Before you sell an older car, do you let the potential buyer get an inspection done?

Question

I was interetested in an older van. They said it is runs so well.. but the insurance company said they never received the inspection papers. Her dad was a certified mechanic but didnt' feel he would do the inspection. I said I would just take it to the shop and pay for an insepection myself, as I didn't want to buy it without one. They refused and said it is not regisitered and didn't want me taking it out. I walked away... don't people usually let you get an insepction if they don't have it done...? These people tried to convince me that no one would just let you get an inpsection done before you buy it (I think they are trying to reel me in cause I'm a single gal)...

Answer 1

If the vehicle is not registered, it should not be driven on the road, period. However, I would NEVER buy a used vehicle without taking it to my mechanic first. I do think they were trying to hose ya' on that deal.

Answer 2

I work in a garage, and I do on average, 5 insurance or prepurchas inspections weekly, All of the prepurchas inspections I have done, even on vehicles that are brand new and still not off manufacture warranty (like yesterdays 2006 Mazda 5, that ended up haveing fried brakes and tires, and with 40 000km was not maintained, but was being sold as a "good deal"), and I do inspections on vehicles that are from the 1960's and 1970's. I've done them on vehicles that were registered and non registered (here we have a 14 day period to register a vehicle, so you take your plate off and put it on the unregistered vehicle and your insurance and registration now covers that vehicle, for a period of up to 14 days). Every time I have ever bought a vehicle I have [personally] done an inspection. Inspections don't go through everything, but the inportant systems generally, depending on the garage and the inspection depth. If they are not letting you get an inspection, it was wise of you to back away from the deal. There is no shop out there that will tell you they will not do an inspection on a vehicle before you buy it.

Like I said, I work in a garage, and I do inspections myself. When I was selling my old car, I had the inspection already done up on my own time, I even told them that if they didn't believe me on the work taht was needed, they could have any other technician in the shop, or any other shop do an insepction on the vehicle. I kept it in very good condition, it was a 1987 Plymouth Caravelle. I sold it cheap because it needed a head gasket (it was the Mitsubushi 2.5L engine, they were bad for that). I told them the reason for me not doing it myself (That I just bought a new truck and was just trying to get rid of the car), and I even gave them an estimate for the work required on the car, at the shop. I was open to any question they had, and if they wanted to take it for a test drive, I was right there in the passenger seat answering any questions they had. If I had not of worked in a garage, I would ahve had the inspection preformed as a selling feature. I can say you were very wise for backing out of that deal, other deals will come along.

Answer 3

You were wise to walk away. It may be just as they said, but it may be they are not telling you something bad about the car.

If buying from a private seller, you should always run a carfax report on the VIN and have it inspected by your own mechanic. There are mechanics or small companies that will come out and do this for a couple of hundred bucks or less. No need to drive the van.

I can understand them not handing you the keys and letting you take it to the mechanic, but that doesn't mean they couldn't take it to one you picked and paid for.

Good job.

Answer 4

It depends... if it's an old beater for a couple hundred bucks, you're probably gonna have to take your chances. If it's more of an investment then you should be able to have it inspected at your own expense, maybe a local mechanic would be willing to visit it with you instead of having you bring it in. Either way though, if the seller is hesitant to have you inspect it, that sounds fishy; pass or have a contract written that allows you to return it to them if it needs more than $xxx amount of work to run safely.

Answer 5

so which you acquire a motor vehicle and then had it inspected or maybe via it drives super for you, they are telling you it desires a clean transmission - in spite of if this is not showing any issues, yet however the broking that offered you the vehicle is the criminal? And 87k on an 02 is low miles.

Answer 6

i would want to have an inspection by a third party at the owners cost.. u did the right thing and if the vehicle is not regestered then that tells you what kind a people theu are and how the van was kept.. u did the right thing

Answer 7

I personaly think that is a scam , if they have nothing to hide , they should let you bring your own mechanic , or tskr the van to any shop of your choice to have it inspected, be careful , remember not every thing that shines is gold.

Answer 8

let me tell u a great story. told the guy i wanted to inspect the car and take it to dealer. so i met him at dealer, and drove him to work. then at end of day, i went and picked him up and took him to dealer. he was asking 3200, i showed him the issues with the car and offered 2200, he took it. car had 111k miles on it, when it finally died years later, i had 239k on it. i put about 1200 into it over the years not including maintenance. so u are correct. if they wont let u inspect it, run away. look, theres lots of cars for sale. i suggest u go to consumers report and see what used cars they suggest. good luck.

Answer 9

If they didnt want you to have an inspection there is something wrong with it I would have walked away as well

Answer 10

You're right, sounds like they have something to hide. It's a win-win for them if you pay for the inspection. I wouldn't buy.