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We’re certain we help provide the best pre-purchase used car inspection service in the UK.

  • Up to 143 vehicle check points
  • Road test
  • Anywhere. Anytime.
  • Upto 50% cheaper then similiar services

Who does vehicle inspections near me?

If you’re considering buying a pre-owned vehicle, it can save you a lot of money and trouble to make sure you have a thorough vehicle inspection done before you commit.

That said, it’s not always clear who provides this service locally. Here, we’ll look at who you can trust when you need a pre-owned vehicle inspection carrying out, how long it takes to get your report back, and what you can expect to get for your money.

Booking a cheap local vehicle inspection

Although we’re certain that we can provide the very best vehicle inspections in the UK, we’re not the only place you can book an inspection.

In fact, many local garages will inspect a car on your behalf. If you’ve got a local garage that you know and trust, this can be a great option – but don’t be fooled into thinking a local garage will always be the most cost-effective way to inspect a car.

Generally, local independent garages charge between £45-£75 per hour for their labour alone. Since an inspection through Car.co.uk will take 3 or more hours to complete, local garages which charge their standard labour rate can often end up costing more. 

What do you get for your money?

When you book an inspection with Car.co.uk, you can be absolutely confident that the vehicle you’re considering will be inspected to a very high standard. 

This high standard is set by the detail in the report that’s produced and sent to you immediately after the checks have been carried out. Our inspections cover up to 318 different points – and if those points aren’t checked, our report can’t be completed. As such, you know that if we say the car has been thoroughly checked, it’s been thoroughly checked!

The report you receive is broken down into 26 different sections. Each of those sections is broken down further – with each inspection point given a colour coding and comment that reflects the part’s condition. 

For example, when the engine bay is checked, fluid levels will be looked at – as well as all mechanical parts. If the power steering fluid isn’t quite right, this will be marked with an amber ‘Warning’ alert. The comment next to the entry will explain why the warning has been issued – so you can decide if it’s a problem you’re willing to take on. 

When you look through your report, you know that every inspector checks every car to the same high standard. 
Where can we inspect cars?

Unlike some other inspection companies, we can provide inspections in any location in mainland UK – whether that’s a car dealer’s forecourt, a work carpark, or a private individual’s driveway.

Of course, you’ll have to let the seller know our inspector is coming, but as long as they’re aware and the car can be accessed, we’ll help your inspection is carried out – come rain or shine. 

How quickly can we provide an inspection?

Although exact timescales vary, we can usually carry out an inspection within 2-3 days after you make your booking.
It’s vital that you work with an inspection company that can move quickly – especially if the car you’re hoping to buy looks like a great deal. Sellers generally won’t hang around and wait – so if someone turns up with the money before you, then the car could go. 

When you book with Car.co.uk, you know you’re getting an inspection at a price that’s hard to beat – delivered quickly. What’s more, you can also be completely confident that we’ll leave no stone unturned – so if the car’s got a hidden secret, we’ll help you know about it.

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

A vehicle inspection report is a document created when an independent professional carries out an inspection on a pre-owned car. The report tells you everything you need to know about the condition of the vehicle and any hidden issues it might have.

Vehicle inspections are designed to give you all the information you need to decide whether or not a car is right for you. An independent inspector will check the electrical, mechanical, and cosmetic parts of a vehicle; before providing you with a detailed report on their condition.

Currently, we can only inspect vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in gross vehicle weight. The good news is, this covers virtually all standard cars on the road today – even luxury vehicles with large engines.

Since the UK weather is so changeable, you’ll be pleased to hear that vehicle inspections can be done in the rain. Extreme weather conditions may require that your inspection is rearranged, but this is very rare.

A pre-purchase vehicle report is based on the expertise and opinion of the inspector at the time the inspection is carried out. Since we cannot control what happens to the vehicle after the report is completed, an inspection does not come with a guarantee.

With Car.co.uk, you don’t need to be present when one of our independent inspectors carries out an inspection on your behalf. Your report will include photos of the car too – so you can be confident you’re getting the full picture, even if you’re miles away.

At Car.co.uk, we can provide pre-purchase inspections for imported vehicles. However, it’s important that you let us know if the vehicle is imported when you book – as this gives our inspector time to prepare accordingly.

At Car.co.uk, we do not provide pre-purchase inspections for motorcycles. However, the independent vehicle inspectors we work with can inspect a huge range of vehicles, from cars to motorhomes, and almost everything in-between.

The cost of a pre-purchase vehicle inspection will start from either £189 or £229 – depending on the level you choose. Your inspection will be promptly carried out by a professional vehicle inspector, and you’ll receive a detailed photographic report about the car.

At Car.co.uk, there is no maximum age for Premium Plus vehicle inspections. However, we have a 10-year age limit for our Premium inspection service.