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Need a Pre-purchase Vehicle inspection?

Highton Automotive Services have got your back. When buying car, a Pre-Purchase Inspection is essential to be sure of the condition of the vehicle. To get a more complete picture of your prospective vehicle, please book our Comprehensive Vehicle Inspection.

A pre-purchase vehicle inspection is carried out for a vehicle being sold either by private sale or through a motor car trader. Comprehensive vehicle inspections are the most complete survey of your vehicle. Highton Automotive Service can perform Pre-Purchase Inspections and Comprehensive Vehicle Inspections for your peace of mind.

Pre-purchase inspections

Highton Automotive Service mechanics will carry out a detailed visual inspection, an engine test and a road test on your vehicle. Concluding the inspection, we provide a detailed report with the information you need to make an informed decision*. To arrange a Pre-Purchase Inspection, make an appointment online or call us now!

*(Because of limited access, the level of complexity or specialised tools and equipment required, there are some vehicles that we cannot inspect, or can only conduct a comprehensive inspection on).

Comprehensive vehicle inspections

Comprehensive Vehicle Inspections are the most complete inspection of your vehicle and checks even more components of the vehicle than a Pre-Purchase Inspection.

Where possible, the car is placed on a hoist for our inspectors to have greater visibility of components and increased accessibility of the undercarriage. Car wheels are removed to allow access to braking components for an inspection, and the lining size and disc thickness are measured against industry standards**.

**Please note: The vehicle inspection is based on a visual external examination of components only. Components are not dismantled to examine internal parts. Some vehicle faults can be diagnosed only by dismantling the engine or are intermittent in operation and not evident from an external examination at the time of inspection.

Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection Details

If you are buying a used vehicle, a written report will give you the information you need to decide if the vehicle is right for you at the price being offered, and the peace of mind knowing that a trained mechanic has visually checked out all the important components for signs of wear or damage* If you are selling a used vehicle you can speed up the sales process by supplying potential customers with a copy of the report showing the good condition of your vehicle, this means they won't need to get their own independent inspection (saving time)  and they will feel more confident buying your vehicle knowing it has been inspected.

What do you Inspect during a Pre-purchase Inspection?

Click on the drop down menu items below to see which components of your vehicle are inspected (where applicable) as part of our Pre-purchase Car Inspections.

Engine Checks

  • Water pump
  • Drive belts
  • Fan/coupling
  • Radiator & heater coolant leaks
  • Cylinder block
  • Emission controls
  • Radiator
  • Engine mounts
  • Controls/linkages
  • Crankcase fuming/breather
  • Noises
  • Engine smoke
  • Performance
  • LPG fuel system
  • Exhaust system starter motor
  • Oil/level/leaks/condition
  • Petrol fuel system
  • Exhaust emission
  • Sump
  • Coolant
  • Diesel fuel system
  • Turbo charger operation

Transmission / Driveline Checks

  • Fluid/leaks
  • Road test
  • Gear shift linkages
  • Centre bearing
  • Shift operation
  • Noises
  • Drive shaft/cv joints
  • Bake up hydraulics/linkages
  • Universal joints
  • Clutch/adjustment
  • Clutch/slip/shudder

Steering/suspension Checks

  • Steering box/rack
  • Ball joints
  • Ride
  • Sub-frame
  • Shock absorber/s
  • Stabiliser bars
  • Rear suspension
  • Front suspension road test
  • Steering
  • Wheel
  • Power steering
  • Spring/torsion bars steering linkages

Body Checks

(minor defects and panel repairs may not be recorded.)

  • Underbody
  • Latches,handles & hinges
  • Windscreen
  • Repairs/rust
  • Paintwork/panels
  • Sunroof operation
  • Glass/windows

Brakes

  • Vibration/pulsation
  • Efficiency
  • Noises
  • Booster
  • Pedal travel
  • Handbrake
  • Fluid level
  • Brake lines & hoses
  • Fluid levels

Tyres & Wheels

  • Tyres - road wheels
  • Spare
  • Wheel bearings
  • Wheel rims
  • Covers

Auto Electrical Checks

  • Stop light/s
  • Number plate light
  • Wipers/spares
  • Horn reverse lights
  • Park/tail lights
  • Hazard lights
  • Indicators battery/terminal/carrier
  • Head light/s

Miscellaneous

  • Speedometer
  • Heater/demister
  • Air conditioner
  • Seat belts
  • Gauges
  • Mirrors
  • Seats
  • Upholstery & trim

*A pre-purchase vehicle inspection is a visual external examination of components only (click for more details)

We do not dismantle parts for internal examination. There are some vehicle faults which can only be diagnosed by dismantling the engine or are intermittent in operation and not evident from an external examination at the time of inspection.

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