Pre purchase inspection Sydney: exactly what a 200-point check covers

A pre purchase inspection in Sydney should be a measured, evidence-backed assessment of a car you are about to spend real money on — not a walk-around and a thumbs-up. Sydney buyers ask us the same question every week: what is actually checked? This article is the answer, in full.

Below is the real 200-point run sheet our mobile inspectors work through on every Sydney job — Parramatta driveways, Bondi kerbsides, dealer lots in Alexandria, all of it — grouped into the eight systems we cover. It's the same list whether you book Essential ($199), Comprehensive ($329) or Elite ($449); the depth of measurement and the deliverables change with the tier, not the systems covered.

How a Sydney pre purchase inspection runs, start to finish

1. 1.You book online and give us the seller's suburb and contact details — we co-ordinate access directly, so you don't have to.
2. 2.Our inspector arrives with diagnostic gear, paint depth gauge, inspection ramps, creeper and lighting. Nothing needs to be at a workshop.
3. 3.The car is inspected cold where possible — cold-start behaviour is one of the highest-value 90 seconds of the whole job.
4. 4.Findings are photographed and graded live as we go; you get live updates on your phone.
5. 5.You get a verbal call with the verdict, then the full written report with photos.

1. Documentation and identification (12 points)

• VIN matches windscreen, build plate, engine bay sticker, and rego papers
• Compliance plate present and unaltered
• Build date vs first registration date — late-registered stock check
• Service book stamps cross-referenced against logbook intervals
• Owner's manual and spare key presence
• PPSR encumbrance and written-off status check (we run this live onsite)
• Recall check via vehicle-recalls.gov.au
• Roadworthy or eSafety inspection currency (if claimed)
• Insurance write-off check via WOVR (NSW)
• Odometer reading vs service history reading reconciliation

2. Exterior body and paint (28 points)

• Paint depth gauge readings on every panel (factory: 90-140µm)
• Panel gap symmetry front to back
• Door, bonnet, boot operation and alignment
• Glass: windscreen chips, rear demister continuity, sunroof seal
• Headlight clarity, fog and DRL operation
• Tail lights, brake lights, indicators, reverse light
• Mirrors: glass, motors, heating, folding
• Number plates secure and undamaged
• Wipers (front/rear) and washer jet spray pattern
• Underbody panels and splash shields present
• Tyres: brand match, age (DOT code), tread depth (mm) per corner, even wear pattern
• Wheels: kerbing, alloy corrosion, balance weights present

3. Interior and electronics (35 points)

• All seat adjustments (manual or electric, memory positions)
• Seat heaters, ventilation, massage where fitted
• Steering wheel adjustment, heating, controls
• Climate control (driver, passenger, rear zones)
• Infotainment boot, CarPlay/Android Auto pairing, Bluetooth, USB-C ports
• All speakers, reverse camera, 360 view if fitted
• Cruise control (adaptive, lane assist, blind spot)
• Power windows (one-touch up/down per door)
• Central locking, key fob range, alarm
• Sunroof / panoramic roof open/close/tilt
• Boot release (interior + key fob), tailgate motor if fitted
• 12V, USB and wireless charging functionality
• Dashboard warning lamps (none illuminated after start)
• Trim condition: tears, stains, smells (smoke, mould, pet)

4. Engine bay (30 points)

• Oil level, colour, condition (no milky emulsion under cap)
• Coolant level, colour, no rust or oil contamination
• Brake fluid level and clarity
• Power steering fluid (if hydraulic)
• Transmission fluid (where dipstick is provided)
• Belt condition, tension, no glazing or fraying
• Hose condition, no swelling or weeping
• Battery age (date code), terminal corrosion, voltage under load
• Air filter cleanliness
• Engine mounts: visible cracking, fluid weep
• Plastic intake and inlet manifold for cracks (BMW N-series flag)
• Turbo for oil staining and shaft play (where accessible)
• Cold-start behaviour: blue smoke, knocking, tappet noise

5. Undercarriage on hoist (35 points)

• Sump for leaks, gasket weeps, sealer evidence
• Gearbox and transfer case for leaks
• Diff seals, CV boot integrity left and right
• Drive shaft universal joints for play and grease evidence
• Tailshaft centre bearing and rubber
• Exhaust system: corrosion, hangers, joins, cat security
• Front lower control arms, ball joints, bushes
• Rear suspension arms, sway bar links, shock condition
• Steering rack boots and tie rod ends
• Brake lines, hoses, calipers, rotor surface condition
• Fuel tank, lines, filler neck for corrosion
• Chassis rails: structural rust, weld evidence, prior repair
• Subframe bushes, isolators
• Spare wheel well: rust, repaired collision damage

6. Brakes (10 points)

• Front pad thickness measured in mm
• Rear pad / shoe thickness measured in mm
• Front rotor surface, scoring, lip, run-out feel
• Rear rotor / drum condition
• Brake fluid moisture % (where strip-tested)
• Park brake hold on incline
• ABS module function (DTC pulled live)
• EBD warning lamp behaviour

7. Diagnostics scan (15 points)

• Full ECU DTC pull: engine, transmission, ABS, SRS, BCM, climate
• Adaptive values: throttle, idle, transmission shift adapt
• Misfire counters per cylinder
• Fuel trim long-term (LTFT) percentages
• DPF soot load and ash load (diesels)
• Battery state-of-health (12V system)
• Air-bag sensors, seat occupancy, pretensioner integrity
• Service interval and oil-life reset confirmation

8. Road test (25 points)

• Cold start behaviour
• Idle stability before and after warm-up
• Drive-away clutch feel (manual) / take-up smoothness (auto)
• All gears engaged forward and reverse
• Highway acceleration response and turbo behaviour
• Braking pull, pedal feel, ABS pulse on hard stop
• Steering centre, return self-centring, kick-back
• Suspension feel over speed bumps and expansion joints
• Cruise control engagement and disengagement
• Lane assist and adaptive features under live conditions

Common questions

How much does a pre purchase inspection cost in Sydney?

Essential is $199, Comprehensive is $329, and Elite (with on-site price negotiation) is $449. An EV or hybrid battery state-of-health test is a $199 add-on. All prices include GST, travel anywhere in Sydney metro, and the PPSR check.

How long does a pre purchase inspection take in Sydney?

60–90 minutes onsite for most cars, 90–120 minutes for European, high-mileage or EV vehicles. You get a verbal verdict straight after and the written report the same day.

Does the seller need to be present?

Someone with the keys and permission to have the car inspected needs to be there. We're regularly trusted with keys at workplaces and dealerships while the seller is at work. We send live updates to the buyer as we go.

Do you inspect anywhere in Sydney?

Yes — Sydney metro end to end, from the Northern Beaches to Campbelltown and out to Penrith, plus Wollongong, the Central Coast and Newcastle. There's no travel surcharge inside Sydney metro.

Can you compare the result against a similar car I saw?

Yes — every Aussie Auto Care report ends with a 'how this compares to the market' note from your inspector, based on the 30+ cars of the same type we've inspected in the last 90 days.