The Checklist
The Vehicle Inspection Checklist
The full checklist our inspectors use on every pre-purchase inspection. Nine systems. 80+ checkpoints. Photo-documented in your final report.
This is the full pre-purchase inspection checklist — the systems, checkpoints, and verification steps our inspectors run on every vehicle. The same checklist runs at every tier, and every inspection ends with 25+ documented photos and a PDF report. Silver adds instrumented tests — battery load, brake measurement, A/C readings. Gold adds an extended road test with live OBD-II data capture, a full electronics audit, and paint-depth readings.
Exterior & Body
- Panel alignment, gaps, and finish quality across doors, hood, trunk, fenders
- Paint uniformity — color match, orange peel, overspray on trim or glass
- Evidence of prior collision repair (weld marks, replaced panels, filler putty)
- Glass condition — chips, cracks, pitting, delamination on windshield and side glass
- Exterior lighting function — headlights, tail, brake, turn, reverse, fog
- Trim, moldings, and emblems intact and properly affixed
- Wheel and tire condition — bent rims, curb rash, matching brands across axle
- Tire tread depth on all four with gauge reading, sidewall damage, uneven wear
Interior
- Seats — condition, wear patterns, operation of power adjustments, seatbelts, heaters
- Carpet and floor mats — staining, waterline evidence, musty odors
- Headliner condition, sagging, stains, sun damage
- All interior lights — dome, map, trunk, glovebox, vanity
- Instrument cluster — all gauges, warning lights, odometer display
- HVAC — blower speed, vent direction, temperature output both heat and AC
- Infotainment — radio, Bluetooth, backup camera, navigation function
- Power windows, locks, mirrors, sunroof/moonroof operation and seal condition
- Smells — cigarette, mildew, pet, chemical (overspray tell)
Engine Bay
- Visual inspection of belts, hoses, and coolant reservoir condition
- Oil level, color, consistency — and underside of oil cap (milky = coolant intrusion)
- Coolant condition and level — proper color for vehicle, no oil film
- Brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid
- Battery — physical condition, terminal corrosion, load test (Silver+)
- Visible leaks — valve cover, oil pan, water pump, timing cover, transmission
- Exhaust manifold condition, no audible leaks at cold start
- Engine mount integrity — excessive rocking indicates failed mounts
Drivetrain
- Transmission fluid level + condition (where accessible)
- Clutch engagement point and feel (manual)
- Torque converter lockup, shift quality, delay (automatic)
- CV boot condition — cracks, grease splatter around wheel well
- Driveshaft + U-joint condition on RWD/4WD
- Differential — leaks at pinion seal or side seals
- Transfer case function and 4WD engagement (if applicable)
Suspension & Steering
- Shock/strut leak check, bounce test, and visible mount condition
- Control arms, bushings, ball joints — excessive play or boot damage
- Tie rod ends — play, torn boots
- Sway bar links and bushings
- Steering rack — leaks, play in steering wheel at center
- Power steering pump — whine at cold start, fluid condition
- Wheel bearing check — hum at speed, play when rocked
Brakes & Electrical
- Brake pad thickness measurement front and rear
- Rotor condition — surface scoring, warping, thickness
- Brake line inspection — cracks, corrosion, leaks
- Parking brake operation and adjustment
- All exterior + interior bulbs function
- Charging system voltage at idle and at 2000 RPM
- Starter engagement and crank speed
Undercarriage
- Frame rail condition — rust, prior repair, measurable sag
- Subframe bolt condition — marks indicating prior removal
- Floor pan and rocker panel rust survey
- Exhaust system — leaks, rust, hanger condition, catalytic converter presence
- Fuel tank + fuel lines — rust, leak evidence
- Previous flood waterline — mud inside frame, silt in undercarriage crevices
Road Test
- Cold-start behavior — ease, smoke color, idle stability
- Acceleration through all gears — hesitation, flat spots, shift quality
- Highway speed stability — pull, wander, vibration at 45/55/65 mph
- Braking — pedal feel, pulsation, pull left or right, noise
- Turn-in and steering return-to-center
- Suspension feel over uneven surfaces — knocks, squeaks, bottoming
- Engine temp stability over a 20-minute drive
- Post-test leak check on driveway
Diagnostics
- OBD-II scan — current and stored codes, readiness monitor status
- Data-stream review — coolant temp, O2 sensor behavior, fuel trim
- Cleared-code check — codes recently wiped is a red flag
- Mileage verification against service records when available
- Airbag / SRS system status
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Next steps
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