What is the first thing you do before purchasing a home or renting a new apartment? You inspect it. This is because you invest a lot of money into purchasing a new home, so there are no surprises that could cost you a fortune later. The same thing should be done when buying a new car. This is probably the second most expensive purchase after a home. Certain things can go wrong with a vehicle that may require repairs. These repairs can also be costly. A pre-purchase car inspection is necessary for many reasons before signing your name on the dotted line.
Scheduling a Vehicle Inspection
Should you schedule a vehicle inspection before you close a deal on a new car? An auto inspection before buying is necessary, so don’t let the seller try to steer you in the opposite direction. The majority of car sellers will allow you to take the vehicle and have it inspected without any hesitation.
You should be able to borrow the vehicle of your choice from the seller or dealer, schedule an appointment for an inspection, and drive the vehicle to the location for the inspection. If the seller or dealer does not allow you to take the car by yourself, you can request that someone accompany you to the appointment. You may also want to consider scheduling a mobile inspection instead since they are more convenient, but not as comprehensive. This is because a mobile inspector will be unable to lift the car to examine everything underneath it.
Benefits of Vehicle Inspection
Prior to buying a new car, there are several benefits to having the vehicle inspected, including:
- Allows you to know the actual worth of the vehicle: A pre-purchase inspection allows you to decide whether a vehicle is fairly priced based on the actual condition. Often, dealers will price vehicles at higher rates than the car’s actual value.
- Opens the door to negotiations: The best thing you can do is learn the vehicle’s actual cash value, which may get you a better deal on the vehicle since you won’t be talked into overpaying on it. If the inspection reveals many issues, you can use that report to help negotiate a lower price.
- Lowers the cost for maintenance: Besides repairs, you have to consider the cost of maintenance when purchasing a new vehicle. Even if the vehicle seems to be working fine during the process of negotiation, you must remember that brakes pads, tires, and oil filters will need to be replaced at some point.
Final Thoughts
Even though thorough inspections cannot guarantee that every flaw is found in a vehicle, having it inspected by a trained inspector can help you avoid some of the biggest problems. It doesn’t hurt to spend a few extra dollars for an inspection compared to several thousand to fix a major repair.