The 8 Best Vehicle Inspection Services
What's the Best Place to Get Vehicle Inspections?
Automobile inspections are an essential part of ensuring that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy. Whether you're buying your next car or just want to make sure that your current vehicle is compliant with state laws, it's important to have it inspected.
While it can be tempting to skip inspections to save time and money, the consequences of a neglected car can be dire, both for you and for others on the road. Fortunately, there are many businesses and services available to check into a car's history and make sure you're not getting scammed on your next car.
Wednesday, December 11th
2024 Vehicle Inspection Service Reviews
CARCHEX
CARCHEX is a reliable and well-established one-stop shop for automotive services, including vehicle inspections, protection, insurance, and finance. With over two decades of experience in the industry, CARCHEX helps customers with easy and accessible 24/7 service. The inspections start at $129.95 and there is an option to include CARFAX certification. With high ratings and positive reviews for their customer service as well as a full range of automotive services, CARCHEX is a trusted and convenient option for those looking for inspections. Despite having a modern website, CARCHEX easily makes it as our top option for this review.
Pomcar
In just a few years, Pomcar has established itself as a reputable pre-purchase inspection service with a customer-focused process. They offer competitive pricing for their comprehensive 270-point pre-purchase inspection - the highest number of points in this review - with three different tiers of inspection. Their network of experienced, ASE-certified technicians provide in-depth analysis with a professional eye. Although they don't have an online database of all inspected cars, Pomcar does provide sample inspection reports accessible from their landing page. Accredited by the BBB and with a positive reputation from customers, Pomcar easily secures the second-place spot in our review. Pomcar is slightly more expensive than our top option; however, it's extremely competitive and worth checking out.
Automobile Inspections
Automobile Inspections stands out in our review as an international option. Open since 1995, they are working to serve long and short-distance car buyers across the USA and Canada. Their process is straightforward, with customers selecting their vehicle type online and providing the necessary details. The company offers competitive and transparent pricing, with reports covering the vehicle's condition and components. With an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and positive customer testimonials, Automobile Inspections' thorough service is worth the investment.
Car Saints
Car Saints is a service that connects buyers and sellers with experienced vehicle inspectors across the United States. They have a free database of previously inspected cars, so you can get an idea of what you're buying before you make any commitments if your car is listed. However, with some confusion about which pricing is active and limited reviews out there to help you make an informed decision, it sits a little lower compared to other inspection businesses. That being said, the reviews that do exist are overwhelmingly positive, so it might be worth giving them a shot. Overall, we think Car Saints is a solid midrange option if you're in the market for a vehicle inspector.
Lemon Squad
Ever heard of a lemon car? Basically, it's the junker of the lot, or the car nobody wants to end up with. It's broken and usually unsafe to drive (or it costs a whole lot to make it drivable). Well, LemonSquad might be a decent inspection option for you, but there are some things you should know before making a decision. Despite great packages and CARFAX reports, there are a few problems with this service. It's worth mentioning that the company recently got acquired and has received a less-than-stellar NR rating from the BBB. Plus, some customers have complained about incomplete inspections and difficulty getting in touch with customer service reps. So while LemonSquad is a middle-of-the-pack option with some good features, there are more trustworthy alternatives out there.
Pep Boys
Compared to other options we reviewed, Pep Boys is a less extensive choice for vehicle inspections. It requires an in-person visit, which makes it less than ideal for individuals looking to buy a car, especially one that isn't nearby. Despite having inspectors who are ASE certified, Pep Boys receives little praise from reviewers. There are conflicting opinions on their effectiveness, prices, and reliability, with negative feedback vastly outnumbering positive reviews on all review sites. As customer satisfaction is crucial, particularly with regard to such an important aspect of people's lives as their cars, we give Pep Boys a below-average rating.
AIM Mobile Inspections
AiM has been in the vehicle inspection business for over a decade, operating in all 50 states and offering a range of inspection services for both new and used cars to verify their condition. However, AiM doesn't offer clear prices upfront, and their customer reviews are low, with many clients reporting issues with the accuracy of their reports and difficulty in reaching customer service representatives. While AiM has won some awards, it may be worth exploring other options if customer satisfaction is a top concern.
Your Mechanic
Your Mechanic is a company that seems to offer a pre-purchase vehicle inspection service. However, when delving into the details, it's clear that Your Mechanic doesn't actually perform its own inspections. Instead, they outsource to another company, which means Your Mechanic itself isn't doing the inspections. While they don't charge extra for a service completed by someone else, if you're looking for a company guarantee or a place that hires their own mechanics, Your Mechanic isn't it. For this reason, Your Mechanic ranks lowest in this review.
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Regular vehicle inspections are required by law in most states. Inspections help to identify potential safety hazards before they become major problems. Regular inspections can also help you save money in the long run by catching minor issues before they turn into costly repairs. Most people can get a basic inspection done at their local mechanic.
Regardless of whether your car is coming from a dealership or through a private sale, it's always safer for you to get a vehicle inspection done. This is especially true in states like Florida, where regular inspections are not required by law. Whether it's a regular used car, a classic car, or an antique car, each comes with its own host of problems.
With classic cars, you can find parts that have been replaced or even the entire engine was taken out, making the classic car worth much less than the asking price. If you're buying from a dealership, usually these cars have been inspected already. If you want someone in your corner, though, hiring an outside inspector can help you avoid buying a lemon from the dealership or keep you from missing problems you'd be left repairing if you purchased the vehicle.
When it comes to finding a reputable inspection service, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the service is licensed and certified. This ensures that they are following state regulations and have the proper training and equipment to perform inspections correctly. This is especially important if you live somewhere where regular inspections are required by law.
If you're still not sure where to start looking for a good vehicle inspector, here are a few key factors to keep in mind:
- Cost: Since many states require inspections, you don't want to be paying a ton of money regularly. Instead, look for a reputable option that charges competitive but fair rates. Value for your money is important, but safety is key with inspections.
- Vehicle type: Not all cars are created equal. Most inspection services will offer a variety of car types, but you want to make sure your inspector services your specific needs. For example, most inspectors will service exotic cars, but not all will inspect antique cars.
- Certification: Make sure that the inspection service that you're considering uses certified mechanics and professionals who know what they're looking for. This is especially important if your state requires inspections by law.
- Service locations: It's important if you want to order an inspection online that they service the area where you or the car are located. Some offer nationwide service while others provide international services, allowing you to order inspections on cars in another country.
To help you feel confident about ordering your next vehicle inspection, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best companies that offer inspections online today. We hope this information helps you feel confident about your next car and supports you through your purchase or ongoing maintenance!
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