A clever way to save a packet on a second-hand car

Buying a second hand car can be a minefield, but an inspection by an independent expert can provide real peace of mind - and savings on repairs!

Unless you’re a veritable motoring expert – and let’s face it, not many of us are - a used car inspection can be extremely useful. There are plenty of things to bear in mind when buying a used car and an inspection will give you a clear idea as to the general condition of the car. If major problems surface that are likely to lead to big garage bills in future, you’ll at least know it’s probably best to give the particular vehicle a swerve.

The inspection will (hopefully) reveal problems with the body or engine which aren’t visible at first glance, and the results should reassure you that you aren’t paying too much for the vehicle. If the inspection shows up defects with the vehicle, but you still want to buy it, your bargaining power with the seller is greatly enhanced.

So what do you need to know about the inspectors?

Straightforward

Providers realise that time is often of the essence when an offer has been made on a used car, so they will try to arrange the inspection quickly  – usually within 3 working days and a verbal report will often be forthcoming immediately after the inspection has been carried out. 

An inspection is more than a warranty

Even if the car comes with a warranty, or you are going to buy one, it’s still often worth investing in an inspection.

Warranties will often not be as comprehensive as you believe, and will rarely cover wear and tear deterioration in the vehicle. An inspection can often put you on notice if the wear and tear to the vehicle is such that anything significant might fail.

Big problems that can be revealed

It’s impossible for every fault to be picked up in every inspection but you can expect major flaws to be highlighted – helping you to avoid repair bill headaches in the future. If there’s frame damage, this will be detailed in the report allowing you to decide whether the car is worth the money.

Other drawbacks, like flood damage, fire damage and previous shoddy repair work can all be highlighted. 

Limits to the inspection

It’s important to remember that the inspection does not offer an open-ended guarantee: the report will record the condition of the vehicle at the time of the inspection. It is effectively a tool to help you to decide whether to proceed with the purchase.

Now, let's take a look at some of the firms offering this service, and what you can expect from them.

The AA

One of the biggest players in the market, the AA offers two levels of used car inspection.

A Basic inspection covers mechanical operations and previous accident damage.

The Comprehensive inspection includes bodywork, paintwork, interior, visible mechanical and electrical components and equipment plus a 10 mile road report.

Like other providers, the cost of an AA inspection will vary according to the engine size of the vehicle being inspected but the Basic starts at £139 and the Comprehensive at £188 including VAT. There’s also a discount for members.

The RAC

Like the AA, the RAC offers two levels of inspection – Essentials and Essentials Plus. It describes Essentials as providing the crucial checks, including a mechanical and structural inspection, an underbody check and a road test. The Plus inspection includes a total of 66 additional checks, such as panel condition and alignment.

The Essentials package starts at £149 and the enhanced package at £194 including VAT for a 1400cc engine vehicle.

DEKRA

DEKRA also provides two types of inspection. Peace of Mind inspection is designed for people who are happy with the cosmetics of the vehicle, such as the interior and paintwork, but need assurance that the mechanics of the vehicle are in good order. DEKRA’s comprehensive inspection carries out this full mechanical check and also offers a full body check.

Prices range from £99 to £119 including VAT for the Peace of Mind inspection and £145 to £229 for the Comprehensive.

Online inspectors

Specialist online companies like mycarinspections.co.uk and auteco.co.uk also offer inspections by fully qualified engineers. mycarinspections.co.uk markets itself as the UK's largest independent group of centrally-controlled, qualified motor engineers. It claims that pre-purchase inspection prices are up to 50% cheaper than AA Car Inspections and RAC Car Checks.

Using the online quote service, I found that a Honda Civic 1.8 engine would cost £95+VAT in a dedicated workshop, while a mobile inspection (at a location of your choice) would cost £129+VAT. They offer only one level of service which they say is equivalent to comprehensive services.

Auteco.co.uk offers a similar service – they include 166 inspection points with their inspection and prices range from £135 to £215 depending on the size of vehicle being inspected.

Peace of mind

The peace of mind offered to the non-motoring expert by a pre-purchase inspection can’t be underestimated. Armed with a comprehensive written report – which should come as part of any package – you can be assured that significant problems with the vehicle which exist at the time of the inspection will have been picked up.

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