Pre-Purchase Car Inspection in Brisbane - Is It Worth It?
I was called out to inspect this Audi A5 in Bahrs Scrub recently. Beautiful car. Black on black, low kilometres, looked immaculate from the outside. The kind of car that makes you want to hand over the money on the spot.
It had modifications that would cost thousands to revert back to standard. Modifications that make the car illegal for road use in Queensland. The buyer would have been stuck with a car that can’t pass a roadworthy without expensive work to undo what the previous owner did.
A $200 pre-purchase inspection saved this buyer from a very expensive mistake.
A roadworthy is not a pre-purchase inspection
This is a point I make regularly, but it’s worth its own post. A roadworthy (safety certificate) checks minimum safety standards only. Tyres, brakes, suspension, steering, lights, seat belts, underbody, and a test drive. If the car meets those minimums, it passes.
A roadworthy does not tell you about the overall condition of the car. It doesn’t check engine health, transmission condition, clutch wear, cooling system, electrical systems beyond safety items, or any modifications that might cause problems down the track. A car can pass a roadworthy and still have thousands of dollars worth of hidden issues.
A pre-purchase inspection goes further. It covers everything in a roadworthy plus a thorough assessment of the vehicle’s general mechanical and electrical condition. It’s designed to give you the full picture before you hand over your money.
European cars in particular
I always recommend a pre-purchase inspection, but I especially recommend one on European cars – Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Mini. These are well-engineered cars that are great to drive, but they’re also more expensive to repair than Japanese or Korean equivalents. A problem on a Toyota Corolla might cost $300 to fix. The same type of problem on an Audi can cost $1,000 or more.
European cars are also more commonly modified. Owners spend money on performance upgrades, software tunes, and aftermarket parts. Some of these modifications are legal and certified. Many are not. If you buy a car with illegal modifications, it’s your problem. Reverting modifications back to standard is often more expensive than the modification itself.
This Audi A5 looked perfect to the untrained eye. A buyer walking around the car, starting it up, and taking it for a test drive would not have spotted the issues I found. That’s the whole point of paying a professional to look at it before you commit.
What does a pre-purchase inspection cover?
Everything in a roadworthy, plus:
Engine condition – unusual noises, smoke, rough running, oil condition, cooling system, leaks that may not fail a roadworthy but indicate future problems.
Transmission – shifting quality, unusual noises, fluid condition.
Suspension and steering – beyond just safety minimums, the overall condition and likely remaining life of components.
Electrical – all functions, not just safety items. Air conditioning, central locking, power windows, infotainment, sensors.
Underbody – a more detailed assessment of rust, previous repairs, accident damage, and structural condition.
Modifications – identifying any aftermarket changes and whether they’re likely to cause issues with registration, insurance, or future roadworthys.
General assessment – based on over 10,000 inspections, I give you an honest opinion on the condition of the vehicle relative to its age and price.
When to book a pre-purchase inspection
Before you pay. Before you sign anything. Before the seller knows you’re committed.
Once you’ve found a car you’re interested in, book the inspection. I come to wherever the car is – the seller’s home, a dealer, a car park. You don’t need to be there. I inspect it, send you a detailed report, and you make your decision based on facts rather than feelings.
If the car checks out, you buy with confidence. If there are issues, you either negotiate the price down or walk away. Either way, you’ve spent $200 to potentially save thousands.
The cost vs the risk
A pre-purchase inspection with Local Roadworthys costs from $200. That’s a fraction of the price of most used cars.
Consider what this Audi buyer avoided. The car looked like a bargain. Without the inspection, he would have paid full price for a car with illegal modifications that would cost thousands to revert. He’d be stuck with a car he can’t get roadworthied without major expense, and a seller who’s already spent the money.
$200 to avoid that situation is the best money you can spend when buying a used car.
