A clearer picture before you buy
A clean history report is useful information, but it doesn’t tell you everything about the car sitting in front of you. Before committing to the purchase, you still need a clear picture of its current condition.
That’s where an independent used car inspection helps. We go to the car, inspect it at the dealer or private seller’s location, and provide written findings, photos, and any recorded videos for you to review.
Vehicle history and vehicle condition answer different questions
A vehicle history report helps you review available records about a car’s past. Depending on the provider and information available, it may include reported accidents, title information, mileage entries, ownership history, and service records.
An inspection looks at the vehicle as it is now.
Even a vehicle with no reported accidents can have worn tires, fluid leaks, warning lights, damaged wheels, or equipment that doesn’t work correctly. Those are questions that require looking at the car.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends getting a vehicle history report and an independent inspection before buying. It specifically explains that a history report does not replace an inspection. Read the FTC’s used car guidance.
What can an inspection add?
A pre-purchase inspection helps document observable condition and identify concerns you may want to resolve before buying.
At Seattle Vehicle Inspections, the assessment includes:
- Exterior and interior condition.
- Accessible engine-compartment and underbody components.
- Tire brand, size, and tread depth, plus individual tire and wheel concerns.
- Supported diagnostic checks.
- Road-test observations when safe conditions and seller permission allow.
- Photographs, written findings, and any uploaded videos in your online report.
For example, an inspection might document uneven tire wear or a visible fluid leak even when the history report contains no related entry. These are examples of possible findings, not claims about a particular vehicle.
An inspection is visual and non-invasive. It documents accessible condition at the appointment and cannot guarantee that every concealed or intermittent problem will be found.
Should you still inspect a car at a dealership?
Yes. A dealer’s description, inspection paperwork, and service records can provide useful context. An independent inspection gives you another assessment to consider before making your decision.
Ask the dealer whether an outside inspector can access the vehicle. Get the dealership name, the seller’s contact information, and the exact location of the car before ordering.
The same approach works for a private sale: confirm permission, access to the keys, and a reachable seller contact.
You don’t have to take the car to a shop
Arranging an inspection shouldn’t require you to transport a vehicle you don’t own.
Our mobile inspection service comes to the seller’s location. You don’t need to attend, which also makes it practical when you’re buying from another city or out of state.
Your inspection is performed by an ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technician. Once the report is published, you receive an email letting you know it’s ready to view in your account.
We serve Seattle, Lynnwood, Tacoma, Olympia, the Olympic Peninsula, and east to Leavenworth and Wenatchee, along with other communities within our Washington service area.
Use the findings before you commit
Give yourself time to read the report before finalizing the purchase.
Consider the inspection alongside the history report, service records, seller’s answers, and asking price. If a finding raises a concern, ask for clarification and obtain repair estimates where appropriate.
You may decide to proceed, discuss the price, request repairs, or keep looking. The purpose is to make that decision with more information about the actual vehicle.
Get a clearer picture before you buy
A clean vehicle history report is a useful starting point. An independent inspection adds information about the car’s current condition.
Seattle Vehicle Inspections offers:
- Modern Used Car Inspection — $299: vehicles 20 years old and newer, including gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicles.
- Classic Car Inspection — $399: vehicles more than 20 years old.
The ordering form applies the model-year cutoff automatically.
Order your mobile used car inspection →
Questions before ordering? Call 206-843-7600, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific.
