Pre Purchase Inspections
Discussion
If after providing all the right answers when questioned on how a car has been maintained, the seller then says they wouldn’t like a car to be inspected by a specialist mechanic, would you immediately walk away?
I’ve come across this a few times in recent weeks but never before. Most recently the seller was quite knowledgeable and reasoned that he’d been stung with a large repair bill on a specialist car as a result of a poorly done inspection in the past.
I’ve regretted not getting sports cars inspected previously, not necessarily in terms of cost, but the hassle taken on running and then offloading it thereafter puts me off.
On the other hand, I once had a car inspected by a good specialist and then ended up putting more into it to fix things than I did on the car I took a punt on. So I think inspections are fairly limited in their scope anyhow.
Either way, I can’t understand why someone would list a car and refuse inspection making it hard to sell, rather than just sell it to trade.
I’ve come across this a few times in recent weeks but never before. Most recently the seller was quite knowledgeable and reasoned that he’d been stung with a large repair bill on a specialist car as a result of a poorly done inspection in the past.
I’ve regretted not getting sports cars inspected previously, not necessarily in terms of cost, but the hassle taken on running and then offloading it thereafter puts me off.
On the other hand, I once had a car inspected by a good specialist and then ended up putting more into it to fix things than I did on the car I took a punt on. So I think inspections are fairly limited in their scope anyhow.
Either way, I can’t understand why someone would list a car and refuse inspection making it hard to sell, rather than just sell it to trade.
I’ve never been in this situation, but personally I’d be reluctant (although I probably wouldn’t outright refuse - I’d insist on being present).
The reason being whenever anyone else gets their hands on my car something isn’t put back properly, is misaligned, knocked, scratched etc. It’s very frustrating!
If a third party is paying for an inspection and damage occurs, who do I go to for recourse?
Depends if there’s a more straightforward sale to someone else I suppose.
The reason being whenever anyone else gets their hands on my car something isn’t put back properly, is misaligned, knocked, scratched etc. It’s very frustrating!
If a third party is paying for an inspection and damage occurs, who do I go to for recourse?
Depends if there’s a more straightforward sale to someone else I suppose.
There are inspection companies out there that will go to the premises of the seller to carry out the inspection. The AA and the RAC do it - but there must be others, and probaby cheaper. You will have to pay for it though, typically around £150.
Probably worth it on a vehicle over 3 years old and over about 25000 miles.
It depends on the car. If it was a rare or specialist car for a decent price, if the vendor refused an inspection I would refuse to purchase it - would suggest they're hiding something. I once had a TVR Chimaera inspected by a TVR specialist, and he basically told me it was rotten and not to buy it.
If I was selling and someone tried to get an inspection done on a cheap shed, then I would probably not allow it though, as it suggests a painful process.
If I was selling and someone tried to get an inspection done on a cheap shed, then I would probably not allow it though, as it suggests a painful process.
PrinceRupert said:
It depends on the car. If it was a rare or specialist car for a decent price, if the vendor refused an inspection I would refuse to purchase it - would suggest they're hiding something. I once had a TVR Chimaera inspected by a TVR specialist, and he basically told me it was rotten and not to buy it.
If I was selling and someone tried to get an inspection done on a cheap shed, then I would probably not allow it though, as it suggests a painful process.
Yeah I see that. If I was selling and someone tried to get an inspection done on a cheap shed, then I would probably not allow it though, as it suggests a painful process.
Perhaps this car falls between the two posts... a cheaper 911 ... not as specialist as stuff I’ve had before but sufficiently worrisome to walk away without some form of assurance.
I cannot imagine someone saying that on, say, a similar value vantage despite significantly lower risk of s
tting itself. I'd walk away, what would be the reason to not allow an inspection obviously I wouldn't be expecting the seller to let me drop the engine and gearbox out but known problems or just general inspection stuff I can't see why you would refuse.
If anything untoward was found then it's up to the seller if they want to accept the finding of the report and adjust the price accordingly so not sure how as a seller you can be stung with a bad inspection.
If someone offers less you just say no.
If anything untoward was found then it's up to the seller if they want to accept the finding of the report and adjust the price accordingly so not sure how as a seller you can be stung with a bad inspection.
If someone offers less you just say no.
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