Most-requested service
Mobile pre-purchase car inspection in Melbourne.
An independent mobile mechanic meets you at the seller, runs a structured 80+ point inspection on the used car, scans the engine and gearbox computers, and gives you a same-day written report — so you buy with confidence or walk away with nothing lost but the inspection fee.
Why bother with a pre-purchase inspection?
Used cars hide things. A pre-purchase inspection finds them.
A glossy ad, a freshly washed body and a smiling seller tell you almost nothing about what's underneath the car. Crash repairs, painted-over rust, leaking head gaskets, slipping gearboxes, worn-out suspension, hidden fault codes cleared minutes before you arrived — the average buyer can't see any of it, and the cost of getting it wrong runs into thousands.
A proper mobile pre-purchase car inspection in Melbourne costs less than a tank of fuel for most cars, and routinely either saves the buyer from a lemon or hands them a documented list of issues they can use to negotiate the price down by far more than the inspection cost. It is, by a wide margin, the cheapest insurance policy in used-car buying.
What we check
80+ checkpoints across nine systems.
Body & paint
Panel alignment, paint thickness readings, overspray, filler, evidence of accident repair, glass condition, body sealant integrity, tailgate and bonnet operation.
Frame & underbody
Chassis rail straightness, jack point and seam integrity, sill rust, subframe condition, exhaust hangers and fuel tank straps, underbody seal, evidence of off-road or flood damage.
Engine
Cold start, idle quality, fluid leaks (oil, coolant, fuel), mount condition, belt and hose wear, cooling system pressure, oil cap inspection for sludge or mayo, exhaust smoke under load.
Transmission & drivetrain
Manual clutch feel and bite point; automatic shift smoothness, slip and flare; CVT noise; transfer case and diff condition on 4WDs; driveshaft boots, CV joint play.
Brakes
Pad and rotor measurement, brake fluid condition, pedal feel and travel, ABS function check, handbrake operation, brake line and hose inspection.
Suspension & steering
Strut and shock condition, bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearing play, alignment cues, steering rack condition, power steering operation.
Tyres & wheels
Tread depth (all four), uneven wear patterns, sidewall damage, age (DOT date), wheel damage, missing wheel nuts, spare and tools.
Electronics & diagnostics
Full OBD-II scan with stored and pending fault codes across engine, ABS, SRS, transmission and body modules. Dashboard warning lights, windows, locks, infotainment, lights, wipers, climate, reverse camera.
Documentation & identity
VIN cross-check (dash, door, engine bay, compliance plate), engine number, service book / receipts, current rego label, evidence of odometer tampering.
How it works
From booking to "buy or walk" in 24 hours.
1. Book
Call or message with the car (year/make/model), the seller address, and when you're viewing. We confirm a slot — usually same-day or next-day for metro Melbourne.
2. We meet you on site
We arrive at the seller in our fully kitted van with diagnostic gear, paint gauge, torch, jacks and tyre depth gauges. You don't need to bring anything.
3. 60–90 min inspection
Methodical, 80+ point physical inspection, full OBD-II scan, and where permitted a short road test. You can watch the whole thing if you want.
4. Phone debrief on the spot
Before we leave, you get a clear verbal summary: what's good, what's a problem, and roughly what it'll cost to put right.
5. Same-day written report
Full written report by email the same day, with photos and fault codes — so you can negotiate, sleep on it, or walk.
6. Follow-up on price
If the inspection turns up faults, we'll happily put a dollar value on the repairs so you can negotiate the asking price down by exactly the amount the car actually needs.
Where we inspect
Anywhere in metro Melbourne — seller's place, dealer, auction or meet-up.
We routinely inspect cars at:
- Private seller driveways across metro Melbourne
- Car dealerships (independent and franchise)
- Auction holding yards (where buyer access is allowed)
- Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree meet-up locations
- Workplaces, where the seller has driven the car in
- Public carparks for safe, neutral viewings
If the seller refuses an independent inspection — politely walk away. A seller with nothing to hide has no reason to refuse a 90-minute inspection by an independent mobile mechanic.
What you get
A written report you can hand to the seller.
The same-day report includes:
- A pass / minor / major rating against every checkpoint
- Photos of every defect or concern, captioned
- Full OBD-II fault code dump — stored and pending
- Tyre and brake measurements (mm)
- Paint thickness readings on every panel
- A rough repair cost estimate for everything found
- A clear final recommendation: buy as-is, buy if seller drops price by $X, or walk away
The report is plain-English, written for a buyer not a mechanic, and short enough to read in five minutes — but detailed enough to use as a negotiating document.
What we inspect
Every make, every body style.
Our mobile pre-purchase car inspections cover all common Melbourne used-car categories:
When you really need it
Red flags that make a pre-purchase inspection non-negotiable.
- Private seller asking for cash and a same-day deposit
- Service history is "lost", or there isn't any
- Roadworthy certificate is recent but from a workshop you've never heard of
- Car is being sold by a relative / friend of the actual owner
- Recently registered after a long unregistered period
- "Just had a major service" — but no receipts, or generic ones
- Multiple owners in the last 24 months
- Listing photos are vague, low-resolution or hide one side of the car
- Seller refuses to bring the car to your mechanic, or refuses inspection
- Luxury European car priced suspiciously below market
None of these are automatic deal-breakers. All of them are reasons to have an independent mobile mechanic check the car before any money changes hands.
From real customers
Pre-purchase inspections that paid for themselves.
"Booked a pre-purchase inspection on a Subaru. Detailed report came back the same day and saved me from a lemon — really thorough."
Mia · Hawthorn"Quick Start picked up a previous accident repair the seller hadn't disclosed and three fault codes that had been cleared. Walked away — saved me a fortune."
Andrew · Camberwell"Hilux dual-cab from a private seller. Report flagged worn brakes and a soft handbrake. Used it to drop the asking price by $1,800. Inspection paid for itself fifteen times over."
Jess · Footscray"BMW 3-Series from a dealer. Quick Start found a transmission fault code the dealer's pre-sale check had missed. Dealer fixed it before delivery — for free."
Marcus · South YarraFAQs
Pre-purchase car inspection — common questions.
How much does a mobile pre-purchase car inspection cost in Melbourne?
Most metro Melbourne mobile pre-purchase inspections are flat-rate and we quote up-front before booking. The price depends on the vehicle (sedan vs 4WD vs European) and location — call 0487 295 162 for a same-day quote. Either way, the cost is a fraction of what a lemon ends up costing you.
What does the pre-purchase inspection actually check?
Body and panel alignment, paint thickness and overspray, frame and chassis rail damage, underbody rust, engine condition (compression, oil leaks, mounts), gearbox and clutch behaviour, suspension, steering, brakes, tyres, cooling system, electrical, interior electronics, dashboard warning lights, full OBD-II scan with stored and pending fault codes, and where permitted a road test. 80+ checkpoints in total.
How long does a pre-purchase inspection take?
Plan for 60 to 90 minutes on site for a typical passenger car. European cars, 4WDs and modified vehicles may take longer. You get a same-day written report by email — usually within a few hours of finishing.
Where can you do the inspection?
Anywhere in metro Melbourne — the seller's driveway, a dealer forecourt, a public meet-up spot, an auction yard or a private sale. We need somewhere safe to work and access to start the engine; off-street parking is ideal but not essential.
Can you do a pre-purchase inspection on a Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree car?
Yes — this is one of our most common jobs. Private-sale used cars from Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Carsales or AutoTrader all get the same structured pre-purchase inspection. We meet you at the seller's address at the time you arrange to view the car.
Do you inspect cars at car dealerships?
Absolutely. We'll attend any Melbourne car dealer with the buyer's permission. Some dealers are more cooperative than others, but a reputable dealer will let an independent mobile mechanic inspect a car. If they refuse, that's a red flag in itself.
What's included in the written report?
A full checklist showing pass / minor / major against every inspection point, photos of any defects, an OBD-II fault code summary, a list of what the car needs now vs soon, a rough cost estimate for any repairs, and a clear recommendation: buy at the asking price, negotiate down, or walk away.
Can a pre-purchase inspection pick up odometer fraud or written-off vehicles?
We cross-check VIN against the dashboard, compliance plates and the body for evidence of tampering. We can flag suspicious wear vs claimed kilometres. For a full PPSR / written-off vehicle register check we'll recommend you run an official PPSR report alongside the physical inspection — they answer different questions and both are cheap insurance.
Do you inspect European cars (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW)?
Yes — we use manufacturer-level scan tools that read European-specific systems (DPF, adaptations, gearbox software). European cars carry more expensive failure modes so a pre-purchase inspection is even more important on a used Euro.
Do you inspect 4WDs, utes and modified vehicles?
Yes. 4WDs, utes, dual-cabs and modified vehicles get a tailored inspection that adds checks for diff, transfer case, lift kit, bullbar and tow setup integrity, and chassis rail damage from off-road or load use.
How quickly can you do an inspection?
Often same-day or next-day for metro Melbourne — we know used-car deals move fast. Call us and tell us where the car is and when the seller is available; we'll work around it.
Is the inspection independent?
Completely. We have no relationship with any dealer, seller or finance broker. You pay us, you get the report, the seller doesn't see the findings unless you choose to share them.
Book your inspection
Don't buy a used car blind.
Call us with the car, the seller and the viewing time — we'll be there. Anywhere in metro Melbourne.