A used car is a stranger with a good story. A pre-purchase inspection is how you check the story - on a lift, with trained eyes, before the money moves. Ours is a flat $199 for any vehicle: commuter Corolla, certified-adjacent BMW, a used 911 someone in Palos Verdes is quietly selling. Many inspection services in Los Angeles charge several times that for the same hour of truth; we would rather be the reason you bought well.
Buying used is the smart-money move - right up until the car has a secret. A clean title and a tidy history report aren't the whole story: vehicles pass through hands, minor accidents hide under paint, and deferred maintenance doesn't advertise. A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) at Hillside Auto Repair puts a trained skeptic between you and the signature, for a fraction of what one hidden problem costs.
What our PPI includes
- Structural and visual review - frame and body condition, rust, repaint signs, and an undercarriage inspection on the lift
- Mechanical systems check - brake pad and rotor life, tire tread and wear patterns, fluid conditions and leaks, belts and hoses
- Test drive evaluation - acceleration, braking, transmission behavior, steering feel, suspension noises, and how it handles bumps and turns
- Computer diagnostics - a full scan for trouble codes, including the ones a seller cleared last week (they leave footprints)
- The report - photos, plain-language findings, and a realistic cost picture for anything the car needs
When a PPI matters most
- Private-party sales - no lot, no recourse, no warranty
- Out-of-town or online purchases arriving sight-unseen
- No service records, or records with suspicious gaps
- Any car whose price seems a little too friendly
Buyer's inspection, negotiation tool, peace of mind
A good report does one of three things: green-lights the purchase, arms you to negotiate the price down by real repair costs, or saves you from the expensive mistake entirely. All three outcomes pay for the inspection many times over. (This service is also known as a buyer's inspection - same rigor, and our buyer's inspection page covers the same ground.)
The price is simple: a pre-purchase inspection is a flat $199, any car - a commuter Corolla and a used 911 get the same full workup with photos to your phone. One thing we don't do is off-site inspections; the car comes to the shop, where the lift and the trained eyes are.
How the inspection works with the seller
Simple: you or the seller gets the car to us, and time on the lift tells you what the test drive can't. Most private sellers and dealers agree readily - it's a routine ask in a used-car deal. We put it on the lift, scan for stored codes, measure brakes and tires, check fluids and leaks, and photograph what we find. You get the report on your phone and a plain-English verdict: solid car, negotiation ammunition, or walk away.
What if the seller won't allow an inspection?
That answer is itself information. A seller with nothing to hide has nothing to lose from an inspection at a shop of your choosing. Hesitation doesn't always mean a hidden problem - but it should slow you down, and it should definitely stop you from skipping the inspection to save the deal.
Since 1984, the pre-signature stop
Sellers with nothing to hide don't mind a PPI - and the ones who refuse have answered your question for free. Most inspections take 60-90 minutes; scheduling is easy and sellers can drop the car directly. Know before you sign.