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ASE CERTIFIED • NORTH PHOENIX & PEORIA, AZ
Pre-Purchase Inspectionsin Phoenix and Peoria, AZ
About to buy a used car? Bring it here first. We work for you, not the seller — and a written report is a great deal cheaper than the repair you did not know about.
- ASE Certified Technicians
- RepairPal Fair-Price Estimates
- 24-Month / 24,000-Mile Warranty
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS
The cheapest hour you will spend on a used car
A pre-purchase inspection is an independent look at a specific vehicle before you buy it. We put it on a lift, scan it, road test it, and give you a written report of what is wrong now, what is going to be wrong soon, and what it will cost. Nothing about that report is influenced by whether the sale goes through.
It matters especially in this market. Phoenix sun destroys paint, plastics and rubber from the outside in, while the cars that get shipped here from the Midwest bring rust and salt damage underneath that you will not see standing in a driveway. Both are easy to find on a lift, and neither is visible on a test drive.
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We work for the buyer
You get the report. The seller gets nothing unless you show them. -
On a lift, not in a parking lot
Frame, underbody, leaks, suspension and exhaust — the parts sellers count on you not seeing. -
Full scan for codes
Including pending and recently-cleared codes and readiness monitors. -
ASE-certified technicians
The same people who repair these cars every day.
WHEN TO BOOK ONE
When a pre-purchase inspection pays for itself
If any of these describe your situation, an inspection is the highest-value hour in the whole process.
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Buying from a private seller
No warranty, no recourse, and no dealership to go back to. This is the case the inspection exists for.
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Buying at auction or from out of state
Cars come to Phoenix from everywhere. Rust and flood damage do not announce themselves in photographs.
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The price seems very good
Sometimes it is a good deal. Sometimes it is a transmission. An hour tells you which.
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No service records
We can read a lot from the car itself — fluid condition, wear patterns and what has clearly been replaced.
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A “certified” car you did not certify
Certification standards vary enormously. An independent look costs little and settles it.
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You want negotiating leverage
A written list of what needs doing is the most useful thing you can bring to a price conversation.
WHAT YOU GET
What’s included in a pre-purchase inspection
- Full scan for stored, pending and cleared codes plus readiness monitors
- Vehicle on a lift — frame, underbody, rust and accident-repair inspection
- Engine and transmission inspection, fluid condition and leak check
- Brake measurement, tire condition and date codes
- Suspension, steering and driveline inspection
- Cooling and A/C system performance test
- Battery, charging system and electrical function check
- Road test and a written report with photos of everything we found
HOW IT WORKS
No surprises, start to finish
01
Book in 60 seconds
Pick a time online or call us. Bring the car, or arrange with the seller for it to come to us.
02
We go over it on a lift
Scan, inspect, measure and road test — the same look we would give a car before we bought it ourselves.
03
You get a written report
What is wrong now, what is coming, and what each item is likely to cost, with photos.
04
You decide
Walk away, negotiate, or buy it knowing exactly what you are getting. No pressure from us either way.
WHY TRUST US
Honesty leads. Everything else follows.
Integrity
We recommend the repair you actually need — and tell you when you don’t need one yet.
Honesty
Photos of every worn part, so you can see for yourself what we’re quoting.
Transparency
RepairPal fair-price estimates and a written quote before any work begins.
4.9★
Google rating
ASE
Certified technicians
24 mo
24,000-mile warranty
5 mi
Free Uber or Lyft ride
QUESTIONS WE GET EVERY WEEK
Pre-purchase inspection FAQ
How long does an inspection take?
Plan on about an hour to an hour and a half for the inspection itself, plus the report. Book ahead if the seller is only giving you a narrow window — we can usually work around it.
Can you inspect a car at the seller’s location?
The inspection needs a lift to be worth doing — half of what we are looking for is underneath. The car needs to come to us. Most sellers agree to it, and the ones who refuse have told you something useful.
Will you tell me whether to buy it?
We will tell you what is wrong with it and what it will cost to put right. That is usually enough to make the decision obvious. What the car is worth to you is your call.
Do you check for accident damage?
Yes. On a lift you can see repaired frame sections, replaced panels, overspray and mismatched welds that no photograph shows. We also flag rust and undercarriage corrosion on cars brought in from other states.
What does an inspection cost?
It is a fixed piece of work rather than an open-ended repair, so call or book online and we will tell you the price up front. It is a small fraction of what one missed repair costs.
Can I use the report to negotiate?
That is one of the most common reasons people get one. A written, itemised list from an independent shop is far more persuasive than an opinion.
Other services we handle
Full-service auto repair and maintenance under one roof in North Phoenix.
SCHEDULE WITH CONFIDENCE
Ready to check it before you buy it?
17217 N Tatum Blvd, Phoenix AZ 85032 · Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–5:00 PM · Sat 7:30 AM–4:00 PM