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Pre purchase inspections

Pre Purchase Vehicle Inspections

With over 20,000 vehicle inspections a year we know exactly what to look for. We conduct a thorough visual inspection of the vehicle, combining our practical knowledge with specialist diagnostic equipment to provide an independent assessment of the vehicle's condition.

Your Pre Purchase Inspection report will give you peace of mind when buying your next car.

We know what to look for

We're extremely knowledgeable about all vehicle makes and models and that puts us in a great position to assess a vehicle from an unbiased standpoint.

We use the same exacting techniques to complete your AA Pre Purchase Inspection, an informative report on a vehicle's condition.

Benefits

Reduce your risk
Ensure your new car is safe
Don't purchase someone else's problem
Get an independent report
Know and understand the condition of the vehicle
Negotiate with fair, independent, credible information
We can spot what you can't

How to book

Enter the inspection details
Select the booking time for the inspection
Enter your contact details
Pay securely by credit card

Pre Purchase Inspection reports are emailed as a PDF or handed to you on the date of inspection.

Pricing

AA Members

$147

Non-Members

$169

The inspection

An AA Pre Purchase inspection will reduce your risk and identify faults existing at the time of the inspection. Our inspection may not identify all mechanical faults. We offer both depot and mobile-based pre purchase inspection services. Find the location nearest you.

Our inspection doesn't replace the need for regular vehicle maintenance. Mechanical components do wear out and items can fail unexpectedly without prior warning such as headlights, water pump and cam belt.

Your AA Pre Purchase Inspection is based on the external examination of components. Due to the time and cost involved, it's not feasible for us to dismantle component assemblies to measure internal parts. These are evaluated by such factors as noise, operation and performance on the road.

An AA Pre Purchase Vehicle Inspection is carried out for the prospective purchaser or seller of a vehicle. Our Inspectors will carry out a visual and operating inspection, and check the general state of the vehicle at the time of inspection. We can't identify hidden defects, intermittent problems, problems which can't be identified on a visual inspection or unless parts of the vehicle are dismantled. We also can't identify items which could occur after inspection.

Aspect	What we inspect	What we don't inspect
Exterior	We inspect the chassis & panels for rust, dents, scratches and accident damage.	We don't remove any covers, trim or panels.
Interior	We inspect all interior trim, dash & instruments for condition and operation including the air-conditioning system.	In some cases we can't assess the operation of some vehicle features, e.g. functionality of electronic memory seats.
Drive line	We check for correct operation of all drive train components including the transmission, differential, CV joints etc.	We don't check internal drive line components such as the differential, transmission gears, wheel bearings etc for levels of wear or deterioration.
Engine	We use specialist diagnostic equipment to assess the general state of the engine including a relative compression test.	We don't provide a comprehensive assessment of all of the internal engine components.
Cooling system	We inspect the cooling system's general operation including pressure testing for leaks and the coolant fluid condition.	We don't dismantle the radiator or remove radiator hoses to check internal components.
Suspension & steering	We inspect steering and suspension components for effective operation, damage or fluid leaks.	We don't remove or dismantle any suspension components.
Brakes	We test brake performance under normal load conditions and check all visual brake components including brake linings where visible.	We don't remove the wheels or brake drums.
Wheels	We inspect wheels tyres for tread depth and general condition.
Vehicle operation	We test drive the vehicle to assess the overall performance and drivability. We check aspects such as the transmission shift quality, general engine performance, drive line vibration, brake performance and road handling.	In some traffic conditions we may not be able to conduct an appropriate road test.