tire age and uneven wear (the cheapest alignment clue there is), shocks and bushings, and play in the steering.
Underneath and electronics
Frame and floor for rust, damage or fresh undercoating; exhaust; the computer scanned for stored and pending fault codes and for a recently cleared memory, which is a flag in itself; lights, windows, A/C and everything on the dash.
The road test and the report
Cold start, idle, acceleration, braking, steering feel, transmission behavior, noises. Then a written report: what needs attention now, what can wait, and an honest read on the price for the condition. You decide, and you decide with facts.
