How to Start a Pre-Purchase Inspection Business
A pre-purchase inspection business sells a mechanic's eyes to a buyer who cannot see the car: you go to the seller, inspect it against a checklist, scan it, drive it, and deliver a written report with photos the same day. Priced in tiers, it is clean work with no parts, no comebacks and a customer who already decided to pay.
See what the report should look like
A real sample inspection report, the kind that gets forwarded to the next buyer.
View the sample reportWhy it is good business
No parts to front, no warranty to carry, no comeback.
The customer is motivated. They are about to spend thousands and they called you first.
Out-of-town buyers, online car buyers and enthusiast buyers pay for a specialist and refer you.
It feeds your repair business. Half of what you find, the buyer will want fixed after the sale.
What the inspection covers
Exterior and paint, frame and underbody, evidence of accident repair.
Engine, cooling, leaks, belts, mounts, and a full scan including readiness monitors and stored codes.
Brakes, tires, suspension, steering.
Interior, electronics, HVAC, every switch.
Test drive with notes on shifts, noises, pulls and vibrations.
Photos of everything that matters, good and bad.
Price in tiers
A short baseline look that tells the buyer whether to keep going, a full inspection with report, and a premium tier for high-value or specialty cars where you spend more time and pull more data. The buyer picks the depth. Most pick the middle.
The report is the product
The buyer is paying for the document they can read, forward to a spouse, and use to negotiate. Clear sections, photos next to findings, a plain summary at the top and an estimate of what the problems cost to fix. Deliver it the same day from your phone.
Run the whole job from your phone.
Repair Rocket writes the quote, gets the signature, sends the invoice and takes the payment. Free to start, no card needed.
We're building a directory so customers can find you. Free forever.
We're building it area by area. As each area fills in, we promote the mechanics and shops in it on Google, local search and AI search like ChatGPT.
- Free forever. No card. No catch.
- Costs you 30 seconds.
- Not open to customers yet. Early profiles are in first.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a pre-purchase inspection?
Price it in tiers by depth and vehicle value, and base it on your hourly rate times the real time including the drive and the report. Specialty and European cars command more because fewer techs can inspect them well.
Do I need a shop to do pre-purchase inspections?
No. The car is at the seller. A jack, stands, a scan tool, a good light and a checklist cover most of it. That is why it suits mobile techs.
How do I find pre-purchase inspection customers?
Google (buyers search "pre purchase inspection" plus the city), enthusiast forums and groups for the brands you know, and used car buyers shipping cars from out of state.
Should I guarantee the car?
No. You report the condition on the day you saw it. Put that in your terms. You are selling expert eyes and a document, not a warranty.
Related: sample inspection report, how to start a mobile mechanic business, and what to charge per hour.