Field Notes · Pre-Purchase

Pre-purchase inspection cost: what you actually pay for

The most common question we get before a first booking is simple: what does a pre-purchase inspection cost, and is it worth it? The short answer is that $150–$400 is a small line item next to a $25,000 used-car mistake. The longer answer is that not every "inspection" at that price is the same thing.

Typical price ranges

• Free dealer multi-point: visual walk-around by a lot porter or service advisor. Fine for a first filter, not a decision-quality report.
• National inspection networks (Lemon Squad, WeGoLook): $150–$250, standardized checklist, contractor-of-the-day.
• Independent mobile technician (Precision Vehicle Services Standard): $249, on-site scan tool, road test, digital report with photos.
• Premium / European / enthusiast vehicles: $349+ because the road test and scan take longer and the failure modes are more expensive to miss.

Why the free dealer check is not a substitute

Dealer multi-point inspections are marketing documents, not diagnostic reports. They exist to move the vehicle off the lot. The person filling out the form works for the seller, and the report almost never includes freeze-frame data from the scan tool, brake-pad measurements in millimeters, or a written recommendation. If a dealer refuses to let a third-party technician inspect the vehicle, that itself is the finding.

Insurance against a lemon

The math is straightforward. A $249 inspection that catches a failing transfer case on a used Explorer just saved you $3,000. A $249 inspection that confirms the car is clean gives you documented leverage in the negotiation and peace of mind on the drive home. Either way, the report pays for itself the first time it changes what you write on the check.

What's included at each level

Our Standard inspection covers full electronic scan, road test, undercarriage, fluids, brakes, tires, and a written buy / negotiate / walk verdict. The Premium tier adds extended road test, deeper module scans, and is the right fit for European, performance, and higher-value vehicles. Both come with a digital report you can share with the seller in a single link.

Compare service tiers on the services page.