About to buy a used car? Get it inspected before you pay.
Call nowBuying a Used Car? Get It Inspected Before You Pay
Independent 120-point checks trusted by 200+ Edinburgh buyers, rated 4.9/5.
We meet you at the seller, inspect the car independently and send a photographed report the same day. It is the cheapest way to avoid buying somebody else's expensive problem.
Is a pre-purchase inspection really worth it?
Yes — a £119 inspection can save you thousands if it flags hidden accident damage, a cleared fault code or corrosion from Scottish grit-salt roads that isn't obvious on a test drive.
4.9★
Average rating
1,800+
Cars fixed
12 mo
Guarantee
24/7
Availability
Home / Services / Pre-Purchase Inspection
At a glance
Pre-Purchase Inspection
- From
- From £119 full inspection
- Time on site
- 1–2 hours
- Where
- Home, work or roadside
- Guarantee
- 12 months, parts and labour
- Availability
- 24 hours, 7 days
Why people call us
Pre-Purchase Inspection without leaving your street
- 01No garage drop-off and no waiting room
- 02Fixed price agreed before any work starts
- 03Qualified mechanic with the right tools on board
- 04Most jobs finished in a single visit
- 0512 month guarantee on parts and labour
Home · Work · Roadside · Anywhere in Edinburgh
Is it worth sorting pre-purchase inspection now?
Edinburgh's used car market moves fast on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and Auto Trader Scotland, and sellers often push for a decision on the spot. That pressure is exactly when a buyer is most likely to miss something a mechanic would spot in minutes.
We carry out a genuinely independent 120-point inspection, with no connection to the seller and no incentive other than giving you an honest picture of the car. We check paint depth for accident damage, scan for hidden or cleared fault codes, and assess corrosion risk, which matters after cars have wintered through Scotland's grit-salted roads.
A full inspection with written report starts from £119, and we can attend the seller's address anywhere across Edinburgh.
Short answer
Yes — a £119 inspection can save you thousands if it flags hidden accident damage, a cleared fault code or corrosion from Scottish grit-salt roads that isn't obvious on a test drive.
Pre-Purchase Inspection options
Pick what suits your car and budget — we confirm the right option once we see it.
Full 120-point inspection
Comprehensive mechanical, electrical, cosmetic and diagnostic check with written report.
From £119
Diagnostic-only check
Fault code scan and live data check for buyers wanting a faster, focused assessment.
From £69
Road test & drivetrain check
Braking, steering, clutch and gearbox assessed under real driving conditions.
From £49 add-on
Corrosion & underbody assessment
Focused check on chassis, sills and underbody for grit-salt corrosion risk.
From £39 add-on
Your pre-purchase inspection covers
- Full 120-point mechanical and cosmetic check
- Paint depth measurement for signs of accident repair
- Full diagnostic scan for hidden or cleared fault codes
- Road test covering brakes, steering and gearbox
- Photographed, written report sent the same day
- Honest buy-or-walk-away recommendation, no sales pressure
Time on site
Inspections typically take 1–2 hours, with the written report sent the same day.
From £119 full inspection
Typical starting price
1–2 hours
On site
12 months
Guarantee
IMI / City & Guilds qualified
Fully insured, DBS-checked mechanics with the right tools and torque settings for your make and model. Every job is backed by our 12 month parts and labour guarantee.
Pre-Purchase Inspection prices in Edinburgh
Clear prices up front, confirmed for your car before any work starts.
Prices are a guide and include labour unless stated. Parts prices vary by make, model and availability — you always get a fixed quote before we begin.
When to book this service
If any of these sound familiar, do not leave it — small faults become expensive quickly.
Mismatched panel gaps or paint
Uneven gaps or slightly different paint shade between panels can point to previous accident repair.
Engine bay smells or leaks
A burning smell or visible fluid residue in the engine bay is worth investigating before you commit.
Unmentioned warning lights
A warning light the seller 'forgot' to mention, or one that's been cleared just before viewing, is a red flag.
Inconsistent service history
Gaps, mismatched mileage or missing stamps in the service book suggest maintenance may have been skipped.
Uneven tyre wear
Wear patterns that differ side to side can point to alignment issues, sometimes from a kerb strike in tight city parking.
Why Edinburgh drivers trust us for pre-purchase inspection
City driving here is hard on cars. We know exactly how, and what it does to your vehicle.
A fast-moving local market
Edinburgh's Gumtree, Marketplace and Auto Trader Scotland listings move quickly, and buyers are often pressured into deciding on the spot — an independent inspection gives you a second opinion before you commit.
Grit-salt corrosion risk
Cars that have wintered through Scottish roads treated with grit and salt are at higher risk of underbody corrosion than the same model down south, so we pay particular attention to sills, chassis rails and brake lines.
No connection to the seller, ever
We're hired by the buyer only, with no commission or relationship with the seller or dealership, so our report is genuinely impartial.
4.9★
Average rating
600+
Reviews
1,800+
Cars fixed
10 yrs
Experience
A recent visit, start to finish
New Town · 2017 BMW 3 Series
The private sale that nearly went wrong
Struan found a well-presented 3 Series listed privately in New Town and asked us to inspect it at the seller's address before paying a deposit. Our diagnostic scan turned up a cleared fault code for a coolant sensor, and closer inspection showed fresh underseal hiding early corrosion on a rear sill, likely from a previous winter left untreated. He used the report to negotiate £900 off the asking price to cover the repairs.
“I'd have paid full price without knowing. The written report gave me the confidence to negotiate properly and go in with my eyes open.”
Struan L.
New Town
£119 (saved him £900 in negotiation)
Price paid
1 hour 40 minutes
Time on site
Purchase went ahead at a reduced, fair price
Outcome
What Edinburgh drivers say
“Was about to buy a Golf listed in Stockbridge for £6,500. FA's inspection found a slipping clutch that wasn't obvious on a short test drive, saved me from a nasty surprise a month later.”
Megan O.
Stockbridge
“Seller in Portobello seemed straightforward but the diagnostic scan picked up a cleared airbag fault code. Report came through the same evening with photos, really thorough for £119.”
Aidan W.
Portobello
“Compared this to an AA inspection quote of £169 and FA came in cheaper and could attend the same week. Found some minor corrosion on the sills I'd have missed completely.”
Beth C.
Corstorphine
What affects the cost of pre-purchase inspection
Every quote is confirmed for your specific vehicle before we start — this is a guide only.
Starting price
From £119 full inspection
Pre-Purchase Inspection
An independent 120-point check before you hand over money for a used car.
Typical time: 1–2 hours
Get a fixed quoteWhat can change the price
- 1Distance to the seller's location
- 2Vehicle type and age
- 3Whether a full diagnostic scan is included
- 4Turnaround time required for the report
Prices are a guide. Your final price is confirmed for your exact car before any work starts — no hidden extras.
Pre-Purchase Inspection across Edinburgh
We travel from 11 Forrest Rd to every EH postcode and the surrounding towns — no callout fee inside the city.
Pre-Purchase Inspection questions
How long does an inspection take?+
A full 120-point inspection typically takes one to two hours, depending on the car's condition and whether a road test is included. We won't rush it just to fit a schedule, since a thorough check is the whole point.
Will I get a written report?+
Yes, every inspection comes with a photographed, written report sent to you the same day, covering everything checked and any issues found, so you have a clear record to refer back to or use in negotiation.
Can you inspect a car at the seller's address?+
Yes, this is the most common way we carry out inspections. We attend anywhere across Edinburgh and the Lothians, arrange a time directly with the seller, and report back to you independently afterwards.
What if you find a serious problem?+
We'll explain exactly what we found, how serious it is, and give you an honest recommendation on whether to proceed, walk away, or use the finding to negotiate the price down.
Is this cheaper than a full RAC/AA inspection?+
In most cases, yes — our full inspection starts from £119 compared with £150 or more from national providers, and because we're local, we can often attend the same day rather than you waiting for a booking slot.
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Book your pre-purchase inspection today
From £119 full inspection, 12 month guarantee and a 4.9 star rating from Edinburgh drivers. Call any time — we answer 24 hours a day.
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