Pre-purchase inspection
What a Pre-Purchase Inspection for a Used Car Includes
Every PPI Mechanic pre-purchase inspection covers the same 10 areas, at the car’s location anywhere in Tampa Bay. Each one has its own guide below.
One inspection. Every major system.
We check the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, body, frame, electronics, fluids, tires, and interior, scan the car’s computer, and take it for a test drive when the seller allows. You get a clear picture of the car, in plain language, before you pay.
Pricing is flat: $199 for cars, SUVs, and trucks, $279 for luxury and sports cars, and $399 for exotic and collector cars. See pricing.
Mechanical, safety, and history checks
Engine & Transmission
Leaks, noises, shifting, and warning signs before you buy.
Brakes & Suspension
Pads, rotors, shocks, and steering parts checked before you buy.
Body & Frame Damage
Hidden accident repairs, frame damage, rust, and paint work.
Computer Diagnostic Scan
Stored codes, pending codes, and cleared warning lights.
Test Drive
How it starts, drives, shifts, steers, and stops.
Flood Damage Check
Water lines, corrosion, smells, and electrical clues.
Condition and comfort checks
Tires & Wheels
Tread depth, tire age, wear patterns, and wheel damage.
Electrical & Electronics
Battery, charging, lights, screens, and every switch.
Fluids & Leaks
Fluid levels, fluid condition, and leaks under the car.
Interior & A/C
A/C cooling, cabin condition, and wear that matches the miles.
What does a pre-purchase inspection include?
A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is an independent mechanic’s check of a used car before you buy it. At PPI Mechanic, every pre-purchase inspection for a used car is done by an experienced mechanic, gets its full time slot (1 to 2 hours, depending on the car) so nothing is rushed, and happens wherever the car is parked in Tampa Bay: at a dealership, at the seller’s home, or in a parking lot. Our team is a mix of experienced and ASE-certified mechanics.
The mechanic checks 10 areas, from the engine and frame to the A/C, scans the car’s computer, and takes it for a test drive. You get the findings with photos, so you can buy with confidence, negotiate the price, or walk away.
How the inspection works, step by step
- You book with the exact car. Year, make and model, plus where the car is and how to get to it. That way we send a mechanic who knows that car.
- Someone meets the mechanic. A person at the car signs the inspection agreement and hands over the keys.
- Walk-around. Paint, panels and glass for signs of past accidents, plus tires and wheels and flood damage.
- Under the hood and under the car. Fluids and leaks, belts and hoses, engine and transmission, and brakes and suspension.
- Computer scan. A diagnostic scan reads trouble codes, including problems that have not turned on a warning light yet.
- Inside the car. Electrical and electronics, and the interior and A/C.
- Test drive. The test drive checks how the engine pulls, how it shifts, brakes and steers, and listens for noises.
- Your findings. We go over what the mechanic found, with photos.
Florida checks we never skip
- Flood damage. After hurricanes and heavy storms, flood cars get cleaned up and resold. Every inspection includes a flood damage check.
- A/C. In Tampa heat a weak A/C is a real repair bill. We check that it blows cold. See Interior & A/C.
- Sun and heat wear. Cracked dashboards, dried-out rubber seals, and batteries worn down by heat.
- Rust near the coast. Cars kept near salt water can rust underneath, so the mechanic looks under the car.
What a mobile inspection does not do
We want you to know exactly what you are paying for:
- We do not take parts apart. The inspection is done on site, where the car is parked.
- It is not a warranty. We report the car’s condition on the day of the inspection. No one can promise what will break later.
- It is not a vehicle history report. A history report shows past owners, reported accidents and title problems. Get one too. We check what the car looks like and how it runs today.
Dealer car or private seller?
We inspect both. At a dealership, the mechanic inspects the car right on the lot. A dealer’s own inspection is done by the people selling the car. Ours is independent and works for you. With a private seller, used cars are usually sold as-is, so the inspection is often the only check the car gets before you pay.
Prices are flat: $199, $279 or $399 depending on the car. See inspection pricing.
Common questions about what we check
What does a pre-purchase inspection include?
A PPI Mechanic pre-purchase inspection covers 10 areas: engine and transmission, brakes and suspension, body and frame, a computer diagnostic scan, a test drive, flood damage, tires and wheels, electrical and electronics, fluids and leaks, and the interior and A/C. It takes about 1 to 2 hours at the car’s location.
Do you check for accident damage?
Yes. The mechanic looks for signs of past accidents and repairs, such as uneven panel gaps, paint that does not match, overspray, and damage or repairs to the frame.
Do you check for flood damage?
Yes, on every car. Flood-damaged cars are a real risk in Florida after storms, so the mechanic checks for water lines, rust and corrosion where it should not be, musty smells, and moisture under the carpets.
Can you inspect electric and hybrid cars?
Yes. Electric, hybrid and diesel vehicles are inspected under our Luxury inspection, so the mechanic who comes has experience with those systems.
Will the inspection find every problem?
No inspection can promise that. We check the car as it is that day, where it is parked, without taking parts apart. The inspection lowers your risk a lot, but it is not a warranty.
Is the dealer’s inspection the same thing?
No. A dealer’s inspection is done by the people selling the car. Ours is independent: we work for you, the buyer, and we do not sell cars.
Ready to check a car?
Book online in a couple of minutes. Tell us the year, make, and model and where the car is, and we confirm the inspection with you.