Buying a Used Car? Get It to a Mechanic First

Yes, as long as the current owner agrees and is there or arranges access. We pick up the car where it sits, deliver it to the inspection shop and, if you decide not to buy, return it to the seller. Agree in advance on who pays for the transport, and confirm the shop's appointment time so the car arrives when the technician is ready for it.

That is between you and the seller. The buyer usually pays for the inspection, since the report is for their benefit. Some sellers split the cost or refund it if the car checks out and the sale goes through. Our towing charge comes from the published card on the rates page, and the shop sets its own inspection fee.

If the car is registered, insured and safe, driving it is fine. Towing makes sense when it has no valid plates, the brakes or tires look questionable, a warning light is on, or it has been parked so long you wouldn't trust it in traffic. Carrying it also avoids any argument over who is responsible if something breaks on the way.

No. Our drivers photograph the vehicle's condition at pickup for the tow record, but they are not mechanics and don't evaluate cars for purchase. The inspection is done by the shop. If you want an opinion on condition, that comes from the technician who puts the car on a lift, and any repair numbers come from the shop's written estimate.

You have options: walk away, negotiate a lower price, ask the seller to fix specific items, or buy anyway with a clear list of what needs work. The shop can give a written estimate for any repairs it recommends, which makes the negotiation easier. If you pass on the car, we can return it to the seller's address the same way it came.

Yes. Once the sale is done and you have the title or a bill of sale, we can deliver the car to your house, your own mechanic or a storage spot. If it needs work before it can be driven, a shop is often the best first stop. The dispatcher quotes the move ahead of time so there are no surprises on delivery.

No inspection can promise that. A technician sees what is visible and testable during one appointment, and some problems only show up later. What it does is cut down on surprises and catch the expensive issues that are already there: rust, leaks, stored codes and accident damage. For most used-car purchases, that is money well spent.