Mobile Pre-Purchase Car Inspection, We Check It Before You Buy
Thinking of buying a used car? We come to the seller or dealer, check it over properly and give you an honest written report before you hand over any money. Independent, because we're not the ones selling it. Across Soham, Ely, Newmarket and Cambridgeshire.
A pre-purchase inspection is a proper check of a used car before you buy it, done by a qualified mechanic who has no interest in the sale going through. A private seller or a dealer will always tell you the car is lovely. We look underneath it, plug into it, road test it and tell you what we actually find. On a car costing thousands, that's cheap insurance against buying someone else's problem.
We travel to wherever the car is, at the seller's home, on a forecourt or in a car park, so you don't have to know what to look for and you don't have to move the car to us. Based in Soham, we cover Ely, Newmarket, Cambridge and the villages in between. You get a clear written report you can keep, and a straight answer on whether it's worth buying, worth haggling on, or worth walking away from.
A proper check of the whole car
Engine, gearbox, clutch, brakes, tyres, suspension, steering, bodywork and underneath. We look for rust, leaks, past accident repairs and anything that's about to cost you.
A plug-in diagnostic scan
We read the car's stored fault codes, not just the lights showing on the dash. That flags problems a seller might have cleared before you turned up.
A written report you keep
Everything we find, in plain English, with a clear buy, haggle or walk-away steer. Useful evidence if you want to knock money off the price.
An independent opinion
We're not selling the car and we get nothing if you buy it, so there's no reason for us to talk it up. You get the truth, good or bad.
Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it?
On a used car, almost always. The inspection costs a fraction of a single hidden fault, and it changes how the conversation with the seller goes. Here's what you're paying for:
It's cheaper than one bad buy
A clutch, a cambelt or a gearbox on a car you've just bought can run into four figures. Finding it before you pay is money saved, not money spent.
It gives you room to haggle
A written list of faults is hard for a seller to argue with. Buyers routinely get the inspection cost back several times over off the asking price.
It catches the hidden stuff
Signs of past accident repair, disguised rust, a cleared warning light or a tired engine that only misbehaves cold. The things a quick test drive won't show you.
It takes the pressure off
You get to make a big decision on facts, not on a seller's patter, and you can walk away with a clear conscience if the car isn't right.
Sound like what you need?
Get a free, no-obligation quote today. A £20 call-out, same-day slots most weeks, and a clear price agreed before any work starts.
Warning signs to watch for on a used car
A few things are worth a second look on any used car. Spotted any of these? It's exactly the sort of thing we dig into on an inspection.
Fresh paint or panels that don't quite match
Can hide accident repair or rust bubbling underneath. We check panel gaps and paint thickness to see if it's been redone.
A warning light that flicks on then disappears
Some sellers clear the dash before you arrive. Our scan pulls the stored codes, so a reset light doesn't stay hidden.
Uneven or mismatched tyres
Often points to alignment, worn suspension or past accident damage, and it's an immediate cost to put right on top of the purchase.
Service history with gaps or missing stamps
Work may have been skipped. We sanity-check the paperwork against the car's actual condition rather than take it at face value.
Mileage that doesn't match the wear
A worn steering wheel, pedals or seats on a supposedly low-mileage car is a clocking red flag. We look at the wear items, not just the odometer.
It was 'already warmed up' when you arrived
A seller keeping the engine warm can mask a rough cold start. We make sure the car is checked properly, not just when it's convenient for them.
When a pre-purchase inspection is worth booking
If any of these sound familiar, it's worth booking in. Not sure? Ask us and you'll get a straight answer.
- You're spending a good chunk of money and can't afford a bad buy
- You're buying privately, with no dealer warranty to fall back on
- The car is a distance away and you'll only get to see it once
- It's an older or higher-mileage car, where more things are likely to be worn
- The MOT history shows the same fault failing again and again
- You just want a second, independent opinion before you commit
Mobile Pre-Purchase Inspection
Free, no-obligation quote. The price is agreed with you before any work starts, with no hidden fees.
Get your priceWhat affects the price
Whatever your car, the price is agreed with you up front and in writing: a £20 call-out, then a clear quote for the work. No hidden fees, no surprise on the bill.
- The size and type of car, a small runabout versus a big diesel or a 4x4
- How far the car is from Soham
- A road test, which we always recommend and would build into the price
- Any extra checks you ask for around a specific worry
Every bit as good as a garage
Same tools, same quality parts, same standard, done at your home or work instead of a workshop. Where a job genuinely needs a ramp we'll tell you straight, but most of what a garage does, we do on your driveway.
Why mobile works£20
flat call-out
Free
written quote
All
makes & models
On the road daily
Mobile Pre-Purchase Inspection across Cambridgeshire
Based in Soham and mobile across the region, Ely, Newmarket, Cambridge and the villages in between.
Mobile Pre-Purchase Inspection, your questions
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Tell us what your car's doing
A clear price agreed before anything is booked. No obligation, no pressure.
- We'll reply as soon as we can
- £20 call-out, then a clear price for the work
- Card, cash or bank transfer accepted
- Based in Soham · covering the region daily