Comprehensive Inspection.
A 75–105 minute mobile deep-dive. Mechanical and electrical checks, PPSR finance and write-off history, odometer rollback checks where supported through the scanner, and written findings with repair estimates where recorded. Estimated prices can vary between workshops.
with code SAVE10
A deeper inspection than Essential.
Undertray-off leak inspection
Where fitted, safely accessible and permitted, we put the car on portable ramps and remove the engine undertray or belly pan to trace oil, coolant, transmission, power-steering and differential leaks at their source.
Every suspension bush checked
Control arms, sway-bar links and bushes, trailing arms, subframe and differential mounts are checked for cracking, perishing and play, with underbody photos included in the report.
Full interior and exterior assessment
Every panel, glass, seal and trim piece outside; every seat, switch, screen and smell inside — photographed and rated, not skimmed.
Brakes & tyres measured in km left
Pad thickness and tread depth measured on every corner, then converted into a remaining-life estimate in kilometres so you know exactly when you'll be paying.
Odometer rollback check
Where supported through the scanner. Some vehicles do not support this check; we record that limitation rather than a passed result.
PPSR vehicle history
Finance owing, written-off status, stolen check, prior registrations — the report dealers don't want you to see.
Service history audit
Every logbook stamp checked against the odometer. Missing intervals and overdue major services are flagged in writing.
Live inspection tracking
Every status update, photo capture and finding streams to your phone in real time — share the link with your mechanic.
Every line, in writing.
A real finding, as it appears in the report.
When the inspector records a repair estimate, the finding shows one estimated amount or range alongside its severity and notes. The example here is taken directly from our Comprehensive sample report: a rear-right brake-pad finding with an estimated repair range of $200–$400.
Not every finding has a repair estimate. A total may also appear when a positive overall estimate has been recorded. These figures are a general guide only: actual prices can vary with the workshop, vehicle, parts and work required. Obtain a workshop quote before committing to repairs.
The default choice for private sales.
Private sales over $20k
Where there's no dealer warranty and the seller may be optimistic about the car's true condition.
Cars 5–15 years old
The sweet spot where wear-and-tear has set in but the maths still works — if you negotiate properly.
Anything off Facebook / Gumtree
Sellers there move fast and answer questions in their favour. A written third-party report changes the conversation.
The Best Report Guarantee
Industry-leading inspection report.
If you find a more detailed, more comprehensive pre-purchase vehicle inspection report from a legitimate independent inspection company, we'll complete your inspection free of charge. That's how confident we are in the quality of our inspections.
10% off your Comprehensive inspection
Enter code SAVE10 at checkout · Comprehensive tier only.
"Negotiated $3,200 off using the costed report."
"Seller swore the car had never been in an accident. The report flagged a repainted rear quarter panel and missing service history between 80–120k, each with an estimated repair cost. Walked into the negotiation with the printed report and got $3,200 off the asking price."
Andrew K.
2018 Subaru Forester · Castle Hill
From booking to written report.
01
Book online
Pick a Sydney suburb and time slot. PPSR is pre-ordered the moment you confirm — the government report is back before the inspector even arrives.
02
Senior inspector dispatched
A senior mobile inspector calls the seller to confirm cold-start access, service book availability and the inspection address.
03
Onsite (75–105 min)
Full mechanical, electrical, brake/tyre measurement, fluid analysis, OBD-II live data, 10–15km road test and 100+ HD photos.
04
PDF report issued on site
Your PDF and online report include written findings, photos, PPSR results and recorded scanner-supported rollback checks. Repair estimates appear where entered and unsupported checks are noted. Issued when the inspection wraps, before the inspector leaves, with a phone walkthrough.
Where the extra 30 minutes actually go.
Engine deep-dive
Compression-style cold-start observation, idle stability under load (A/C on, transmission in Drive), valve cover and rear main seal weep check, timing cover oil staining (chain stretch indicator on Audi/VW 2.0 TSI, Mazda SkyActiv-G), turbocharger shaft play where accessible, intercooler oil residue, intake manifold carbon symptoms.
Transmission & drivetrain
Auto/CVT/DCT fluid colour and smell where dipstick fitted, gearshift quality through every gear at every speed, torque-converter lock-up behaviour, AWD coupling engagement, differential and transfer-case oil leaks, CV boot integrity, driveshaft balance vibrations under load.
Suspension, steering & brakes
Every suspension bush and mount is checked for cracking, perishing and play — control arms, sway-bar links and bushes, trailing arms, subframe and differential mounts. We also measure pad and tread life, check shock absorbers and steering play, and photograph the underbody.
Undertray-off leak-source check
Where the engine undertray or belly pan is fitted, safely accessible and the owner or seller permits removal, we raise the car on portable ramps and remove it to trace oil, coolant, transmission, power-steering and differential fluid leaks at their source. Any access limitation is recorded in the report.
Electrical, diagnostics, electronics & HVAC
Full OBD-II scan report (stored, pending and live codes) printed into your report, digitally verified battery load test (CCA vs rated), starter motor draw test, alternator output under load, every fuse and bulb, infotainment full feature run (CarPlay, Android Auto, reverse camera, parking sensors, lane-keep), climate control on max-cold and max-hot at vent temperature, heated/ventilated seats, sunroof and convertible mechanisms, all window auto-up/down.
PPSR & paper trail
Full government PPSR (finance owing, written-off status, stolen check, registration history), VIN-stamp cross-check on chassis vs build plate vs rego papers vs PPSR record, service book authenticity check, logbook stamp consistency, recall status against ACCC's official register.
Body, paint & accident-repair indicators
Panel-gap measurement across all eight major panels, paint-sheen mismatch under varying light, overspray on rubber door seals and inner guards, replaced-bolt witness marks on bonnet/boot/door hinges, chassis-rail alignment markers, rust hot-spots on rear arches and sill seams, undercarriage damage.
Real-world findings from Sydney private sales.
Timing chain stretch
Audi/VW 2.0 TSI (EA888 gen 1–2), early Mazda SkyActiv-G, BMW N20/N47. Detected via cold-start rattle (1–3 sec) and timing-correlation OBD codes. $2,500–$4,500 repair.
CVT shudder & whine
Nissan X-Trail/Pathfinder, Subaru Forester, Honda Jazz CVT. Detected on a sustained 60–80km/h cruise plus a stop-and-go segment. $4,000–$8,000 to replace.
DPF / EGR carbon
Diesel utes and SUVs (Hilux 1GD, Ranger P5AT, Mazda CX-5 SKYACTIV-D) used only for short city trips. Active regen status pulled from OBD. $1,200–$3,500 to clean or replace.
Hidden accident repair
Repainted quarter panels and tailgates on private-sale BMWs, Mercs and Mazdas. Panel-gap inconsistency + paint-sheen mismatch + overspray on rubber seals — flagged in writing even before a paint-depth gauge.
Disconnected ABS modules
Witnessed by an ABS light removed via dash-cluster swap. Live OBD scan exposes the missing module. Walk-away finding — usually means the car has been written off and rebuilt.
Odometer wind-back
We cross-reference dashboard reading against service history, OBD-stored mileage on supported makes (BMW, VW, Toyota), and against the most recent eSafety record. See our full odometer fraud guide for what to look for yourself.
Mobile across 208 suburbs.
Our senior inspectors cover Greater Sydney — Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore, Northern Beaches, the Hills District, Parramatta, Liverpool, Bankstown, Penrith, Campbelltown and the Sutherland Shire. Comprehensive bookings get priority routing — same-day slots most weekdays, Saturday slots typically book 3–5 days ahead. For interstate buyers we coordinate with the seller and post the live web report so you can review remotely before paying a deposit.
Common questions.
Comprehensive gives you the full report, PPSR, scanner-supported odometer rollback checks and repair-cost estimates — you take that to the seller and negotiate yourself. Elite adds odometer rollback checks where supported through the scanner, a senior inspector, paint-depth gauge on every panel, cold-start test, AI Negotiation Brief, and we negotiate the price face-to-face with the seller on the spot. If the car is over $40k, exotic, or you don't want to negotiate yourself, Elite pays for itself.
Yes — the full government PPSR report (finance owing, written-off status, stolen check, registration history) is included at no extra charge on Comprehensive and Elite.
Yes. We photograph the logbook, record every stamped service against the odometer reading, and flag missing intervals, overdue timing-belt or transmission-fluid work, and any gap that suggests the car sat unserviced. It all lands in the written report with the photos attached.
You receive a PDF report and an online report with findings, photos and recorded checks. The length depends on the vehicle and the inspection findings. Your report is issued on site when the inspection wraps, before the inspector leaves.
Yes — 7 days of post-purchase phone support is included so you can call back with anything the new owner needs clarified.
75–105 minutes for most sedans, hatches and SUVs. Larger 4WDs, dual-cab utes and European V6/V8 vehicles can stretch to 2 hours. A 10–15km road test is included, not the 3–5km used on Essential.
Yes. We look for panel-gap inconsistency, paint-sheen mismatch, overspray on rubber seals and inner guards, evidence of replaced bolts (paint scuffing on bolt heads), and chassis-rail alignment markers. Suspected respray panels are flagged in the report; a paint-depth gauge measurement on every panel is an Elite-tier upgrade.
Yes. The PPSR section of the report tells you exactly who the finance is owed to and how much. We strongly recommend NOT paying cash to a private seller for any vehicle that shows active finance — pay the lender directly to discharge the encumbrance first.
Seller negotiation is an Elite service. Comprehensive gives you written findings and estimated repair costs where the inspector has recorded them, so you can discuss the vehicle's condition with the seller yourself. Estimates are a general guide, not a workshop quote or a guaranteed price reduction.
No. Some vehicles do not expose stored mileage through the scanner. We check where supported and record an unsupported check as a limitation, not a pass. Scanner results cannot guarantee that an odometer has never been altered.
Comprehensive is Sydney-only. For interstate purchases we recommend a local inspector in that city — we are happy to brief them on what to look for.
Yes — the inspector will call you mid-inspection if anything material is found, and again at the end for a verbal walkthrough before the written report lands.
Negotiate smarter.
How to negotiate with the inspection report
Word-for-word scripts our customers have used to recover $2k–$8k on Sydney private sales.
Read article →
Odometer fraud: how to detect a clocked car
Five physical and three digital signs that the dashboard reading is a lie.
Read article →
PPSR check explained for NSW buyers
Why finance owing on a private sale is your problem, not the seller's.
Read article →
Founder
Aussie Auto Care
Every day, I speak with people buying a car they'll rely on for years to come. Some are parents searching for their teenager's first car, some are buying a safe family vehicle, and others have spent years saving for the right one.
I know how important this decision is, and I never take your trust for granted.
I've seen the disappointment of discovering hidden problems after buying a car. That's why we don't just inspect vehicles—we help protect people from making an expensive mistake. Every inspection is carried out as if we were helping our own family.
If I wouldn't recommend a car to someone I love, I won't recommend it to you.
And if the first car isn't the right one, we'll give you 15% off your second inspection because I don't want the cost of another inspection to stop you from finding the right car.
Your trust means everything to my team and me. We'll be honoured to help you make this important purchase with confidence.
Founder
Aussie Auto Care
Most-booked tier
Book Comprehensive from $329.
75–105 minutes onsite, full report and PPSR issued instantly on-site.