Pre-Purchase Car Inspections in Sacramento, CA
Pre-Purchase Car Inspections
A pre-purchase inspection is a visual once-over of a used car before you pay for it. One of our mobile mechanics meets you at the car anywhere around Sacramento, a lot on Fulton Avenue, a driveway in Elk Grove, a private seller in Roseville, and works through our written checklist while you’re there: a scan of the car’s computer, a walkaround, the suspension and brakes, the electrics, everything visible under the hood, and a few minutes behind the wheel.
You get the completed checklist with the mechanic’s notes the same visit. It’s an experienced second opinion to weigh alongside your own test drive and a vehicle history report. It isn’t a guarantee, and it can’t see inside an engine or a transmission. In California the seller also has to hand you a current smog certificate, and our visit doesn’t stand in for that.
Valley summers are hard on cooling systems and batteries, and a car that’s been sitting through a few of them will usually tell you so under the hood. We’ll write down what we see, and just as plainly what we couldn’t see.
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What our mechanic checks
Every inspection follows the same written checklist, and you get that checklist back with the mechanic’s notes. Here is what is on it.
- Computer scan. We plug in a scanner and read any trouble codes and warning lights the car has stored.
- Walkaround. Body panels, paint, glass, signs of rust or salt damage, and the condition of the seats, carpet, and trim.
- Suspension and brakes. Tires, what we can see of the pads and rotors, struts and shocks, and bushings.
- Electrical. Windows, locks, wipers, power seats, mirrors, sunroof, and rear defrost.
- Under the hood. Visible leaks, belts, fluids, battery and charging, the air and cabin filters, and the exhaust.
- Behind the wheel. How it starts and idles, dash lights, the shifter, steering, the A/C, and every exterior light.
If the seller is okay with it and the mechanic judges it safe, a short, low-speed drive is part of the visit too. A “pass” on the checklist means we didn’t see a problem with that item on the day. It isn’t a prediction about how long the part will last.
What a pre-purchase inspection is not
We would rather you know the limits before you book than find out afterwards.
- It is not a teardown. Nothing gets removed and the car doesn’t go on a lift. We can’t see inside an engine, a transmission, or a differential, so internal wear in those parts is outside what this inspection can tell you.
- It is not a history check. We don’t verify the title, liens, mileage, or accident history. A Carfax or AutoCheck report covers that side, and we suggest running one alongside our visit.
- It is not a certification. We don’t issue emissions, state, or safety certificates, and a completed checklist is not a statement that the car is safe or roadworthy.
- It is not a warranty. The checklist records what one mechanic could see, hear, and read from the scanner on one day. It doesn’t guarantee the car’s condition or how it will hold up.
- It is not the whole decision. Buying is your call, made with everything you’ve learned about the car. Our notes are one part of that.
Every inspection is done under our Pre-Purchase Inspection Agreement. It is short and worth reading before you book.
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Questions people ask before booking
Do you test drive the car?
When the seller allows it and the mechanic judges it safe, yes, a short drive at low speed. It isn’t a full road test and we can’t promise it on every visit, since some sellers and some lots won’t allow it.
Can you find hidden problems?
Sometimes. A leak, a noise, a warning light, or a stored code will usually show up. What we can’t do is see inside the engine, transmission, or differentials, and no inspection catches everything.
Do you check the accident history?
No. We note visible signs that a panel may have been repainted or replaced, but we don’t verify accident history, title, liens, or mileage. Run a vehicle history report for that.
Where in Sacramento can you do it?
Wherever the car is: a private seller’s driveway, a dealership, or a used-car lot. Tell us the address when you book and we’ll meet you there.
How long does it take?
Usually 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the vehicle and how easy it is to get around it.
Is the inspection guaranteed?
No. It is the mechanic’s opinion of what could be seen on the day, provided under our inspection agreement. It isn’t a warranty on the car.
Booking an inspection in Sacramento
Found a car you’re serious about? Send us the address and the year, make, and model through the contact page or call 916-892-1282 and we’ll get a mechanic out to it. If the seller’s car already has a warning light on, our car diagnostics visit goes deeper on that one fault. And if you’d like to read the fine print first, the inspection agreement is right here on the site.