Pre-Purchase Inspection
Before you pay a dime. Used car pre-purchase inspection · Norwood, MA
Same price for cars, SUVs and light trucks. Any brand. Includes the lift inspection, the road test and the written report. Bring the Carfax and we read it against the car.
What we check: seven systems
Engine & transmission
- Engine performance: misfire, knocking, idle quality
- Timing system noise check
- Engine and transmission mounts
- Oil condition and level
- Transmission shifting, in the bay and on the road test
- Drive shafts, CV joints and boots
- On 4x4 and AWD: transfer case, front and rear differentials, and the driveshaft U-joints
Cooling system
- Radiator condition and leaks
- Radiator cap pressure test
- Hoses and clamps
- Cooling fan and thermostat operation
- Coolant level and leak check
Electrical, lights & electronics
- Battery and alternator output, starter motor performance
- Fuses, relays and wiring
- Every exterior light: headlights, tail, turn, hazard, reverse, plate
- Dashboard warning lights, including the airbag, ABS and traction-control indicators
- Backup camera, parking sensors and horn
- Radio, infotainment and Bluetooth
Fluids & leaks
- Engine oil and transmission fluid
- Brake fluid and power steering fluid
- Differential and coolant levels
- Windshield washer fluid
- Oil and coolant leak check from underneath
Body, frame & interior
- Rust, corrosion and paint thickness
- Underbody and frame
- Door locks, handles and panel alignment
- Trunk and hood struts; windows, mirrors and wipers
- Glass and tint condition
- Inside: seatbelts, seats and heater, A/C and ventilation, cabin air filter, odor check
Brakes & suspension
- Brake pads and rotors
- Parking brake, ABS and traction control
- Shocks, springs and control arms
- Steering wheel and alignment
- Tire condition, tread depth and balance, TPMS sensors
If the pads have 10,000 miles left, we say so. If the seller’s price assumes new brakes, you know before you hand over a check.
Exhaust, fuel & emissions
- Exhaust leaks, muffler and catalytic converter
- Flex pipes and mounts
- Fuel lines and fuel filter
- EVAP system
Then the road test, then the paperwork
We drive it: steering stability, brake noise or vibration, suspension noise over bumps, transmission kickdown and shift quality, and cruise control if the car has it.
Paperwork too: we read the Carfax against the car, check that the VIN and the mileage agree with the title and the odometer, and go through whatever maintenance records the seller has.
Found a used car you like? Bring it here first. We go through it the way we’d go through one for our own family, and you get a straight answer before the money changes hands.
- On a lift, never a parking-lot look
- Seven systems, then a road test
- Written report you can show the seller
- We read the Carfax with you
A used car doesn’t tell you what it’s been through
A clean interior and a fresh wash hide a lot. A slipping transmission, a leaking head gasket, frame damage from an accident nobody reported: none of it shows on a test drive around the block.
What we look for: the expensive stuff, first
We start with the systems that end deals: engine, transmission, frame and rust. If one of those is bad, nothing else on the list matters, and you’ll know within the first part of the inspection.
What you get: the findings, the paperwork checked, and a real conversation
You get the written findings, and we read the Carfax against the car itself: does the VIN match, does the mileage add up, do the service records line up with the wear we see. Then we talk: what’s urgent, what’s normal for the mileage, and what it would cost to put right. If the car is solid, we’ll tell you that too.
Four steps, one visit
-
Call us
Tell us the year, make and model, and when you can get it here. We’ll tell you what we can fit in.
-
Bring the car
You or the seller drives it to 64 Broadway. Most sellers are fine with it; more on that below.
-
We go through it
On a lift, then a road test. All 7 systems, then the paperwork.
-
You get the answer
Written report, plus a straight conversation about what it means for the price you’re being asked.
“Can I get it inspected?” How to ask
This is the question people call us nervous about. It shouldn’t be. Asking is normal, and how the seller answers tells you something either way.
Buying from a private seller
Say it plainly: “I’m serious about the car. I’d like my mechanic to look at it before I pay. I’ll cover it.” Offer to meet them here, or to follow them over.
A seller with nothing to hide almost always says yes. One who refuses outright has told you something useful, and it cost you nothing to find out.
Buying from a dealer
Dealers do this all the time and many will let the car leave the lot for an inspection, sometimes with a plate or a salesperson along.
Massachusetts gives you more protection when you buy from a dealer (the Used Vehicle Warranty Law) than from a private seller, who only has to tell you about defects they already know of. Either way, the seller’s checklist isn’t yours: ask what’s covered in writing, and get the car looked at anyway.
Get it checked before you pay
One visit now, instead of finding out in a month.
Call (781) 470-0707Before you call
Do you do Massachusetts state inspections?
No. We’re not a state inspection station. A pre-purchase inspection is a different thing: it’s for you, before you buy, and it goes far deeper than the state check.
If a car you already own failed its state inspection, bring us the report. Brakes, exhaust, emissions, suspension and check-engine issues are exactly what we fix, and we’ll get you ready for the retest.
How much does a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) cost?
A PPI is $149.99, the same for any car, SUV or light truck we inspect. What’s in it: the lift inspection, the road test and the written report; bring the Carfax and we read it against the car. If we spot something that needs a deeper look, we’ll tell you what that would cost before we do it, not after.
How long does it take?
We’ll give you a firm window when you call, and if we find something serious early, you’ll hear from us before we finish the rest.
Do you road test it?
Yes, every one. After the lift we take it out: steering stability at speed, brake noise or vibration, suspension noise over bumps, how the transmission kicks down and shifts, and cruise control if the car has it. Some things only show up moving, and a lap around the block with the seller isn’t the same as a mechanic driving it with a list.
Do you check the Carfax?
Yes. Bring the report if you have one (most dealers and online retailers include it; a private seller can pull it), and we read it against the car in front of us: the VIN on the report, the dash and the door jamb should match, the mileage should add up with the odometer and the wear, and the maintenance records should line up with what we see under the hood. A clean report is a starting point, not the answer.
What’s in the report?
A written report, system by system: engine and transmission, cooling, electrical and lights, fluids and leaks, body, frame and interior, brakes and suspension, exhaust and emissions, plus the road test and the paperwork check. Anything that needs work gets a cost to fix, so you can take the number to the seller.
Do you check airbags, ABS and TPMS?
Yes. On startup the airbag, ABS and traction-control lights should come on and go off; a light that stays on, or one that never lights at all, gets noted and explained. We check the seatbelts, the tire pressure sensors, the backup camera and parking sensors, and every exterior light from headlights to the plate lamp. What we can’t do is fire an airbag to prove it works; nobody can. We tell you what the system reports and what we can see.
Do you check the interior and the electronics?
Yes. Seats and heater, A/C and ventilation, the cabin air filter, radio, infotainment and Bluetooth, and we sniff for the smells that point to a water leak or a hidden problem. Small stuff on its own, but a car with three dead switches has usually had a harder life than the seller lets on.
Can I get a mechanic to look at a used car before I buy it?
Yes, that’s exactly this. Call, tell us the year, make and model, and when the seller can get it to 64 Broadway. Most sellers say yes; see how to ask above.
Do I need to be there while you inspect it?
No. Plenty of people drop the car and go back to work. But if you can be here for the last fifteen minutes, it’s worth it: walking you around the car and pointing at the thing we found beats reading about it.
Can you come to the seller instead?
We inspect here at 64 Broadway. A proper inspection needs a lift, and there’s no substitute for getting underneath the car. Most sellers are willing to meet you here or let you drive it over.
It’s “certified pre-owned”. Do I still need this?
A certified pre-owned car has been through the selling brand’s own checklist, and the brand decides what’s on that list. An independent inspection is one where the person inspecting the car isn’t the one selling it to you. Whether that’s worth it on a CPO vehicle is your call, but it’s not the same thing.
Can you inspect a car from CarMax, Carvana or Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, any car, wherever you found it. Online retailers usually have a return window, so an inspection early in that window is the whole point of having one. For a Marketplace or Craigslist car, arrange with the seller to meet here.
Will you actually tell me not to buy it?
Yes. We’ll tell you what we found and what it costs to fix, and if that adds up to more than the car is worth, we’ll say so. We’re not the ones selling you this one.
What if I want the repairs done afterward?
We can do them, but that’s your call, not a condition. Plenty of people take the report, negotiate the price down with it, and drive off happy. That’s a fine outcome too.
Do you inspect cars, SUVs and light trucks of any brand?
Cars, SUVs and light trucks, foreign and domestic, including hybrids and diesels, all at the same price. For a Tesla or another EV, call first: we’ll tell you what we can and can’t check on it. If there’s something we can’t properly assess on a particular vehicle, we’ll tell you when you call rather than after.
No Name Auto Repair & Tire Service · Family-owned · 64 Broadway, Norwood, MA 02062 Norwood · Walpole · Westwood · Canton · Dedham · Sharon · Foxborough