Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection
A pre-purchase inspection is an independent mechanical check of a used car, done before you hand over any money. A technician who works for you, not the seller, goes through the engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension, electrics and body, and gives you a written report you can use to negotiate or walk away.
From AED 299Plans at AED 299, 399 and 799Convenience fee applicable · shown on your written quote
- About 45-60 minutes at the car
- Can be done at your location
- Convenience fee applicable · shown on your written quote
- Diagnosis free with repair
How we do pre-purchase vehicle inspection
- 1
Choose a plan and book
Essential covers 200+ points, Standard 400+ and Comprehensive 600, at AED 299, 399 and 799. You give us the car's location and a time that suits the seller.
- 2
Walk-round and under-bonnet check
The body, glass, lights, tyres and panel alignment are checked first, then fluids, belts, hoses, leaks and mounts, with the engine cold if the seller allows it.
- 3
Scan and road test
From the Standard plan, a full diagnostic scan reads every control unit, and a road test, where the seller agrees, checks gear changes, braking and noise under load.
- 4
Written report and advice
You get a clear report with what is fine, what needs attention and roughly what it would involve. The decision to buy, negotiate or decline stays with you.
Why inspect before you buy
- You have found a car online and the photos look perfect, but you cannot see how it drives
- The seller says it has been serviced, but there is no stamped history to back it up
- The price is lower than similar cars and you want to know why
- You are not a mechanic and do not know what a worn gearbox or tired suspension feels like
- The car is a premium or sports model where one hidden fault can cost thousands of dirhams
- You are buying from an individual with no warranty and no return policy
What usually causes it
Undisclosed accident repair
A panel respray, a replaced wing or a straightened chassis rail can be invisible in good light. We look for uneven gaps, paint texture and fasteners that have been turned.
Mechanical wear the seller has stopped noticing
Worn engine mounts, a slipping gearbox clutch or a leaking steering rack creep up slowly. A driver used to the car may not feel what a stranger will.
Stored fault codes cleared before sale
A scanner can show whether control units have recently been reset, and sometimes pending faults remain that the dash no longer reports.
Deferred maintenance
Old brake fluid, perished belts, tired tyres and missed services are a hidden cost that comes off your budget in the first months of ownership.
By make and model
Porsche
On older 911 and Boxster models the intermediate shaft bearing is a recognised risk, so engine history and condition are checked with extra care.
Mercedes-Benz
Models with Airmatic air suspension can hide leaking bags or failing compressors that only show up after the car has sat for a while.
In Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman
The UAE used market is full of imports, ex-rental cars, and cars that have lived through years of 45 degree summers. Heat-aged rubber, sun-faded interiors and AC wear are expected, but flood damage and unreported repairs after accidents are the findings that change a deal, and they are what we look for.
Questions about pre-purchase vehicle inspection
Which plan should I choose?
Essential suits a quick check of an older, cheaper car. Standard is the usual choice for a family car. Comprehensive makes sense for a higher-value or higher-risk purchase.
Does the seller have to agree?
Yes, someone has to let us look at the car. A seller who refuses an independent inspection is telling you something,.
Is the report suitable for negotiating?
That is its purpose. It lists issues in plain language, so you can ask for a price cut, a repair before sale, or decide the car is not worth buying.
Do you work for the seller or the dealership?
No. We work only for the buyer, and report what we find even if it means you walk away from the car.
Last updated
Get a written quote
Tell us about your car. You get an itemised quote before any work starts, and you choose OEM, aftermarket or used parts.