A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is one of the most useful services we offer. If you’re thinking about buying a used vehicle, bringing it to us first gives you a clear, unbiased look at what you’re getting into.

It’s important to be clear about what a pre-purchase inspection is and what it isn’t: a pre-purchase inspection is a generic check, and a diagnostic is a separate, different service. A PPI tells you the overall condition of the vehicle. A diagnostic is what we do when something specific is wrong and we need to go deep on a particular system.

What our pre-purchase inspection includes

  • Scan of all modules
  • Check of fluid levels
  • Check for leaks
  • Brakes
  • Tires
  • Service records review
  • Carfax service history
  • Test drive
  • Cooling system: check condition, then check operation

That last one is worth a small note. We check the cooling system’s condition and we check that it’s operating. If you need a deeper look at the cooling system — going beyond condition and operation — that’s a separate diagnostic.

What a PPI doesn’t include

  • A deep diagnostic on any specific system (that’s a separate service)
  • Bodywork or paint assessment (we don’t do bodywork — we can refer you out)
  • Anything diesel (we do not service diesel engines)

How we approach it

We work on all makes, and European service (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar) is a particular strength of ours. The PPI gives you a clear, general picture of the vehicle — what’s been done, what’s in good shape, what’s worth keeping an eye on, what we’d recommend addressing.

How to use the results

When the inspection is done, we walk through what we found in plain language. From there, you can decide what to do — keep going with the purchase, negotiate, or pass.

What to do next

If you’re shopping for a used car and want it looked at first, schedule a pre-purchase inspection. Bring the car by 3645 Main Street in Chula Vista, Monday through Friday. We’ll take a look and tell you what we find.