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Pre-purchase used car inspection





Modern vehicles are very complex and computerized, making it difficult even for an owner to know about any upcoming or existing issues that may cost a fortune to fix. To be confident in your next car – order our inspection for in-depth, factual, and objective information about its condition. While a mechanics shop might try to exaggerate a small defect to entice you to pay them to fix it, our detailed inspection is meant only to help you buy a reliable vehicle that meets your expectations.

Get peace of mind!

How it works

Place your order by phone or through our site. Specify a meeting point and time if you've already made an appointment with a seller and want to attend the inspection.

Our specialist will arrive at the vehicle and perform the inspection. The average duration to complete – about 1 hour.

We notify you once the inspection is complete and the report is ready. Have any questions? Call us - we'll be glad to explain.
Inspection types and prices

Single inspection

$220

Includes: Specialists arrival, inspection of 1 vehicle (if you want to check multiple vehicles at the same location – a 20% discount will be applied to further inspections).

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Full day

$650

Includes: Unlimited number of inspections at different locations during the day (9am-8pm), specialists can transport you in their own vehicle if preferred.
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Serving area
Inspection procedure
Engine inspection
(general state, extend of wear). Looking for leaks, stains, and smoke. Listening to abnormal noises and vibrations. Checking condition of fluids and drive-belts.
Computer diagnosis off ALL electronic systems
(ABS, airbags, ESP, HVAC, navigation systems, etc) with comprehensive analysis of the engine and transmission work.
Examination of structural framework
(longerons, pillars, rocker panels, frame) for signs of heavy impacts or bodywork.
Test drive
(if possible) to determine condition of suspension, brakes, steering, transmission, and drivetrain.
Determination of mileage
(matching car condition to declared mileage, if possible reading out mileage data from electronic control modules).
Interior inspection
for wear, damages, dirt, odors, water leaks.
Body survey
(fenders, doors, hood, glasses, headlights, etc) focused on signs of impacts, flooding, and repainting. Pointing out scratches, dents, rust, chipping, matching paint and paint cracks.
Electric components testing
(lights, power windows, locks, sun roof, etc).
Checking the drivetrain
(driveshafts, differentials, CV-joints, low gear, differential lock mechanism, boots) for operability, wearout, backlash, noises.
Transmission testing
(manual and road tests, computer diagnosis for any kind of automatic transmission). Looking for leaks and signs of recent repairs.
1
Engine inspection
(general state, extend of wear). Looking for leaks, stains, and smoke. Listening to abnormal noises and vibrations. Checking condition of fluids and drive-belts.
2
Computer diagnosis off ALL electronic systems
(ABS, airbags, ESP, HVAC, navigation systems, etc) with comprehensive analysis of the engine and transmission work.
3
Examination of structural framework
(longerons, pillars, rocker panels, frame) for signs of heavy impacts or bodywork.
4
Test drive
(if possible) to determine condition of suspension, brakes, steering, transmission, and drivetrain.
5
Determination of mileage
(matching car condition to declared mileage, if possible reading out mileage data from electronic control modules).
6
Interior inspection
for wear, damages, dirt, odors, water leaks.
7
Body survey
(fenders, doors, hood, glasses, headlights, etc) focused on signs of impacts, flooding, and repainting. Pointing out scratches, dents, rust, chipping, matching paint and paint cracks.
8
Electric components testing
(lights, power windows, locks, sun roof, etc).
9
Checking the drivetrain
(driveshafts, differentials, CV-joints, low gear, differential lock mechanism, boots) for operability, wearout, backlash, noises.
10
Transmission testing
(manual and road tests, computer diagnosis for any kind of automatic transmission). Looking for leaks and signs of recent repairs.
Sample report 1 Sample report 2 Sample report 3
Reviews
"It was a very professional service and saved me from buying a car with a lot of underlying issues I did not notice. "

Peter
"I highly recommend CarAdvisors. This inspection saved us a lot of money on a vehicle purchase that would have cost us dearly. There were numerous issues with the car. It is better to spend $150 now for a thorough, detailed pre-purchase inspection report including pictures than to spend a few thousand dollars for a car only to find out from the repair shop that there were costly pre-existing problems later. Thank you, CarAdvisors. - Cynthia"

Raymond
"100% worth the money. The inspection is very in-depth and made me feel much more comfortable with my purchase decision. Thanks again!"

Alex
"Oleg Karelov was my car inspector. He was great and very thorough. The report was very detailed. The report was complete with any or old codes that the car had. This is a terrific service to use; especially if you're going to make a decision on a used car. I would definitely recommend this service."

Kennedy
"I’ve used him several times. Always happy with his work!"

Jeffrey
"I came across car advisors by looking at yelp for a pre pirchase inspection (PPI) specialist. As a buyer from out of state, I was cautious with whom I should use and after researching his website I was sold. I scheduled an appointment and Oleg and contacted the dealer the next day and completed the inspection. The dealer had 100+ photos online but, Oleg provided some I had not seen before that needed attention. The next day the dealer called me to say how impressed he was with the inspector and the patience it took him to inspect the whole vehicle. After reading my report I messaged Oleg through the website to get clarification on a question I had. He quickly responded and answered my question with satisfaction. If you’re looking for a PPI specialist I highly recommend Car Advisors."

Tyler
"The service provided by Car Advisors was Excellent. Very prompt service and thorough and lots of pictures. I would strongly suggest Car Advisors to anyone purchasing a vehicle, Outstanding service!!!!"

Customer
"Great service will definitely use again in the future."

Akeem
"I could not have been more pleased with Car Advisors. I've use Lemon Squad twice in the past. They were fine, but did not go into near as much detail as Car Advisors. Even the dealership was impressed. No one should buy used car without Car Advisors looking at it first. Thank you!!!"

Mary
"Very informative and good to know ahead of time"

Jack
"Everything went to plan. Needed inspection after online car order. Tech was professional and did a great job!"

Phillip
"CarAdvisors is giving me peace of mind in my used car search. The reports have been invaluable."

Stredrick
"The detailed report helped in making decision to back out from used car purchase. The report was exhaustive and had all photos and detailed explanation given with overall score."

Anand
"I have had two inspections done while searching for a truck. This service was fast and thorough. A++"

Michael
"Great service wouldn't buy a car without their inspection. Highly recommend."

Leanne
"Very good thorough inspection and good details. Definitely will recommend to anyone and will be using if needed again. Thank you! "

Eric
"Thank you, Oleg for your amazing review! It's obvious this car is absolutely and completely not worth the price that they're asking at the dealership at Streetside in Atlanta. The car has so many issues, that it would probably cost me thousands upon thousands to get it into reasonable shape. Such a thorough review helped me avoid buying a lemon. Thank you again for your expertise!"

John
"Oleg's car inspection SAVED me from buying a used 2018 Jeep Compass from a dealership that had an oil leak and broken fog light which the dealership had no plans of fixing. They claimed to have done a 160 point inspection on the vehicle but Oleg proved otherwise because they would have caught those issues long before I arrived. I'll never buy a used car without having Oleg look at it beforehand, thank you!"

Tylor
"Wonderful experience with CarAdvisors! The peace of mind gained before purchasing our vehicle was priceless. Thank you for the great service. "

Joe
"Really appreciated the level of detail and pictures in the review, down to the paint thickness. Gave me much more confidence in purchasing the car."

David
Diagnostic equipment
Diagnostic scanner
to check electronic systems and read its current state.
Coating thickness gauge
to find repaired and welded body parts.
Stethoscope
to find the source of abnormal engine noise.
Endoscope
to seek out leaks and damages in hard to reach places.
Advantages
Industry best comprehensive inspection with professional equipment.
Low and flat inspection fee for any type of car - classic, modern, luxury.
Get reports on the same day – on average we can get to a vehicle in only 1.5 hours.
Super detailed but easy to read report. Have a question? Call your inspector!
And of course, you may attend the inspection yourself and see our specialists at work.
Recent orders
Model
Year 2022
Price $24,200
Mileage 64,972mi
Inspected Jul 13 2026
Model
Year 2020
Price $9,500
Mileage 133,769mi
Inspected Jul 14 2026
Model
Year 2015
Price $11,600
Mileage 131,656mi
Inspected Jul 12 2026
Inspected
Inspected
Inspected
FAQ
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How qualified are your mechanics?
We are a small team of specialists with master’s degrees, a deep knowledge of car electronics, and many years experience in auto inspection. We don’t hire unknown mechanics from all over the country just to expand our presence in other states.
?
What type of vehicles do you inspect?
We inspect all cars and trucks of any age and price. If a vehicle is a hybrid or is electric, we thoroughly inspect the battery and generator with a professional scan tool to make sure that these expensive parts are in working condition.
?
Can you perform a computer diagnostic for an older vehicle with a non-standard diagnostic connector(not OBD2)?
Yes, we have special connectors for a wide variety of older vehicles. So even if it doesn't have a carburetor we can perform a computer diagnostic.
?
What types of payments do you accept?
You may pay with card (debit or credit), from your account, or by cash or check after the inspection if you decide to see it in person.
?
Can I cancel an inspection that has already been ordered and scheduled?
Yes, you can cancel an inspection at any time without charge. However, it's preferred that you provide at least 1 hour before the scheduled inspection time.
?
Do you inspect vehicles on a lift?
It depends on the seller. If the seller has the facility to lift the vehicle (for example, if the seller is an auto dealer with a shop) then our specialist would inspect it on the lift. In most cases however, there is a necessity for a lift only if the test drive revealed issues with the drivetrain or suspension, and to determine the source of the problem and if it's ok to lift the car. Otherwise, inspection without a lift won't compromise the quality of the inspection itself.