Generic competitor content says "we check the engine". This page tells you exactly what we do: which systems, which tools, which tests, and just as importantly, what we cannot check and what to do about it.
A pre-purchase inspection is a structured, independent assessment of a specific car's condition before you buy it. Our local mechanics come to the car anywhere in Western Sydney, work through six major systems with proper diagnostic tools, road test it, and give you a plain-language report the same day with the faults, the likely costs, and a clear verdict. The goal is simple: tell you what a test drive around the seller's quiet street cannot.
A pink slip (eSafety inspection) checks the minimum needed to register a car in NSW: lights, brakes, tyres, steering, and structure to a pass or fail standard. It does not tell you the clutch is at 20%, the transmission is slipping under load, or the car has a history of a recurring fault. A pre-purchase inspection is about condition and cost, not just legality. A car can pass a pink slip and still be a bad buy.
Oil and coolant condition, leaks, smoke on start and under load, and a compression test where access allows to reveal cylinder wear before it shows symptoms. The engine is the most expensive thing to get wrong.
Shift quality, fluid condition, slipping or flaring under load, and known failure patterns for the specific gearbox, including dual-clutch units that fail expensively.
Shocks, struts, bushes, ball joints, tie rods, and steering response. Worn components show as clunks, uneven tyre wear, or vague steering, common on cars that live with Sydney potholes and speed humps.
Pad and disc thickness measured with a gauge, not guessed; fluid condition; and brake feel and pull on the road test. We tell you how much life is left, not just pass or fail.
Battery and charging system under test, all lights, windows, locking, climate control, infotainment, and warning lights, plus a scan of the fault-code memory.
Paint depth across panels, panel gaps, weld quality, and signs of past accident repair or hidden rust, the things that separate a clean-history listing from a clean car.
"A seller can clear the active fault codes the morning of the sale. The history of those codes is much harder to hide, and that is what we read."
Lead Mechanic, Sydney Mobile Car InspectionsBeing honest about limits builds more trust than pretending to do everything. Without a hoist, some underbody access is limited, and we do not dismantle engines or gearboxes on site. If the car shows signs that need a teardown, an automatic transmission with a worrying history, for example, we tell you plainly and recommend a workshop strip or a specialist. You will always know what we checked, what we could not, and what it means for your decision.
You get a verbal call within about 90 minutes of us finishing, so you can act fast if the seller is waiting, followed by a written report with photos by end of day. The report lists each system, the findings, photos of anything significant, an estimate of likely repair costs, and a clear overall verdict: buy with confidence, negotiate, or walk away.
Most cars take 60 to 90 minutes on site. European, performance, and EV vehicles take longer because there is more to scan and check. We arrange bookings within 48 hours across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra, Blue Mountains, and Hunter.
EVs and hybrids get a separate process that includes battery state-of-health diagnostics, common on Teslas, BYDs, MG4s, and Toyota and Hyundai hybrids across Sydney. Luxury and performance cars get extra attention on electronics and known expensive failure points. These take longer and are priced accordingly.
What it costs, what is included, and the ROI we see.
See pricing ›What the buyer saw vs what we found.
Read the cases ›Filter the obvious bad cars before booking us.
Get the checklist ›A pink slip (eSafety check) is a minimum legal roadworthy for registration. A pre-purchase inspection is far broader: it assesses condition, wear, fault-code history, and likely upcoming costs, not just whether the car is legal to drive.
Yes. We are mobile and come to the dealer yard, private driveway, or street anywhere across Sydney, so you do not have to move the car or take the seller's word for anything.
We read stored and historical fault data, not just current codes. A seller can clear active codes the morning of the sale, but the history often still tells the real story.
Without a hoist we are limited on some underbody access, and we cannot dismantle the engine or gearbox. We are upfront about this and tell you when a workshop teardown is the right next step.
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.
