Get a professional car inspection in a dealer

2lazytogetup

Is it a bit OTT to hire a professional to inspect a car that you are going to buy at a car dealer, even SIMI car dealers? I assume that even if it comes with a warranty it might be a previously crashed car.

Thanks for any advice.

NIMAN

Was thinking the same thing myself, would they be a bit offended?

Suppose its your money, if they aren't hiding anything then don't see why they would be bothered.

Bogger77

2lazytogetup wrote: »

Is it a bit OTT to hire a professional to inspect a car that you are going to buy at a car dealer, even SIMI car dealers? I assume that even if it comes with a warranty it might be a previously crashed car.

Thanks for any advice.

SIMI means very little.


It's your money you're about to spend, if they don't like you getting it inspected, don't walk away, run away!

NIMAN

Could they refuse to release the car for an inspection?

I notice that the AA here do one where they collect the car and test drive it for you. But thats assuming the dealer lets them have it.

2lazytogetup

Thanks for the responses.

Would it be stupid of me to spend 12-15k on a car without having the car independently inspected. seems like alot of hassle and 300euros to arrange a mechanic to do it.

Or would it be risky to buy a car without the inspection.

Thanks.

NIMAN

AA charge €199. I'd say thats worth it if spending 15k.
http://www.theaa.ie/AA/Vehicle-checks/Car-Inspection.aspx

I travelled and bought a car in Dublin last year for <9k and paid a mechanic €120 for the inspection. I considered it money well spent.

2lazytogetup

Thanks guys, very much appreciated. That is why I come to you guys on Boards.

Sunhill

Ask the garage if you can bring an inspector. If they refuse, you can walk away with a smile on your face because you have saved yourself €200; the garage has as good as told you what the inspector would have discovered -- the car isn't a good buy.

toyotaavensis

I have lost count of the number of threads where people get ****ed by traders/dealers.

Always get the car inspected.

Mech1

Im a professional Mechanic. Lord only knows how many "Lemons" I have inspected for people, main dealer means nothing when it comes to a second hand cars quality.

Deffo get it checked.

Any dealer should have no problem dropping your prospective buy to a reasonably local garage of your choosing for a inspection.

Mech1

By the way, I have "failed" the same 07 Discovery 3, on 3 different occasions for 3 different buyers this year, but its getting better (things fixed) every time.:D

And the price is Dropping.

carq

Hi

What is the typical charge for an inspection in a garage ?

bucketybuck

The €300 charge one poster stated seems very excessive to me for what in the end will be a visual inspection. I appreciate that the mechanic is going off-site and wasting time travelling to the car but even so it seems high.

In comparison we charge under €90 for a HGV safety inspection, thats in our workshop but it serves as a base figure. The AA charge of €200 is more reasonable assuming they are going to stand over their report.

Cases like this reinforce the advice that everybody should search for and then retain a good, local, independent mechanic, as opposed to treating every garage visit like a battleground and counting every single penny. There are good independents out there and if you find one he will be worth his weight in gold over the years. If you had one you wouldn't have to give him €300 to come and look at a car for you, it would probably be half that.