Before you purchase any used vehicle, be sure to read
the "Top 10"  Myths, Mistakes & Pitfalls made by used car buyers.

Beware of the limitations of a Carfax report.
A Carfax, or any history report, are not physical inspections and cannot be substituted for a physical inspection. Don't let a salesperson or seller talk you out of your right it have a professional inspection performed before your purchase by using a "clean" Carfax report.

What Type of Automotive Technician Do You Need?
To determine the type of Automotive Technician you need to properly inspect a used vehicle, you need to understand how Automotive Technicians are tested and certified. Most Technicians are tested and certified by a national testing organization "National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence" (ASE). To become an ASE Certified Technician, a Technician must have the working experience and pass a written ASE test on at least 1 of the 8 mechanical and electrical automotive areas. Qualified Technicians that have successfully tested on all 8 areas are know as ASE Certified Master Technicians. An ASE Master Technician is the only type of Technician qualified to inspect and evaluate all mechanical and electrical systems and components.

ASE Certified Master Technicians are qualified to inspect the entire vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems, however, they are not certified on body and frame. To receive a proper pre-purchase inspection you will need a ASE Master Technician who is also certified or a specialist on body & frame (Structural and Non-Structural Analysis).

Only a ASE Certified Master Technician with additional certifications or specialist on body and frame is qualified to inspect and evaluate the entire automobile. 

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

1. What is the current condition of each mechanical and electrical system?
   The ASE Master Technician should inspect each and every system to identify any 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 or abused or misused the vehicle. 

2. What is the approximate cost to fix each problem including needed repairs and maintenance items?
   The Master Technician should identify each problem and put needed repairs in terms of miles and money. For example, the front brakes have 15,000 miles remaining, the cracked CV-boot will cost $300 to replace, the timing belt needs to be replaced in 10,000 miles at the cost of $800, 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 will be signs of odometer fraud or an abused vehicle.

4. Has the vehicle been in an accident or any signs of water damage? If so, what was the extent of the damages, and what are the quality of the repairs?
   It’s important that the Technician inspecting the vehicle has body & frame experience to determine any previous body and/or frame damage. Most vehicles are constructed using a Unibody frame, where the frame is constructed from thin sheets of metal.  A frame damage vehicle can be a serious safety issue and may cause chronic mechanical problems.   If the vehicle was in a previous accident, the Technician should tell you extent of the damages and the quality of all repairs. The Technician should also be able to tell you if the vehicle has any water or flood damage. Water damage vehicles will have chronic electrical and rust problems.

Knowledge is Money. The more you know about a used vehicle the better deal you can make.  The buyer is responsible to determine its true condition before purchase. Have the vehicle professionally inspected by a qualified ASE Master Technician and you can negotiate a better deal, and 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 make, 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?

Costs for a Pre-Purchase Inspection.
Expect to pay about $150 for a professional inspection as describe above. Be aware that there will always be individuals and companies that will charge much less, but the vehicle would not be inspected by a Master Technician and/or Frame Specialist. Never scrimp on an inspection; anything not discovered during the pre-purchase inspection will come out of your pocket after you purchase the vehicle. Like most things, you get what you pay for.

What a Pre-Purchase Inspection Can and Cannot Tell You.
A pre-purchase inspection is a snapshot of the vehicles current condition. Most mechanical systems give telltale signs or precursors to indicate future problems. That is why you need a Master Technician's experience to spot these telltale signs. However, there are no diagnostic tests that will let you know when a mechanical or electrical component will fail. Remember, there is not one automotive component or system that was designed to last forever. A pre-purchase inspection is not a warranty. A professional pre-purchase inspection should inform you of all existing problems, manifesting problems, previous accident and frame damage, and abuse and misuse of the vehicle. A professional pre-purchase inspection can help you negotiate a better deal by knowing the true condition of the vehicle. Every vehicle has a story to tell, and a professional pre-purchase inspection should let you know that story, good or bad.

Here is more information to help you buy a good used car: