Request Car Inspection

The importance of having a vehicle inspection performed.

Very similar to a home inspection, having a vehicle inspection performed before purchasing the vehicle enables you to have Peace of Mind about the vehicle’s current condition. With that newly found information you will be able to weigh the pros and cons of the vehicle you were looking at purchasing. At that time you’ll be armed with information that could enable you to negotiate a lower price for the vehicle, negotiate repairs to be performed, purchase the car as is or pass on purchasing the vehicle.

What sets us apart from other inspection companies.

Mostly all other inspection companies subcontract their inspections to different inspectors around the nation. This alone causes a number of low quality inspections to fall through the cracks and into the hands of the customer. This is primarily caused by inadequate vetting and training for there contracted inspectors. Here at Ms Independent Auto, no inspection request are subcontracted out. All inspections are done in-house. From initial inspection request to the final inspection report being sent to your email, you will have access to talk to the ASE Certified Technician Brandon Brown regarding your concerns about the vehicle before and after the inspection is performed. This access will ensure that all aspects of the inspection report are clearly understood, without confusion.

Areas we cover.

Because all inspections are performed in-house our area of range is not Nationwide. Our area of range covers a 100 mile radius from the Georgia zip code 30080.

Additional Mileage.

A 25 mile radius from our offices are included within our initial inspection fee. Any additional mileage over 25 miles will require a $1 per mile, one-way fee to be included. Ex:45 miles would be $20 mileage Plus inspection fee.

Refunds and cancellations.

There are instances where a inspection request could be issued a refund. Those requests will be based on a Case by case scenario. All cancellation or refunds will accrue a $25 surcharge.

How soon will you get your report after you place your order.

Inspections are typically completed and emailed out to you within 24 hours of purchasing your inspection. At times the inspectors prior inspection schedule, the seller schedule or bad weather could hinder the inspection from being performed in 24 hours after purchase. Reports that need to be expedited before the 24 hour time frame of purchase will accrue a $50 expedition fee.

When do you pay for the inspection.

All inspection request are prepaid. This ensures that you are serious about purchasing a vehicle and our services. This will also help expedite the process of contacting the seller to schedule a appointment for inspection.

Should you share the inspection report with the seller.

No, there are sellers who believe their vehicle is in better condition then the findings in our report. Often these sellers are blinded by what they perceived the vehicle to be verse what a professional automotive technician knows the vehicle to be. Disgruntled seller sometimes cause difficulty or unease if we have to go and perform another inspection at their location. When you receive your inspection report and are educated of the pros and cons, if you feel as though you do not want to purchase the vehicle. Simply tell the seller you’re going pass, thanks for your time.

What do you check during the inspection process.

We first start off by performing a visual inspection around the body of the vehicle. We’re looking for any and everything that differs from a Factory OEM vehicle. We’re looking for body panel misalignment, paint discrepancies, paint / bodywork, dents, dings, scratches and any evidence of accident or frame damage. A paint meter is then used to help ensure if the paint is OEM or aftermarket. Another great feature of using a paint meter during the inspection process is that it helps detect signs of rust and Bondo. Very important tool for detecting hidden accident damage and hidden Bondo that is typically found on classic vintage vehicles. After a careful inspection of the exterior, we performed a comprehensive inspection of the engine compartment.

We start off ensuring all standard accessible fluid levels are checked for there condition and level. Belts, batteries, mounts and overall engine condition is then evaluated. Once visual engine compartment evaluation is complete we start the vehicle. Starting this vehicle this early ensures that the vehicle will be running for at least a half an hour before the test drive. As soon as the engine is running we inspect the tailpipe for abnormal smoke and use a stethoscope to ensure no abnormal engine noises are present. While the vehicle is running we then perform a visual inspection of the Vehicles undercarriage and exterior lights.

For the undercarriage inspection we are looking for fluid leaks or seepages, rust / corrosion or any signs of flooding, steering and suspension wear and tear, drive shaft wear and tear, visual brakes and Tire condition, and frame or unibody damage. We are also listening for any abnormal noise is coming from the exhaust or lower portion of the engine.

Once we finish the comprehensive inspection of the undercarriage we move on to the interior of the vehicle. This portion of the inspection looks for interior flooding, seat/seatbelt condition and operation, instrument cluster gauges, dashboard, center console and trim conditions, all on board electronic components condition and operation, and interior of the trunk along with the spare and spare tire tools. Every button inside of the vehicle is operated to ensure its operating condition.

Once our inspection of the exterior, interior, engine compartment and undercarriage or complete we prepare for the test drive. Test drives are performs on a case-by-case basis. If the seller allows, weather permits and the vehicle is deemed safe to operate. We perform a minimum 5 mile test drive. During this test drive we’re paying close attention to the engine and transmission performance, braking performance, steering and suspension performance, tire and wheel bearing performance, instrument cluster warning lights and gauges, overall driveability and reliability, and also safety and comfort features like Lane keep assist and cruise control.

Once the test drive is complete we perform an on-board scan of the vehicles computer systems. Scanning the computer after the vehicle has been running for some time and a test drive has been performed minimizes the chances of a reset ECM computer sneaking pass our inspection process. On most vehicles are computer scan will cover the ECM, TCM, ABS and airbag system. We also look at the vehicles monitors to ensure that the vehicle is currently ready to pass standard Georgia emissions. Diesel truck computer scans are also available.