What We CheckGPS Car inspection Checklist

Choosing a Second Hand Car that Fits your Needs can be challenging

On top of making the right choice, there’s the added stress of not knowing if there’s any unseen damage hiding under the hood. Visually, a car might look great and it could run fine. But what if it had a cracked cylinder head in the engine? That’s $2,000 – $4,000 in repairs for a single issue with the car. Or worse, a rusted exhaust could be leaking carbon monoxide into the car’s interior. That’s a risk to you and your family. The list of potential issues that come with buying a second-hand car can be endless. The only surefire way to protect yourself and make the right investment is investing in a pre-purchase car inspection.

Our Goal as

Car Inspectors

When it comes to completing a car inspection, the goal is always the same. First, make sure our customers are aware of every detectable fault that may be present in the vehicle they’re interested in purchasing. Second, provide an indication of the extensiveness of any detectible damage so the customer can have a relative indicator in regards to the cost of repair. This information is vital to know if the asking price of the car is fair, as well as what a fair counter offer should be. When you purchase a car, it’s important to not only consider the average market value of the car but also consider the cost of damage + the asking price. A damaged car comes with extra fees to repair the damage, and potentially more servicing fees down the track.

What does a Pre-Purchase Car Inspector Check For?

All of our inspectors are industry-standard mechanics. We only use the latest diagnostic equipment to forensically look over the vehicle. Once completed, the information is presented in an easy-to-read report that will give you an overall picture of the condition of the car, as well as an insight into what may need to be done to have it repaired.

Our reports are broken down

into the following categories:

The Body of the Car

“The car body is the frame of the car and a key to keeping everything in place. It includes things like the bumper, cables, dashboard, mirrors, panels and more. Typically you should be able to see most sections of the body by eye. A thorough inspection of the body of the car will likely save you money down the track. For example, the bumper is only one section of the body of a car and a replacement can typically cost $300 to 400 or higher, depending on the make and model of the car. If you’re purchasing a second-hand car for $4,000 dollars, that’s 10% of the cost you should consider factoring in should a car inspector deem the bumper needs replacing.

When it comes to a body inspection, your Vehicle Inspector will start by visually looking at the condition of the body. We inspect for any visible scuffs, scratches, evidence of hail damage, dents, dings and more. Once completed, we then move to a paint test to seek out any previously repaired work. More often than not the current owner isn’t even aware of previous repairs thus unable to disclose this information to you. Previously repaired paint work can be visually unappealing if it’s not been done well and can make the car more difficult to resell for you down the line.

Your Vehicle Inspector will check the

Interior of the Car is Pristine

Whether it’s dropping the kids off at school, sitting in traffic, or that family holiday 4 hours away, the interior of your car is where you’ll spend 100% of your time. There’s nothing worse than a dirty, grimy, or poorly maintained interior. Given how much time we spend driving the interior of your vehicle should be clean and fresh.

We’re constantly on the lookout for a poorly maintained interior. If this part of the car is neglected, it can sometimes be an indicator of what’s to come when continuing to run through more extensive car checks. When it comes to the inspection, our team will be looking to see if the upholstery is in good condition, and all the buttons & switches work as they should. This includes your AC, Radio, Sat Nav, Heated Seats, Electric Seats, Mirrors, AV system and more. We also check the carpets are clean and free of any dirt or debris. Our team will also take note of any odours, as this is often a sign of a neglected vehicle. The inspector will also be looking for any signs of water damage, as this can be a sign of a bigger problem.

We Confirm the

Engine is in Tip-Top Shape

The engine is the heart of a vehicle it is what gets you from A to B, whether it’s Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid or Electric, it needs to be run reliably. The vehicle inspector will have their eyes peeled for any indicators of engine damage.

All relevant tests are carried out by our Car Inspector:

TK for example is done to check for Combustion Leaks caused by bad head gaskets, cracked blocks, and cracked or warped heads. 95% of the time our Vehicle Inspector will pick up on this during a start-up or test drive, but we like to be sure. Severe leaks that go unaddressed can result in the vehicle failing.
Oil/Fluid levels and quality are inspected and assessed. Optimal oil and fluid levels are important to maintain because they protect and lubricate the engine's moving parts. Low levels or contaminated fluids can cause long-term damage to your vehicle.
Endoscope cameras are used to check hard to reach places for oil/fluid leaks. This is a camera that is inserted into the vehicle through a small hole.
We also check for any rattling sounds coming from the engine as this can be an indicator of loose parts.
Stethoscope (yes, we use a stethoscope) to listen for knocks and timing issues. Again 95% of the time our vehicle inspector will pick this up on start-up or test drive, but we like to be extra thorough.
We also check under the bonnet for any damaged or frayed wires, as these can sometimes be an indication of a rodent problem.

All electrical and hose connections are checked for any cracking/fraying/or leaks.

Depending on the make and model of the car you’re interested in, repairing an engine can cost thousands of dollars which is why our car inspectors take so much time making sure you’re not purchasing something you may later regret.

Scanner (Computer Diagnosis)

Whilst all the visual inspections and tests in the Engine section will often show neglect or superficial problems, modern cars (Post 1990) are controlled and diagnosed by a complicated ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The best way to examine the ECU is with a vehicle scanner.

A vehicle scanner is a hand-held device that is plugged into the vehicle’s diagnostic port. This allows us to communicate with the vehicle’s computer system. The vehicle’s computer system stores all sorts of information related to the vehicle. We use this device to check for any error codes that may have been logged in the past. These error codes can be related to the functioning of the engine, transmission, airbags, and more.

Most inspection companies will just run a scan with a basic scanner and give you a photo of some data with complex or erroneous error codes, not our Vehicle Inspectors. We only use top of the line scanners that give actual explanations of any faults detected with the engine.

Drive train:

The Gearbox / Differential / CV / Tyres / Suspension & Brakes

The drivetrain is what gets the power from the engine to the wheels. It is the most important part of your car, whilst the engine is important to get you moving the drive train and its components working in sync is what allows you to take evasive action or stop your vehicle in an emergency. Getting a vehicle moving is easy. Stopping and controlling your vehicle at the right time and place could one day save your life. Our Vehicle Inspectors take this very seriously, so we take extra time to inspect the drive train components.

We don’t just look at the tiers and guess the amount of tried and give a vague number. Your Car Inspector will scan the tread and disk brakes with a laser that provides uneven wear analysis measurement within 0.1mm. This allows accuracy and detailed replacement & maintenance suggestions for tire service. Your vehicle inspector will even lookup the tire DOT code database to check expiration notices and tire recall information.

We Perform an

Underbody Inspection

The underbody of the car is the part that sits closest to the road. It is constantly bombarded with small rocks, dirt, and other debris that can cause long-term damage if left unchecked.

The most common problem that we see with vehicle underbodies is rust. Rust can cause all sorts of problems, from weakening the structure of your vehicle to causing leaks.

That is why we take the time to inspect the underbody of every vehicle that comes to your car inspection. Out of sight out of mind isn’t in our vocabulary, we give a thorough check of the condition of the underbody for any loose components, or signs of neglect. Given most cars are jacked up from specific points on the underbody. Our Vehicle Inspectors look for any signs of past incorrect jacking that often crack the seal between the body and chassis. In a best-case scenario, this leads to rust, in the worst case, it compromises the safety cell of the vehicle.

We Ensure the

Exhaust is in Good Condition

The exhaust system is looked at from the start of the engine to the end of the tailpipe. The exhaust needs to be functioning properly because it takes all the by-products of combustion and gets rid of them. These by-products are poisonous and can be deadly if inhaled in large enough quantities.

A vehicle inspection will check for holes, rust or leaks and in some cases, missing components in the system that could allow these by-products to enter the vehicle. We also check to make sure that the catalytic converter is functioning properly. The catalytic converter is a device that helps to reduce the pollution caused by your vehicle.

Take Your Vehicle through the paces with a

Road Test

Finally, we like to finish the inspection with a road test. A vehicle could tick all the boxes during an inspection but there’s no better indicator than putting it through its paces and seeing how it drives. Our Vehicle Inspectors will drive the car as if we are testing it for our family. During our road tests, we’re looking to confirm that your future car is driving and manoeuvring as it should be. Are the breaks working? Is the vehicle pulling to one side when braking? Are the gears changing smoothly?

We take our road tests very seriously, as it’s one of the best ways to identify any potential problems with a vehicle.

Histroy check and ppsr report

To cap off your inspection, you’ll receive a full history check and PPSR report valued at $36.95. Our reports are connected to an official government registry which contains a database of registered cars in Australia and their rightful owner. It’s essential to get this report with your inspection because it verifies the car hasnt been stolen and the seller can legally hand over the deed of the car to you.

If your car has been tampered with, our history check will find out. Odometer rollback is a method some use to present the car as having false road miles. Our history check also allows you to verify the car’s written off status, and confirm there are no financial interests on the car. It even provides a price comparison. For a full guide on our PPSR + history check reports, click here.

Ready to have peace of mind? Get in touch with us and one of our friendly Inspectors will be more than happy to help, trust a team of inspectors that puts their clients first.

Call us: 9 am - 11 pm (Mon-Sat)