PPI = pre-purchase inspection
What is a PPI? An independent check of a used car before you pay for it.
A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) puts a trained inspector with no stake in the sale in front of the car: body, frame, engine, transmission, brakes, electronics, fault codes, and a road test. You get a photo-documented report before money changes hands, so you can buy, negotiate, or walk away.
A PPI is not a history report or a state inspection
Each of these answers a different question. Only the PPI looks at the condition of the actual car you are about to buy, on behalf of you, the buyer.
| Check | What it tells you | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-purchase inspection (PPI) | The physical condition of this specific car today: body, frame, engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electronics, fault codes, road test. | An independent inspector working for the buyer. |
| Vehicle history report (CARFAX, AutoCheck) | What was reported about the VIN in the past: title brands, reported accidents, odometer readings, registrations. | A database. Nobody looks at the car. |
| State safety or emissions inspection | Whether the car meets the state’s minimum standard to be registered or driven. | A state-licensed station. It is not a buying decision tool, and Vehicle Inspectors does not perform it. |
| Dealer certified pre-owned (CPO) inspection | The manufacturer’s or dealer’s certification checklist, usually tied to an extended warranty. | The dealer selling the car. |
Run the history report too: it catches what an inspection cannot see, and the inspection catches what was never reported. See CARFAX vs. an inspection.
What a Vehicle Inspectors PPI checks
The same full inspection at every tier, with 25+ photos. Tiers add measurement, not coverage.
- Condition of the body and paint, including evidence of prior repair or respray
- Scratches, cracks, dents, and rust
- Underbody check for rust, frame damage, or structural repair
- Condition of tires and wheels, including tread depth
- Glass examined for cracks, chips, and other flaws
- Evidence of previous accident damage or flood damage
- Lights, A/C, gauges, and operation of all other electrical items
- Interior throughout — upholstery, mats, headliner, and seat belts
- Motor and transmission
- All driveline components, including 4-wheel and all-wheel-drive systems
- Steering, suspension, braking components, and exhaust system
- Visual inspection of the engine and everything else under the hood
- Fluid levels, oil leaks, and any missing parts
- OBD-II scan with any stored trouble codes (1996 and newer)
- Any additional areas of concern you identify when you book
- Road test evaluating the drivetrain — where the vehicle is street legal, insured, and weather conditions are safe
- Photo-documented PDF report with a plain-English go / caution / stop summary
How much a PPI costs
Flat rates in all 50 states. The inspector comes to the seller and the price does not change with distance. Card saved at booking, charged only after the inspection is completed.
Silver
$349
- Battery load test (not just a visual check)
- Brake pad and rotor measurement
- A/C and heater temperature readings
Gold
$449
- Everything in Silver
- Extended road test with live OBD-II data capture
- Full electronics and infotainment audit
- Paint-depth readings panel by panel
RVs, motorcycles, classics, exotics, EVs and fleet are priced separately on specialty inspections. Full breakdown: pre-purchase inspection cost guide.
When a PPI is worth it
- You are buying from a private seller, where there is no dealer disclosure and usually no return.
- The car is in another city or state and you cannot see it before you pay, ship, or travel.
- The listing is an online auction (Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids) with a countdown.
- The car is high-value, high-mileage, modified, or a model with known expensive failures.
- You want leverage: a dated, photo-documented report is something you can negotiate with.
Buying sight unseen? See the out-of-state PPI, Facebook Marketplace inspection, or Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids PPI pages.
PPI questions
- What does PPI stand for when buying a car?
- PPI stands for pre-purchase inspection: an independent check of a used vehicle’s condition before you pay for it. The term is common on enthusiast forums, auction sites, and dealer listings ("PPI welcome"). It is not a state safety or emissions inspection.
- How much does a PPI cost?
- Vehicle Inspectors charges three flat rates nationwide: Bronze $249, Silver $349, Gold $449. Every tier covers the same systems and the same 25+ photos; Silver adds instrumented measurements (battery load test, brake pad and rotor measurement, A/C and heater readings) and Gold adds live OBD-II data on an extended road test, a full electronics audit, and paint-depth readings. Your card is saved at booking and charged only after the inspection is completed.
- What does a PPI check?
- Body and paint (including signs of prior repair or respray), rust, frame and underbody, tires and wheels, glass, signs of accident or flood damage, lights and electrical items, the interior, engine and transmission, driveline including 4WD and AWD systems, steering, suspension, brakes, exhaust, fluids and leaks, an OBD-II scan for stored trouble codes, and a road test where the vehicle is street legal and safe to drive. The result is a photo-documented PDF report with a go / caution / stop summary.
- Who should do the PPI?
- Someone with no stake in the sale. A seller’s mechanic or the selling dealer’s own technicians may do good work, but they are not working for you. Vehicle Inspectors dispatches independent inspectors who are paid by Vehicle Inspectors, never by the seller or dealer, and the report goes only to the buyer.
- Can I get a PPI on a car in another state?
- Yes. The inspection is mobile: the inspector goes to the seller’s location, whether that is a dealer lot, a private driveway, or a storage lot, and you do not need to be there. The report is delivered online within 24–48 hours of the visit, so you can decide before you pay, ship, or travel.
- Will the seller let me get a PPI?
- Most will; ask before you book. The inspection is non-invasive and nothing is disassembled. A seller who refuses an independent inspection on a car they describe as clean is worth asking why.
- How long does a PPI take?
- The on-site inspection usually runs 60 to 90 minutes for Bronze and Silver and 90 to 120 minutes for Gold. Dispatch to the seller typically takes 24 to 72 hours depending on the market, and the report follows within 24–48 hours of the visit. If no inspector accepts the job within 72 hours, your card is refunded automatically.
Go deeper: the complete guide to pre-purchase inspections, how to read a PPI report, and negotiating with your PPI results. Find an inspector in your area on the service locations page.
Get the PPI before you pay.
A vetted inspector goes to the seller (dispatch typically 24–72 hours) and the photo-documented report reaches you within 24–48 hours of the visit, from $249. Card saved at booking, never charged until your inspection is completed.
Book a pre-purchase inspection