Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection in Fort Wayne, IN
Thinking about buying a used car? We come to the seller’s location, run a full mechanical inspection, and give you a written report before you sign.
Pre-purchase inspections in Fort Wayne are the cheapest insurance you can buy when you’re considering a used car. A $150-$200 inspection saves you from buying a $4,000 lemon, and they’re done where the car is — at the dealership, at the seller’s house, or in a parking lot somewhere. We run a 50-point mechanical inspection, scan the OBD-II computer for stored or pending codes, road-test the car, and give you a written report you can take to the seller. The whole thing takes 30-45 minutes on-site and you get the report by email the same day.
What a pre-purchase inspection covers
- OBD-II scan — codes, monitors, freeze-frame data
- Mechanical inspection: engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, tires, exhaust
- Fluid condition check (oil, coolant, brake, transmission)
- Frame and undercarriage visual for collision repair or rust
- Battery and charging-system test
- Road test for noises, vibrations, shifting behavior, brake feel
- Written report emailed within 24 hours
What we can NOT do in a pre-purchase inspection: open the engine for internal inspection, remove the head, drop the transmission, or scan body-control modules on certain newer cars where the seller hasn’t given us the key code. Those need a shop. The inspection we provide is what 95% of used-car buyers actually need — a sanity check on whether the car has hidden problems that would affect your decision.
Our process — what to expect
- Send us the listing or VIN so we know what to look for.
- Tell us where and when the seller will have the car available.
- We arrive at the location, introduce ourselves to the seller, run the inspection.
- Quick verbal heads-up to you on anything urgent.
- Written report emailed within 24 hours.
Typical pricing for pre-purchase inspections in Fort Wayne
Pre-purchase inspections in Fort Wayne are a flat $150-$200 depending on vehicle type. Standard cars and SUVs are $150. Pickups and large SUVs (lots more to inspect underneath) are $175. European luxury and high-mileage diesels are $200. The fee includes the on-site inspection, the OBD scan, the road test, and the written report. There’s no extra fee if the seller cancels the appointment — we charge from the time we arrive. If the seller flakes after we’re already there, the fee still applies and we’ll tell you what we saw before we left.
When we recommend additional inspection
If we find evidence the car has been wrecked and re-painted, that the frame has been straightened, or that the engine has unusual oil-burning patterns, we’ll recommend a lift inspection at a shop. We’ll also recommend a follow-up if the seller refused to let us road-test it. Our written report makes the recommendation explicit so you can decide whether the deal is worth pursuing.
Service area
Pre-purchase inspections across Fort Wayne, plus New Haven, Huntertown, Leo-Cedarville, Grabill, Woodburn, Monroeville, and Hoagland. If you’re buying from a dealer further out, ask — we may still come.
Frequently asked questions about pre-purchase inspections in Fort Wayne
How is a pre-purchase inspection different from a CarFax?
Different things. CarFax tells you the reported title history, ownership chain, and reported accidents. A pre-purchase inspection tells you the current mechanical condition. CarFax can miss accidents that weren’t reported to insurance (which is roughly 30% of all accidents). A physical inspection of the body, frame, paint, and undercarriage catches what CarFax can’t. Use both.
Can you do an inspection at a dealership?
Almost always, yes. Reputable dealers welcome pre-purchase inspections because it builds buyer confidence. We coordinate with their service manager so we have access. If a dealer refuses to let an independent inspector look at a car, that’s information too — you should ask why.
Will the seller be there?
Usually yes for private-party sales and almost always yes at dealerships. We’re friendly with sellers — we explain what we’re doing, we don’t badmouth the car to them, and we keep our findings between us and you. Our job is to give you accurate information, not to negotiate.
What if the inspection finds problems?
You get a written report listing every problem we found, ranked by severity (safety, soon-needed repair, cosmetic). You can use it to negotiate the price down with the seller, to walk away, or to factor in the repair cost when deciding. Some of our customers have used the report to knock $1,500+ off the asking price. Others have decided to walk.
How long does the inspection take?
30-45 minutes on-site, plus 15-25 minutes back at the office writing up the report. You don’t have to be present during the inspection. You’ll have the written report by email the same day.
Do you check the cold-start behavior?
Yes — we ask the seller to leave the car overnight (or for 4+ hours) so the engine is cold when we arrive. Cold-start behavior reveals problems that warm engines hide: lifter ticking that disappears once oil pressure builds, blue smoke from worn valve guides, hard-start patterns from bad coolant temperature sensors. If we can’t get a cold start we’ll note it in the report.
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Buying a used car in Fort Wayne?
Call (260) 222-6623 before you sign. The inspection is the best $150-$200 you’ll spend on the deal.