What You Should Know About $129 Auto Inspections
Not too long ago we had one of our past clients choose to go with a cheaper auto inspection company as an alternative because we were too far and the mileage was too expensive.. Hey we understand how that happens.. We were sad to see that we couldn’t inspect the vehicle 
. We wanted to share his experience with you so you don’t make the same mistake locally.
We inspected a 2005 Lexus LX470 for a guy.. Long store short he passed on the vehicle because it was a rust bucket, had bad sway-bar links and bushings and a bad CV Shaft… He continued his search for a vehicle and found another one almost exactly like it up north in Wisconsin. Our price was substantially higher than our competitor up there because we would of had to drive 350 miles one direction and this was when gas was cheap! A few weeks later we got an email from him.
“Steve, I am hoping you can help me out even though I didn’t use your inspection company. I had “name removed for legal reasons” auto inspection company do the inspection on the truck for $120 because they said they would check the same stuff as you do. I went ahead and bought the truck because it was a good deal after the inspection report said the truck was in good condition. I finally received it off the truck the other day to find that the CV Shaft boots are all torn, the parking brake cable is rusted solid and it has a rear end leak… Is there anything I can do now?”
Our reply. “You might be able to go after the inspection company but your hopes with the dealer will not happen. That is what happens with 3rd party inspections. I suggest talking with the owner of that auto inspection service and seeing if they will help you with the repairs or arbitration with the dealership.”
The outcome. “The inspection company is only giving me back my inspection fee and has offered to pay for the parts but it’s the labor that is going to kill me. The shop estimate (not the dealer either) was over $5000. Now I am stuck with a lemon”
He left us two reviews one for the fist vehicle and another for just giving him some free advice…
2 Comments to What You Should Know About $129 Auto Inspections
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D5 Creation
Did the inspection company list those failed components specifically as adequate? If they not use an item-specific checklist, all he can do Internet-blast them for misrepresentation (provided he can prove they state their inspection points).
We lose a lot of business to the cheap companies. We tell our prospects this old adage: Good work is not cheap, therefore, cheap work cannot be good.
Matt P
Exactly correct Matt.. Us real auto inspectors do loose a lot of customers to the $129 inspection guys that are barely even kicking the tires… Scratches, dents, dings and make a leak or two is all these guys will find… A real auto inspector will lift a car onsite and check the suspension, steering, brakes and more… More often than not we find mostly worn wheel bearings and ball-joints here in St Louis… Thanks for the comment and keep up the great work down there in Dallas ~steve