An inspection is a small cost against the price of a car and the repairs a bad one can bring. Weigh it up with the numbers below.
What you're paying for
✓An independent check by a licensed mechanic with no repair work to sell.
✓A diagnostic scan for stored and pending fault codes.
✓A road test and a check of brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, body and rust.
✓A written report with photos you can use to negotiate.
When an inspection matters most
✓Private sales, where you have fewer consumer protections than buying from a dealer.
✓Older or high-kilometre vehicles.
✓European, prestige and performance cars with higher repair costs.
✓4WDs and utes with signs of off-road use or towing.
✓Buying from out of town, when you can't see the car yourself.
The numbers
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Inspection: small to medium car | $250 |
| Inspection: 4WD, AWD, commercial, European | $275 |
| Inspection: luxury, performance, heavy | $325 |
| Average saving negotiated by Green Bean Auto customers | $621 |
When you can skip one
If the car is nearly new, still under the manufacturer's warranty and comes with a full dealer service history, the risk is lower. Even then, an inspection can pick up accident repairs that a warranty won't cover.
Book an inspection →SOURCES & FURTHER READINGPersonal Property Securities Register (PPSR) ↗
General information only. For advice on a specific vehicle, book an inspection with a licensed mechanic.