Should I arrange for an inspection on my used car?

Being confident in a used car is not always easy. When you buy a new car you are buying one that is fresh, that is new and that hasn’t been driven by anybody else. However, when you buy a used car, there is going to be possible faults and issues that you might not even know about.

Unless you are a mechanic, it can be hard to spot whether there is likely to be a fault with a car, which means that if you can organise for someone else to do it for you, then all the better.

How do I organise an inspection?

There are a couple of choices when it comes to a used car inspection. You may find that a local garage or mechanic is able to carry out an inspection for you, however, you are going to want to make sure that they know what they are talking about before you agree to paying them.

You can also take a look at services that are provided by recognised organisations such as the AA and the RAC. If you do decide that you prefer this option then you are going to need to remember that it might not be available in your area and that you may end up paying out more for it then you would with a local garage.

What things does it look at?

The inspection that your used car has will really depend on who is doing it and the package that you have paid for. Some will be more of a cursory glance looking at some of the major things. Others will look much deeper and even cover the interior and exterior of the car. You may also find that you can pay out for the history of the car to be checked over, as well as the documentation that relates to owners, MOTs and service history too.

You can also request for a road test to be carried out on the car, which will allow the inspector to drive the car and see how it actually handles being on the road, rather than simply looking at it to see if there are any issues.

Is it worth it?

An inspection on a used car is going to come at a cost; which means that you are going to need to work this cost into the price of the car that you are looking to buy. Not great if you are already trying to save money.

However, the peace of mind that the inspection can bring is often priceless. You can feel safe in the knowledge that the car that you are buying is not only at the best quality possible, but that it is not likely to break down as you drive it away from the person’s home or the dealership where you bought it.

It really is down to you whether or not you think that this initial cost is going to be worth it in the long run.

Collaboration.