A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is the single cheapest step in the buying process and the one buyers skip most often. The list below is a broad consumer-oriented checklist that covers what an ideal, shop-based inspection on a lift would evaluate across six passes: mechanical, electrical, brakes and suspension, cosmetic, road test, and paperwork. Use it as a mental model when you look at any used vehicle.
What a mobile inspection includes
Our mobile inspections are non-invasive and performed at the vehicle's location. We do not jack or lift the vehicle, place it on ramps, remove wheels or protective panels, or disassemble components.
We inspect visible and reasonably accessible areas from ground level, perform functional and electronic checks where supported, and road-test the vehicle only when it is safe, legal, insured, and authorized.
Vehicle height, weather, lighting, underbody shields, surface conditions, seller restrictions, vehicle condition, and location may limit some checks. Important limitations will be documented in the report.
When proper evaluation requires lifting, wheel removal, disassembly, internal testing, specialty equipment, or controlled shop conditions, further evaluation by an appropriate repair facility may be recommended.
This service is not a warranty, state safety inspection, emissions certification, title verification, guarantee of future reliability, or guarantee that every defect will be discovered.
A mobile inspection is not:
- A warranty
- A state safety inspection
- An emissions certification
- A guarantee of future reliability
- A substitute for specialized testing when additional testing is recommended
What a Precision Vehicle Services mobile PPI covers
Our standard mobile pre-purchase inspection is non-invasive and performed at the vehicle's location. Items on this checklist that require lifting the vehicle, removing wheels, measuring pad or rotor thickness, or disassembling components are not part of a mobile PPI. When any of those checks are important to your decision, we will note the limitation and recommend a shop-based lift inspection as a follow-up.
Step 1
Mechanical: engine, transmission, and drivetrain
Cold-start the vehicle first. A car that has already been warmed up for you is a car with something to hide, most commonly a rough cold idle, an exhaust puff on start, or a starter that only cranks reluctantly when the engine is stone cold.
- Cold cranking is quick and even, with no long crank or clicking.
- Cold idle settles within 30 seconds without hunting or stalling.
- No blue (oil), white (coolant), or heavy black (fuel) smoke on start.
- Engine oil on the dipstick is amber to brown, not milky, gritty, or overfilled.
- Coolant in the reservoir is clean, at the correct level, and free of oil film.
- Transmission fluid (if a dipstick exists) is red or amber, not brown or burnt-smelling.
- No visible oil, coolant, or ATF leaks on the underside, hoses, or pan seams.
- Belts and hoses are supple, not cracked, glazed, or oil-soaked.
- Motor and transmission mounts are intact - no clunk on shift into Drive or Reverse.
- CV boots and axle seals are dry, uncracked, and free of grease slingoff.
- Exhaust is fully sealed from manifold to tailpipe - no ticking, no soot at joints.
Step 2
Electrical and electronics
A scan tool is non-negotiable. Sellers routinely clear codes the morning of the showing; a good inspection catches what is still living in the modules.
- Battery passes a load test, not just a voltage reading.
- Alternator holds 13.8-14.6V at idle with headlights and blower on high.
- All warning lights illuminate at key-on and extinguish after start.
- Full OBD-II scan across every module - engine, transmission, ABS, SRS, body.
- Readiness monitors are complete (a fresh clear will show most 'not ready').
- No permanent DTCs and no history of airbag or ABS faults.
- All exterior lighting works, including brake, reverse, turn, plate, and DRLs.
- Interior lighting, dome, map, glovebox, and cargo, all function.
- Infotainment powers on, pairs to a phone, and shows a rear-view camera image.
- Every window, lock, mirror, and seat motor works from every switch.
- Keyless entry and remote start (if equipped) work from at least 20 feet.
Step 3
Brakes, steering, and suspension
The suspension is the fastest way to find a hidden collision or a neglected chassis. Do this pass with the wheels off the ground when you can.
- Brake pads have at least 4mm of friction material remaining on all four corners.
- Rotors are smooth, unlipped, and free of blue heat spots.
- Brake lines and hoses are unrusted, uncracked, and unswollen.
- Brake fluid is clean amber, not dark, and at the correct level.
- Steering has no play at center, no clunk over bumps, no whine at full lock.
- Tie rods, ball joints, and control-arm bushings are tight with no visible tears.
- Struts and shocks show no oil weepage; each corner passes a bounce test.
- Wheel bearings are silent through a slow figure-eight parking-lot loop.
- Sway-bar links and bushings are intact and quiet over uneven pavement.
- Ride height sits level side to side and front to rear.
Step 4
Cosmetic and body (collision and flood evidence)
This is where prior damage tries to hide. Do it in daylight, in a dry lot, with the vehicle clean and cold.
- Panel gaps are consistent side to side (hood, fenders, doors, trunk).
- Paint color and texture match panel to panel; no orange-peel differences.
- No overspray on rubber seals, plastic trim, wheel wells, or glass edges.
- Body seams and factory spot welds look untouched under the hood and trunk.
- Windshield and side glass date codes are within a year of each other.
- Headlight and taillight housings match age and clarity across the vehicle.
- No fresh undercoating hiding fresh welds or filler.
- Carpet is dry under the front and rear floor mats, including under the driver's feet.
- No musty smell with the doors closed for a minute.
- Seat tracks, belt buckles, and under-seat wiring show no rust or waterline residue.
Step 5
Road test
A proper road test is 20 minutes minimum, on surface streets and highway, cold to fully warm. Short parking-lot loops catch almost nothing.
- Vehicle accelerates smoothly from a stop with no shudder or hesitation.
- Automatic transmission shifts crisply, with no flare, slip, or bump.
- Manual transmission and clutch engage cleanly with no chatter or grinding.
- No pulling under braking or accelerating on a flat, level road.
- Steering wheel is straight and centered at highway speed.
- No vibration in the wheel, seat, or floor between 55 and 75 mph.
- Cruise control engages, holds speed, and cancels on brake application.
- A/C stays cold under sustained highway load; heat is hot at idle.
- No new dashboard warning lights appear during or after the drive.
- Vehicle restarts hot after the drive without extended cranking.
Step 6
Paperwork and history
The best mechanical inspection in the world will not protect you from a bad title. Do this pass before you write a check.
- Title is in the seller's name, not a third party ('title jumping' is a red flag).
- VIN on the dash, door jamb, and title all match, unaltered.
- Vehicle history report shows no salvage, flood, lemon buyback, or odometer rollback.
- Service history matches the odometer and the wear on the pedals and steering wheel.
- Recall lookup on the manufacturer site shows no open safety recalls.
- Any aftermarket modifications (tune, exhaust, suspension) are disclosed in writing.
- Bill of sale lists VIN, mileage, price, and 'as-is' or warranty language clearly.
What a PPI cannot tell you
No inspection is a guarantee. A PPI is a snapshot of a vehicle at one moment in time, performed by a technician with no stake in the sale. It reduces the risk of buying a vehicle with obvious problems, but it cannot predict intermittent or future failures. A mobile PPI is specifically non-invasive: we do not lift the vehicle, remove wheels, or disassemble components, and any significant access limitations are documented in the report. When a specific concern requires internal or shop-based testing, we recommend a follow-up evaluation at an appropriate repair facility.
Next step
Have us run this checklist on the vehicle you're considering.
We come to the seller with professional diagnostic tools and no stake in the sale. Non-invasive on-site evaluation with documented digital findings and clear purchase considerations.