Is this exact vehicle available, and where is it?
Ask for the year, make, model, VIN and current mileage. Confirm that the advertised vehicle is still available and that the seller can make it accessible on the agreed inspection date. The listing’s general location is not enough: obtain the street address, city and ZIP code.
For a dealership, ask who will handle the appointment and record both the business name and that person’s direct contact number. For a private sale, ask who has the keys and authority to provide access. Let us know if the location changes after you order.
Will you allow an independent inspection and road test?
Get permission before paying for an inspection. Ask whether the vehicle can be accessed safely and whether a road test is permitted. Seller permission does not override safety; the inspector still decides whether conditions allow a test.
If access is restricted, explain the restrictions before booking. A car blocked in storage or unavailable to start may limit what can be assessed. A refusal to allow any independent inspection is useful information for your buying decision.
What records and known problems can you share?
Request available service records and ask about warning lights, fluid loss, collision repairs, modifications and recent work. Ask whether anything currently does not operate as expected. Specific questions often produce more useful answers than simply asking whether the car is in good shape.
Send concerns to the inspector in your order. Records can provide context, but they do not replace observations of current condition. Equally, a clean-looking car or reassuring seller description does not establish the condition of concealed components.
What exactly is included in the sale?
Ask about keys, charging equipment for an EV, accessories shown in the advertisement, and any conditions attached to the advertised price. For dealer sales, review the Buyers Guide and the written sale terms. Do not assume a verbal statement appears in the final paperwork.
The FTC recommends an independent inspection even when a dealer describes a vehicle as certified. Its used-car buying guide also explains that a vehicle history report is not a substitute for a mechanical inspection. Use each source of information for the different questions it can answer.
Put the answers into your inspection order
Our form asks for the car first, seller second and customer details last. Include a reachable seller contact, the actual inspection address and any particular concerns. That lets us coordinate the appointment and focus the report on the vehicle you are considering.
We aim to complete inspections by the end of the next business day, subject to availability, seller access, travel and safe conditions. The date is confirmed separately.
