What to say to the seller
The hard part isn't the inspection. It's asking. Copy this and send it.
A seller with nothing to hide has no reason to say no. If they won't hold the car for a day so it can be checked, you've learnt something without spending a cent.
How it works
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Send us the car details
Rego or year, make and model, the seller's suburb, and when you need it by. We reply with the next free slot. Say if it's urgent.
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The car comes to Colemans Rd
You or the seller drives it here. Use the message above to ask. Wait in reception or come back when it's done.
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About 90 minutes on the hoist
Underneath, under the bonnet, plugged into the scan tool and out on the road. Diesels get the turbo, injectors and DPF looked at too.
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You get the verdict in person
The mechanic walks you through what's fine, what needs doing soon and roughly what it costs. You take the written report to the seller.
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"The team did an awesome job, and the price was very fair."
Adrian M., Google review -
"I always feel confident that the work is done properly and at a fair price."
Shakur A., Google review -
"Reliable and efficient car repairs with honest pricing."
Rimmy B., Google review
- Licensed roadworthy tester
- Fully qualified technicians
- Cars, utes, 4WDs & light trucks
The questions nervous buyers ask us
Another buyer's looking at it tomorrow. How fast can you do it?
Message the car details and say it's urgent. We reply with the next free slot during opening hours, and Saturday mornings are open too.
Meanwhile, ask the seller to hold it until it's been checked. Don't pay a deposit before the report is in your hand. A seller who won't wait a day is telling you something.
Why won't you come to the car?
Because the underside is where rust, leaks and accident damage hide, and you can't see it properly lying on a driveway with a torch. On the hoist we can. Sellers around Frankston, Dandenong and Cranbourne are a short drive from Carrum Downs.
If you find problems, will you push me to fix them here?
No. The report is yours to take to the seller or to any other mechanic. We give you a rough cost for anything that needs doing so you can negotiate with real numbers, and there's no pressure to book the repairs with us.
Is $250 worth it on a $6,000 car?
On a cheap car it matters more, not less. A worn clutch, a leaking head gasket or a rusty sill on a 2011 hatch is a big slice of what you're paying, and a test drive won't show any of them. If the report finds problems, you pay less or walk away. If it's clean, you've bought certainty for $250.
It's already got a roadworthy. Isn't that enough?
No. A roadworthy certificate only confirms the car met the minimum safety standard on the day. It says nothing about a tired engine, a slipping gearbox or a service that's 20,000 km overdue. A pre-purchase inspection covers condition and what it's going to cost you.
We're licensed roadworthy testers, so we know exactly where an RWC stops.
Do you inspect utes, 4WDs and light trucks?
Yes. We service and repair them every day, so we know where lifted 4WDs and hard-worked utes go wrong. Tell us what it is when you message so we allow enough time.
What the test drive won't show you
- Engine & coolingLeaks, noises, smoke on start-up, belts, hoses, radiator, timing service history. Turbo, injectors and DPF on diesels.
- Transmission & drivetrainShift quality, slipping, shudder, clutch wear, diff, CV joints, 4WD engagement and transfer case.
- Brakes, suspension & steeringPad and disc thickness measured, shocks, springs, bushes, ball joints, steering play, wheel bearings.
- Body, structure & rustAccident repair and repaint, rust in sills, floors and chassis rails, panel gaps, glass, underbody damage.
- Tyres, exhaust & underneathTread depth and uneven wear, exhaust leaks and mounts, fluid leaks from above and below, spare and jack.
- Electrics, scan & road testStored fault codes, battery and charging, warning lights, air-con, windows, lights. Road test for noises, pulling and vibration.
Every item goes on the report as pass, budget for it, or don't buy. Where something needs doing, we put a rough cost next to it so you can negotiate with real numbers. The report is yours to take to the seller or any other mechanic.
Where the car needs to come
Don't pay the deposit yet
Send us the car details and the seller's suburb. We'll reply with the next free slot, and you'll walk into the negotiation holding a mechanic's report instead of a hunch.