Pre-Purchase Inspections (PPI)

Negotiate Your Used Car Price with a Pre-Purchase Inspection

Every year, motorists save money by purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. Buying a used vehicle makes sense from a financial standpoint. Why pay thousands of dollars more for the latest bells and whistles when you can get an older car for far less money that meets your transportation needs?

At the same time, buying a used car or truck involves a certain degree of risk. You don’t know the full history of the vehicle or how well its owner maintained it, and when you purchase from a seller with no warranty, you assume all the risk.

Are History Reports Useful? Vehicle history reports, like those from CarFax, can be helpful. However, they’re not perfect. Per Consumer Reports, car history reports depend, in part, on information reported to auto insurance companies and the police. If an owner doesn't report an accident, it won't show on the report. Similarly, if you purchase a prior rental car, there's a possibility it will have a clean history even if it was in an accident. This is because many rental companies are self-insured.

What is a Pre-Purchase Inspection or PPI?

A pre-purchase inspection is a type of inspection performed on a pre-owned vehicle before you buy it. During a pre-inspection vehicle check, service technicians thoroughly inspect the vehicle to inform you of its overall condition. A PPI inspection can let you know if there's any heavy wear and tear, so you'll know if you need to replace parts soon. You can use this information to renegotiate your buying price or avoid a bad sale.

Pre-purchase inspections are highly recommended for used car sales that don’t include a warranty or used vehicles that come with a short warranty.

Here's why a pre-purchase inspection is worth your time:

• Negotiate Sale Price: If it looks like you’ll need to replace the brake pads and rotors or another part of the vehicle soon, you can use this information to your advantage. Why pay a higher price when you know you’re going to need to spend your time and money to get the vehicle serviced soon?
• Enjoy Peace of Mind: It’s frustrating to drive away in your next vehicle only to end up at the auto repair shop a week later. With a pre-purchase inspection, you know the general condition of the vehicle and can drive without worry. Feel good about your choice knowing before you drive off the lot.
• Avoid Bad Deals: No one wants to regret the purchase of their next car. If a vehicle isn’t all the seller claims it to be, you deserve to know. Be a savvy buyer and get a pre-purchase inspection to see if you’re buying someone else’s problems or scoring a good price on a good vehicle.

Before you buy a pre-owned vehicle, contact Gordon Family Service Center for a pre-purchase inspection. We serve Beaufort, NC, Morehead City, NC, Smyrna, NC, and surrounding areas. Contact us for more information.