Used cars offer much more range than you can buy new, they also fit into your budget easier. However, you do need to be careful when purchasing because of the number of vehicles that have pending issues, or already have hidden problems.

You can find it is worth spending a little extra to save a few thousand on a vehicle. If there are problems, the seller doesn’t want you to see, and you may miss these easily.

Is mobile mechanic Orlando, FL good for pre purchase checks?

Read on, and you will learn a few of the areas they check before giving their honest opinion about your vehicle purchase. It may be you can negotiate better, or they will tell you not to touch the vehicle, as it will cost a fortune to correct.

Vehicles That Have Been in Accidents

You can check online if any car has been reported as being in an accident. However, not all cars go through this route, and when they have repairs, they are often sold on quickly to get rid of them. Auto repair Orlando professionals can tell after checking a few areas if the vehicle has seen a significant bump.

If there was a significant collision, there are signs the chassis may be out of line. This is a fundamental flaw, and you should never purchase a vehicle in this condition.

Checking Bodywork for Filler and New Paint

Cars that have seen new paint on some of their panels shows there has been work done. This won’t match the older paint after it has been in the Orlando sun for a while.

A mobile auto repair mechanic will look for this and will use another of their little tricks to check whether there is body damage. Using a magnet, they check all the panels. If the magnet doesn’t stick to the car, it means there has been bodywork for some reason.

Tire Wear and Steering

Over time, a vehicle can lose the straight line that it drives. The tracking when it is out of line will wear tires unevenly. It is possible, this was because of an accident, and the auto mechanic who repaired the car didn’t check the tracking as part of the repair.

Not many used cars will have a full set of new tires, so the signs of wear will be evident to a good auto mechanic.

Let Your Mobile Mechanic Orland Test Drive the Vehicle

Some sellers don’t like a mechanic to test-drive the vehicle. This is a bad sign in itself because they can spot many things from a few minutes driving. Clutches are expensive to fix, so if there is a clutch problem, you need to know sooner rather than later.

Along with this are braking systems, engine performance, and all the accessories inside the vehicle that should work. Contact Mobile Mechanic of Orlando, and you will find you are paying a small price to prevent you from wasting several thousand, or you are getting your dream car as a bargain.

A note on what a pre-purchase inspection is, and isn't

This page was written a while ago and reads a little more confidently than we'd put it today, so here is the plain version. A pre-purchase inspection from us is a visual, non-invasive look at a used car in Orlando, plus a read of the car's computer for stored codes and, when the seller allows it and it is safe, a short low-speed drive. You get our written checklist with the mechanic's notes. It is one experienced opinion to weigh alongside your own test drive and a vehicle history report.

We would rather you know the limits before you book than find out afterwards.

• It is not a teardown. Nothing gets removed and the car doesn't go on a lift. We can't see inside an engine, a transmission, or a differential, so internal wear in those parts is outside what this inspection can tell you.
• It is not a history check. We don't verify the title, liens, mileage, or accident history. A Carfax or AutoCheck report covers that side, and we suggest running one alongside our visit.
• It is not a certification. We don't issue emissions, state, or safety certificates, and a completed checklist is not a statement that the car is safe or roadworthy.
• It is not a warranty. The checklist records what one mechanic could see, hear, and read from the scanner on one day. It doesn't guarantee the car's condition or how it will hold up.
• It is not the whole decision. Buying is your call, made with everything you've learned about the car. Our notes are one part of that.

Every inspection is done under our Pre-Purchase Inspection Agreement. It is short and worth reading before you book.

The current description of the service, including exactly what is on the checklist, is on our pre-purchase car inspections page.