Tick this off on your phone as you read, then print it for the viewing. It catches the obvious bad cars before you pay anyone for a professional inspection. It will not catch the expensive hidden stuff, and we are honest about that below.
A 20-minute walkaround rules out the worst cars: obvious crash repairs, bald tyres, warning lights, a service book that does not exist. What it cannot do is see inside the engine or read the history of fault codes. Use it to filter, not to give a car the all-clear. If a car passes this list and you are serious about it, that is exactly when a professional inspection pays for itself.
Tick each item as you go. Your ticks are saved in this browser on this device, so you can reopen it at the viewing. Use the buttons to print a blank copy or reset.
Park, leave the engine running for a minute, then check under the car again for fresh drips. Look back at where it was parked for puddles. Re-read the dash for any lights that came on warm. Note anything that failed; that is your negotiation list or your reason to book a professional inspection before paying.
The seller will not show service records, the VIN or seller name does not match the papers, there are signs of a structural repair, the odometer disagrees with the wear, or the seller is rushing you to pay today. None of these are worth the risk.
The car passes this list and you are ready to buy. That is the point where a hoist, a scanner, and a paint gauge tell you what the walkaround cannot. Get a quote across Sydney, it is the cheapest insurance in the process.
Use the Print button at the top to print this checklist or save it as a PDF, then take it to the viewing. If anything on it fails, the next step is a professional inspection at the seller's location.
Exactly what we do that this walkaround cannot.
See the checks ›What a professional inspection costs and saves.
See pricing ›Every step from shortlist to drive-away, in order.
Read the guide ›No. A walkaround rules out the obvious bad cars before you pay anyone, but it cannot see cylinder wear, fault-code history, or paint depth. It narrows the field; a mechanical inspection confirms the car.
This checklist, a torch, a phone for photos, a magnet wrapped in cloth for filler, and a tyre tread gauge if you have one. View in daylight and never in the rain, which hides paint defects.
About 20 to 30 minutes plus a test drive. If the seller is rushing you, that itself is a warning sign worth noting.
Yes. The same checklist works on dealer stock. A reputable NSW dealer will give you time and access; one who will not is telling you something.
We refer across Western Sydney and the surrounding areas. Our local mechanics come to the vehicle, wherever it is.
Our local mechanic inspects the car and keeps you informed at every step - whether you come along or leave it to them.
Turn up at the car, watch the checks first-hand and ask questions on the spot. Tell us in your request that you want to attend and the mechanic will work around you when they agree a time.
Can't be there? The mechanic carries out the full inspection for you, then calls you with the findings once they have finished. You never have to take the seller's word for it.
Tell us about the car. The make, year and the suburb it is in, plus anything you are worried about.
We alert local mechanics. Your details go to our local mechanics who cover that council.
They call you. The mechanic quotes their price and agrees a time window with you directly.
On the day. They ring the seller about 20 minutes before arriving, then inspect the car on site.
Get the results. A clear verbal summary, plus a written report if you asked for the Comprehensive Inspection.
It rarely happens - most inspections run exactly to plan. But if we can't reach your nominated contact, we don't simply leave. The mechanic makes three touchpoints across about 35 minutes: a call around 20 minutes before arrival, a call and text on arrival, and one more call after waiting 15 minutes. If there is still no answer, the mechanic rings you personally to agree the next steps - your booking is never wasted.
Most are arranged a few days ahead, inside 8am to 8pm. Need it sooner, or outside those hours? Say so in your request and we will flag it to the mechanics.
We verify ABN and licence before a local mechanic joins the network, and we only refer independents with no dealer ties.
Sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, SUVs, 4WDs, AWDs, utes, vans, people movers, coupes and convertibles. Not motorbikes or trucks.
These take longer and need extra expertise, so we match them with one of our local mechanics who knows the marque. Expect the quote to reflect that. As a guide:
Not sure which applies to your car? Put the make, model and year in your request and the mechanic will confirm everything in their quote - no surprises.
A used car is one of the biggest purchases you'll make, and the seller isn't on your side. An independent mechanic going over the car, and a plain-language walk-through of what they found, put the facts in your hands before you sign anything or hand over a deposit.
Get a quoteTell us about the car and where it is. We pass your details to our local mechanics who cover your area, and they call you to organise a time and quote their price.
