THE BUYER’S GUIDE
How to arrange a pre-purchase car inspection
A listing, a clean-looking interior and a short test drive do not tell the whole story. A pre-purchase used car inspection gives you documented observations about the vehicle before you make your decision.
What is a pre-purchase vehicle inspection?
It is a structured assessment of the vehicle’s accessible condition at the time it is inspected. At Seattle Vehicle Inspections, an ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technician checks the vehicle, records findings and measurements, and prepares a private online report with photos and any uploaded videos. We provide inspections rather than repair or maintenance services.
For a vehicle in Seattle, our Seattle pre-purchase inspection service covers local seller access and scheduling. For an inspection you will review from another state, see remote inspections for Washington vehicle purchases.
Arrange access before you order
- Ask the seller’s permission. Confirm that an independent inspector can access the vehicle, start it and perform a road test when safe and permitted.
- Get the correct location and contact. Provide the seller’s street address, city, state, ZIP code, contact name and phone. For a dealer, add the dealership’s business name.
- Share the vehicle details. Include the model year, make and model, plus the VIN if available. Tell us about warning lights, advertised repairs or concerns you want documented.
- Keep your purchase timing flexible. We aim to finish by the end of the next business day, subject to availability, travel, access and safe conditions. Your inspection date is confirmed separately.
Which inspection should you choose?
The $299 Modern Used Car Inspection is for vehicles 20 years old and newer, including gas, diesel, electric and hybrid vehicles. The $399 Classic Car Inspection covers older vehicles, with attention to age, visible corrosion, wear and previous repairs. Entering the model year in the order form selects the age-appropriate package automatically.
What will the inspector check?
The inspection covers vehicle identification, exterior and accessible structure, interior functions, engine-compartment and fluid observations where applicable, tires, wheels, brakes and suspension observations, supported diagnostics, and road-test findings when safe and permitted. Each wheel position has separate tire brand, size, tread-depth and condition entries.
Electric and hybrid checks cover accessible systems, charging observations and supported diagnostics. They do not certify high-voltage battery capacity or health. A classic inspection does not certify authenticity, matching numbers or vehicle value.
How to read your report
Start with the inspector’s overview, then review attention and urgent findings, tire and wheel measurements, and the full checklist. Open the photos for a closer look and play any videos. An item marked “Not inspected” should have an explanation; read those limitations alongside the condition ratings.
The modern sample report and classic sample report show the report layout. The modern sample is an anonymized actual inspection; the classic sample is a labeled demonstration. Your own report documents the vehicle actually inspected.
Can you arrange an inspection from out of town?
Yes. You can order remotely and read the published report through your email sign-in account. The seller provides access, so you do not need to attend. Our mobile service is based in the Olympia area and covers our large Washington service area, from roughly an hour south of Olympia to Bellingham, about two hours east of I-5, and across the entire Olympic Peninsula.
Use the findings in your purchase decision
An inspection is a visual, non-invasive condition snapshot, not a warranty or a promise that no future problems will occur. Discuss documented concerns and any needed repair estimates before you commit. Read the inspection terms and cancellation policy, and call 206-843-7600 with questions. Customer call hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific Time.
FROM AN ACTUAL PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION
From inspection findings to a buying decision
Our 2016 Subaru Forester inspection recorded a five-mile road test and documented three concerns: A/C cooling performance, visibly low front brake pads and a dime-sized windshield crack. The scan also recorded four history codes, which were distinguished from active faults.
Read the summary first, then check the supporting photographs and individual findings. A favorable road test does not cancel out another concern; a stored code does not establish that a component has failed.
Read the Forester inspection case study · See its anonymized report
For the package comparison, see inspection prices and what is included. Your report includes a phone walkthrough with Antone, so you can ask questions about the findings and limitations.
Book a pre-purchase inspection →CLEAR ANSWERS. BEFORE THE KEYS.
Before you book: the questions buyers ask.
You don’t need to know how to inspect a car. Start with access to the vehicle and the questions you want answered.
Do I need a VIN or an account to order?
No. Enter the year, make and model yourself, or use the optional VIN lookup to fill available specifications. You can order and pay without signing in. Use the same email afterward to access your order and report.
What should I send the inspector?
Provide the seller’s contact details and the address where the car will actually be inspected. Add questions from the listing—such as a warning light, a reported repair or a noise—in the optional concerns field. Ask the seller to make the keys and vehicle available.
What do I do when the report arrives?
Read the overview and urgent findings first, then look at the photos, measurements and checklist. Discuss repair costs and unresolved questions before committing to the purchase. Your phone walkthrough with Antone is included; call or reply to the report-ready email to arrange it.