vehicle inspection before buying car

pog it

Hey guys just wondering if ye can advise me on this.

Am looking at a car tomorrow and it's from a car dealer.

Would ye recommend I get the car checked out before I buy, even when it's from a dealer? Or can I expect to get a report from them that the car is in sound condition? It is in 4.5 k range so 300 that aa charges seems a lot to pay. Others like inspectacar charge 99euro. Still if they are thorough then I'd be prepared to pay it.

Any advice? Should the dealer cover this automatically or is it down to me to get it checked out?

Mc Love

Its an official dealer or Joe Twobob selling it?

pog it

It's an official dealer. They have a long record it seems.

Is the onus on them or me to check the car out fully, I know nothing myself!

joto

Depends on the 'stealer' if they have checked the car out or not.
It's a waste of good money getting it done, especially when you're buying from a dealer. The dealer should be a member of SIMI.
You should also get a 6 months guarantee (minimum 3 months) from the stealer and make sure it says this on invoice when you buy.

Midnight_EG

From the stories I've read here, I'd get Inspectacar out, if they find out the car is a deathtrap then there's €100 well spent. If they find it's perfect, €100 well spent

pog it

cool thanks.. I think I'll get the cheaper one done with inspect a car and coupled with the 3/6 month guarantee I'll be safer that way..

just curious though, are they legally obliged to give me refund within terms of guarantee if there was a major problem with the car, or would it cover repairs only?

Mc Love

Inspectacar - did a search and can only find South africa. Is there an irish branch? Would they be better than AA check?

joto

just curious though, are they legally obliged to give me refund within terms of guarantee if there was a major problem with the car, or would it cover repairs only?

They will not refund you no matter how major the problem. They have insurance to cover guarantees. I had an engine replaced once, within 3 months guarantee which was more than the value of the car, but garage insisted on doing the work.
Also note the guarantee doesn't cover everything. Usually major componants only. Make sure they point out what is covered.

pog it

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Inspectacar - did a search and can only find South africa. Is there an irish branch? Would they be better than AA check?

www.Inspectacarorvan.com

They are cheaper than AA but not as thorough.. I'm waiting for my quotation back from AA and I'll post up here when I get that, but I read elsewhere it can be as much as 300 Ex Vat so it's really dear.

pog it

joto wrote: »

They will not refund you no matter how major the problem. They have insurance to cover guarantees. I had an engine replaced once, within 3 months guarantee which was more than the value of the car, but garage insisted on doing the work.
Also note the guarantee doesn't cover everything. Usually major componants only. Make sure they point out what is covered.

Thanks dude, I am now 100% getting the inspection done.. I guess I'll have to get the inspector to come out to the dealership where the car is.. dealerships won't have any probs with this will they?

Do people normally come back the second day to get the car looked at, having agreed the sale on the presumption that it is in proper condition?

Seth Brundle

1. get the car checked out regardless of who you buy it from. Main dealers have sold some crap cars in the past!
2. Get a written warranty, specifying the term of the warranty and also what exactly is covered by the warranty

Juwwi

Do u know a mechanic u could bring with you.

I'd recomend someone youk now ,firstly if you go with them when its suits them timewise it wont be €100 and those guys advertising car inspections
will do their best to advise you not to buy it so you go away
thinking mr inspectacar just saved me from buying a banger and next car you see you'l bring him again and he gets another €100.

budhabob

pog it wrote: »

www.Inspectacarorvan.com

They are cheaper than AA but not as thorough.. I'm waiting for my quotation back from AA and I'll post up here when I get that, but I read elsewhere it can be as much as 300 Ex Vat so it's really dear.

sorry for dragging upp an oldish thread, but just got a quote from the AA of €330 for a vehicle inspection. Now i am aware that they give a very thorough inspection, but that seems a tad excessive. Has anyone used any of the mentioned services above? Would a mechanic be able to give it a good look over without a ramp etc?

I am considering buying a car privately (for the first time), and eventhough i know very few warranties are worth much more than the paper they are written on, it still provides some peace of mind. Theres no warranty with a private sale however, so this is the reason I would like the car checked out extensively.

Dades

There's a place on the Naas Road that do inspection checks for €99 if you bring the car in.

The dealer I bought my car from (around Ballymount) dropped the car up for me and the guy who did the inspection called me straight after. Seem to be pretty thorough.

The AA took three weeks to come back to me for a quote after I left a message and used their online form. Needless to say I let them know that wasn't quite good enough.

If you are offered a warranty - check to see what it actually covers. If it only covers 'mechanicals' and your electrics blow up you are goosed.

budhabob

Dades wrote: »

There's a place on the Naas Road that do inspection checks for €99 if you bring the car in.

The dealer I bought my car from (around Ballymount) dropped the car up for me and the guy who did the inspection called me straight after. Seem to be pretty thorough.

The AA took three weeks to come back to me for a quote after I left a message and used their online form. Needless to say I let them know that wasn't quite good enough.

If you are offered a warranty - check to see what it actually covers. If it only covers 'mechanicals' and your electrics blow up you are goosed.

Thanks for that Dades. I had looked at that place on the Naas road alright. My post was probably a little misleading, I am thinking of buying a car privately so there would be no warranty. I would be happy with my knowledge of cars, but i would rather a pro who knows them inside out to check out the car. The www.Inspectacarorvan.com place seem to come to the vehicle which would probably be simpler considering a private sale.