This is a non profit consumer site dedicated to giving the general public valuable information on how to get a used vehicle properly inspected before you purchase. A few minutes reviewing this site can save you thousands of dollars and headaches down the road.

Today's used vehicles are technological marvels. They contain very sophisticated mechanical and electrical systems, complex frame construction, and have a multitude of computers controlling many systems.

A comprehensive pre-purchase inspections can be either performed by a mobile service or a fixed location. Mobile service should include inspection and diagnostic equipment, and hydraulic lift to get under the vehicle. The Technician is the most important element of the inspection. The information below will help you select a qualified Technician to inspect a used vehicle, and explain what types of information you'll need from the Technician.

What Type of Automotive Technician Do You Need?
To determine what type of Automotive Technician is needed, you need to understand how Technicians are tested and certified. Most automotive Technicians are certified by a national testing organization called National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Technicians need only to be certified in 1 of the 8 general automotive areas to be "ASE Certified". However, only an ASE Master Technician is certified in all 8 areas. For the 8 types of ASE certifications a Technician should have,  click here.

After reading the previous links, you know to that only an ASE Certified Master Technician is qualified to inspect the  entire vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems; and a ASE Frame Technician is needed to properly inspect for existing and previous frame damage.

What Type of Information Do You Need from a Pre-Purchase Inspection?
A comprehensive inspection and consultation by a Master Technician should give you the answers (in plain English) to each of the following questions:

1. What is the current condition of all the mechanical and electrical systems?
   The ASE Master Technician should inspect each and every system and identify all existing mechanical and electrical problems and any potential problems.  The Master Technician should also be able to tell you if the previous owner(s) took care of the vehicle. A well maintained vehicle is worth more than a poorly maintained vehicle will not last as long and will cost more for repairs after you purchase.

2. What is the approximate cost to fix any problems including needed repairs and maintenance items?
   Ask the Master Technician to identify each problem and put repairs in terms of miles and money. For example, the front brakes have 15,000 miles remaining, the broken CV-boot will cost $200 to replace, the timing belt needs to be replaced in 10,000 miles at the cost of $500, etc...

3. Is the wear on the vehicle consistent with the mileage on the odometer?
   The Master Technician should determine if the mileage on the odometer is consistent with the actual amount of wear and tear on the vehicle. Excessive wear and tear could be signs of odometer fraud or a abused vehicle.

4. Has the vehicle been in an accident or had water damage? If so, what was the extent of the damages, and what are the quality of the repairs?
   Existing frame damage or poorly repaired frame damage can be a serious safety issue and can cause chronic mechanical problems. Most vehicles are constructed using a Unibody frame, where the frame is constructed from thin sheets of metal.  An ASE Technician Certified on Body & Frame can tell the extent of any previous body and/or frame damage. The Technician should also tell you about the quality of any frame, body or paint work. The Technician should tell you if the vehicle has any water or flood damage. Water damage does not immediately affect the frame, you will have chronic electrical and rust problems. To learn more about the types of frames on today's vehicles Click here.

Top 10 Used Car Buying  Myths, Mistakes and Pitfalls
There are 10 mistakes and misconceptions that used car buyers must avoid when purchasing a used or pre-owned vehicle. Chick Here

Knowledge is money. The more you know about a used vehicle the better deal you can make.  The Buyer, not the Seller, is responsible to determine it's true condition before purchase. Have the vehicle properly inspected by a qualified ASE Master Technician and you can negotiate a better deal and will avoid purchasing someone else's problem vehicle. Here are the 1-2-3 Steps for buying a good used vehicle.

Can you trust the Technician's Information?
Let's say you found a ASE Master Technician to perform a pre-purchase inspection, now's comes the tricky part. Technicians get paid to repair vehicles. The more repairs they suggest, the more they get paid. There is an inherent conflict of interest when repair shops inspects a vehicle and then offers to fix what they has found.

Remember, every part and component of the vehicle has a useful lifespan. Some Technicians will try to replace components that sill have useful life on them just to make more money. Would you throw away a 1/2 empty tube of toothpaste?

Pre-purchase costs.
An ASE Master Technician's time is not cheep. Expect to pay around $150 for a professional inspection as describe above. Be aware that there are companies that will charge much less, but the vehicle would not be inspected by a Master Technician. Don't try to save a couple of bucks on a low quality pre-purchase inspection only to end up spending hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair cost after the sale. Don't scrimp on the inspection, anything not found during the inspection will come out of your pocket. Like most things, you get what you pay for.

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The following web pages and links provide more information and can help buyers avoid the most common mistakes and pitfalls when purchasing a used vehicle.