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Buying used car and vehicle inspections?

post #1 of 13
7/27/10 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
I'm thinking about buying a used car from a private party (craigslist). It was recommended to me that I get the car inspected by a mechanic/dealership. I've never done this before, so I need some guidance

Is the inspection done before the sale or after? Do you draft a contract and make the sale contingent on passing inspection?
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post #2 of 13
7/27/10 at 5:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip87 View Post
I'm thinking about buying a used car from a private party (craigslist). It was recommended to me that I get the car inspected by a mechanic/dealership. I've never done this before, so I need some guidance

Is the inspection done before the sale or after? Do you draft a contract and make the sale contingent on passing inspection?

I've never heard of doing it with this level of formality.

In my experience, and in the experiences of others I've heard about, you just tell the seller you'd like to have the vehicle looked at by a mechanic before you'll commit to buy. I've never heard of anyone getting resistance doing it this way, and I don't think I'd ever consider buying a car from someone who did resist.
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post #3 of 13
7/27/10 at 5:14pm
Do it before cash changes hands. Make sure you're comfortable with the mechanic doing the inspection, don't let the seller steer you to his "friend". If you're writing up a contract you can certainly specify that the sale is contingent upon passing.

If it were me I would offer it as this - Seller pays for the inspection, if it fails he eats the cost, if it passes, the cost is passed on to the buyer.

Best of luck.
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post #4 of 13
7/27/10 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post
Do it before cash changes hands. Make sure you're comfortable with the mechanic doing the inspection, don't let the seller steer you to his "friend". If you're writing up a contract you can certainly specify that the sale is contingent upon passing. If it were me I would offer it as this - Seller pays for the inspection, if it fails he eats the cost, if it passes, the cost is passed on to the buyer. Best of luck.
That would never work because you couldn't meaningfully define what constituted passing inspection. The point of a pre-purchase inspection is to identify components on the car that may require repair or replacement in the near future. Serious or widespread problems means you pass on the car and be thankful that all you're out is the cost of the inspection. Less serious repairs or common maintenance items shouldn't necessarily be deal-breakers and they may offer a basis for negotiating the sale price down.
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post #5 of 13
7/27/10 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG View Post
I've never heard of doing it with this level of formality.

In my experience, and in the experiences of others I've heard about, you just tell the seller you'd like to have the vehicle looked at by a mechanic before you'll commit to buy. I've never heard of anyone getting resistance doing it this way, and I don't think I'd ever consider buying a car from someone who did resist.

Same here. Bought a drop top for weekend fun from a CL ad. Asked the guy if he'd mind letting me have an inspection. Totally cool with him. Got a good report. Handed him some money. He signed the pink slip. Done deal. Kept it for almost 10 years. Get that inspection for sure.
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post #6 of 13
7/28/10 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dah328 View Post
That would never work because you couldn't meaningfully define what constituted passing inspection. The point of a pre-purchase inspection is to identify components on the car that may require repair or replacement in the near future. Serious or widespread problems means you pass on the car and be thankful that all you're out is the cost of the inspection. Less serious repairs or common maintenance items shouldn't necessarily be deal-breakers and they may offer a basis for negotiating the sale price down.

I should have specified, here in PA cars are required to pass a yearly inspection to get a sticker. It's a fairly straight forward list of items to review in order to pass. Obviously if your jurisdiction doesn't have such a process then this wouldn't work, good catch.
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post #7 of 13
7/28/10 at 2:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post
I should have specified, here in PA cars are required to pass a yearly inspection to get a sticker. It's a fairly straight forward list of items to review in order to pass. Obviously if your jurisdiction doesn't have such a process then this wouldn't work, good catch.
Ok, that makes sense. I think all states have inspection requirements, but I wouldn't expect anyone to consider buying a used car that did not have a valid state inspection sticker on it unless they planned to use it for off-road use only.
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post #8 of 13
7/28/10 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip87 View Post
Is the inspection done before the sale or after? Do you draft a contract and make the sale contingent on passing inspection?
Before. Tell the seller you'd like to have the car inspected. You should expect to pay for the inspection.

Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post
Make sure you're comfortable with the mechanic doing the inspection, don't let the seller steer you to his "friend". If you're writing up a contract you can certainly specify that the sale is contingent upon passing.

If it were me I would offer it as this - Seller pays for the inspection, if it fails he eats the cost, if it passes, the cost is passed on to the buyer.
I like what harvey has to say ... but in such a situation ... both you and the seller should expect to agree upon a mechanic.
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post #9 of 13
7/29/10 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dah328 View Post
Ok, that makes sense. I think all states have inspection requirements, but I wouldn't expect anyone to consider buying a used car that did not have a valid state inspection sticker on it unless they planned to use it for off-road use only.

Well, there are inspections and then there are "inspections". If you know a guy and slip him a six pack of Miller High Life (cans only, please) he'll pass your car for inspection, regardless of whether or not it should pass. (I used to work in such a place in college). Taking it to a legitimate, reputable place could give a very different result.
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post #10 of 13
7/29/10 at 1:13pm
In my state the state "inspection" consists of verifyin that the windshield wipers and turn signals work. It's not a replacement for a real mechanic's inspection.

That said, cars these days are much more reliable than they were in the days of yore. Chances are, if it drives well and doesn't have too many miles on it, there's nothing seriously wrong with it. What you really need to do is verify that the maintenance has been kept up-- oil changes, tire rotations, belts and the like. 'Course I'm writing this from the perspective of having done my own work on everything but internal engine/transmission stuff since I was a kid.
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post #11 of 13
7/30/10 at 8:31am
Here's what you do: If you're seriously interested in the car, tell the seller you'd like it looked at by a mechanic you know. Whatever the mechanic finds to be a problem or needs replacing soon will be used by you as a bargaining chip with the seller. Knowing almost nothing about motorcycles, I brought a friend along and I negotiated a huge chunk off the price based on what he said (which was of course favorable to me).
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post #12 of 13
8/16/10 at 4:29pm
state inspection and prebuy inspection are two differnt things. A car can pass its state inspection and be a piece of crude. In many cases the state inspection is just saying the car is safe to drive on their roads, doesnt mean it is worth anything. Get a mechanic of your choice to look over the car. What you find may sometimes be used in price neogotiation. If car is crap, keep walking and buy another. A good mechanic may also tell you all the things to look out for coming up with the car.
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post #13 of 13
8/17/10 at 6:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jroo View Post
state inspection and prebuy inspection are two differnt things. A car can pass its state inspection and be a piece of crude. In many cases the state inspection is just saying the car is safe to drive on their roads, doesnt mean it is worth anything. Get a mechanic of your choice to look over the car. What you find may sometimes be used in price neogotiation. If car is crap, keep walking and buy another. A good mechanic may also tell you all the things to look out for coming up with the car.

This ^ +100
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