A pre-purchase inspection is an independent check of a used car before you buy it, carried out by someone with no interest in the sale. AutoTech Clinic performs these at 24100 Michigan Ave in Dearborn and gives you a written report of what we found.
In Michigan the underbody inspection alone makes it worth doing. Rust on frame rails, brake lines, subframes and suspension mounting points is what separates a good used car from one that will cost you thousands, and you cannot see any of it from the driver seat.
- How Long
- About 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Pre-Purchase Inspection
- You are buying from a private seller
- You are buying from a dealer and want an independent opinion
- The car has no service history
- The price seems low for the year and mileage
- The car came from out of state or has an unclear history
- You are about to spend a significant amount and want certainty
What We Do
- 01
Scan Every Module
We read stored and pending codes across all modules, which can reveal faults that were cleared shortly before the sale.
- 02
Lift and Inspect the Underbody
Rust on frame rails, brake lines, subframes and suspension mounts, plus evidence of accident repair or weld work.
- 03
Measure the Wear Items
Brake pads, rotors, tire tread and age, belts, hoses, and fluid condition, so you know what the car needs in the next year.
- 04
Check for Leaks and Damage
Engine and transmission leaks, coolant condition, signs of overheating or head gasket trouble, and evidence of previous repair work.
- 05
Road Test and Report
We road test for noise, shifting, steering, braking and alignment, then give you a written report with what we found and a rough idea of what it will cost to put right.
Rust Is the Michigan Deal Breaker
A car can look excellent, drive well and have a clean interior while the underside is close to the end of its life. Frame rail perforation, rusted brake lines, corroded subframes and rotted suspension mounting points are all common on vehicles that have spent ten or more winters here.
Some of that is repairable and some of it means the car is not worth buying at any price. The fifteen minutes we spend under the car is usually the most valuable part of the inspection.
What a Report Does for Your Negotiation
Even on a good car, an inspection normally finds a list: tires at half life, brakes due within the year, a weeping valve cover gasket. None of that means walk away. It means you know what the car will cost you in the next twelve months.
That list is also the most useful thing you can bring to a price conversation. A seller who will not allow an inspection is telling you something, and we would take that seriously.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- The inspection itself, which is a fixed time
- Whether the vehicle is brought to us or needs arranging
- Additional diagnostic time if we find something that needs investigating
- Vehicles with heavy underbody rust that take longer to assess properly
- Specialty or high performance vehicles with more to check
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.