General
About our inspections
What is a pre-purchase vehicle inspection? ⌄
A pre-purchase inspection is a thorough mechanical and visual assessment of a vehicle carried out by one of our qualified technicians before you commit to buying it. We check over 100 points covering the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, body, electrical systems, and more — and give you a plain-English written report of our findings.
Why do I need an inspection if the car looks fine? ⌄
Many serious and costly faults are not visible to the untrained eye — things like oil leaks hidden under undercoating, early transmission wear, cracked chassis rails, or electrical issues that only appear under certain conditions. A professional inspection gives you an objective, expert view of the vehicle's true condition before your money changes hands.
Do you inspect both private sales and dealer vehicles? ⌄
Yes. We inspect vehicles from private sellers and dealerships across New Zealand. We are fully independent — we have no relationship with any dealer, which means our report is completely unbiased.
How long does an inspection take? ⌄
A standard inspection typically takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on the vehicle. You will receive your written report shortly after the inspection is complete, usually within a few hours.
Does the seller need to be present? ⌄
No. We just need access to the vehicle. You can arrange access with the seller beforehand and our technician will attend at the agreed time. The seller does not need to be present for the inspection to take place.
What areas do you cover? ⌄
We cover all of New Zealand. Contact us with the vehicle location and we will confirm availability and book you in.
Booking
Booking and pricing
How do I book an inspection? ⌄
Simply fill out the booking form on our homepage or contact us directly by email or phone. Let us know the vehicle details, location, and when you need the inspection and we will confirm a time with you promptly.
How much does an inspection cost? ⌄
Our standard pre-purchase inspections start from $199. Urgent same-day inspections are $349. Invoice and quote reviews are $49 with same-day turnaround. Contact us for a specific quote based on your vehicle and location.
Can I get a same-day inspection? ⌄
Yes. We offer urgent same-day inspections for $349 when availability allows. Call us directly to arrange this as same-day bookings need to be confirmed by phone.
What if I need to cancel? ⌄
We understand plans change. Cancellations made with more than 24 hours notice for standard inspections will receive a full refund. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are non-refundable. Urgent same-day inspections are non-refundable once booked.
The Report
Your inspection report
What does the report include? ⌄
Your report includes a detailed assessment of all major vehicle systems, photographs of any issues found, a condition rating for each area inspected, and a plain-English summary of our overall findings and any recommended actions. We aim to give you everything you need to make a confident decision.
Is the inspection report a guarantee? ⌄
No. Our reports are a professional guide based on a visual and functional inspection at the time of assessment. Some faults are hidden or intermittent and may not be detectable during an inspection. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details on the limitations of our service.
Can I use the report to negotiate the price? ⌄
Absolutely — this is one of the most common uses of our reports. If the inspection uncovers issues, you can use the findings and estimated repair costs to negotiate a lower purchase price or ask the seller to fix the problems before you buy.
What is an invoice and quote review? ⌄
If you have received a repair quote from a mechanic and want a second opinion on whether it is fair, we can review the invoice or quote and advise you on whether the pricing and work seems reasonable. This service is $49 with same-day turnaround.