Inspection
PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection)
An independent mechanical and safety check on a used vehicle before you buy it.
A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is a 60–120 minute structured check by a qualified inspector covering 150+ checkpoints across body, mechanical, electrical, drivetrain, brakes, suspension and a road test. The output is a written photo report with severity-rated defects, repair-cost estimates and a buy/walk recommendation. In Sydney, a Standard car PPI costs $220, Premium (luxury/performance/$30k+) $349, EV $349 and a light truck $329.
See also
Related terms
AIS (Authorised Inspection Scheme)
The NSW scheme that authorises individual examiners to issue eSafety (pink slip) checks.
Pink slip (NSW eSafety check)
The annual safety inspection NSW requires for most vehicles 5+ years old before re-registration.
Checkpoint severity rating
The Pass / Monitor / Minor / Major / Safety scale used to score each item on a PPI report.
Negotiation brief
A summary document with suggested offer, walk-away price and talking points based on PPI findings.
Need a real inspection, not just a definition?
Aussie Auto Care does mobile pre-purchase inspections, EV battery health checks and onsite NSW pink slips across Greater Sydney — 7 days.