Hybrids and Plug-In Hybrids
Hybrid Pre-Purchase Inspection
Buying a used hybrid or plug-in hybrid? We inspect it where it’s parked across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Add the $60 EV or hybrid check, or choose Premium, and the inspector checks the hybrid battery and high-voltage system as well as the petrol engine.
- Hybrid battery health
- Petrol engine checks
- Same-day report
Hybrid Checks
What a Hybrid Pre-Purchase Inspection Checks
A hybrid pre-purchase inspection checks two drivetrains: the petrol engine and gearbox, and the electric side that helps them. InspectCar’s Standard inspection ($250) covers 150 points across the engine, brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, body and electrics, with a scan for fault codes and a 5 to 7 km road test where possible. With the $60 EV or hybrid check, or on Premium ($395), the inspector also looks at the hybrid battery’s health and the high-voltage parts, and at the charging system on a plug-in. Premium also brings live diagnostic data where supported, paint-depth mapping across the car and a market valuation. For a plug-in hybrid, Aviloo’s battery test can add a state-of-health certificate on supported models.
Every Standard and Premium inspection includes a PPSR certificate and a report with photos the same day, across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
01
Hybrid Battery
- Battery health, with the EV or hybrid check or Premium
- The battery cooling fan and its air intake
- Hybrid system warning lights on the dash
- Stored hybrid fault codes
02
High-Voltage System
- Orange high-voltage cables and covers, where visible
- Inverter coolant level and leaks
- The "Ready" start-up and any warnings
- Charge port and cable on a plug-in hybrid
03
Petrol Engine
- Cold start, and how the engine cuts in and out
- Oil and coolant leaks
- Oil condition and the service history
- Engine mounts and exhaust
04
Brakes and Tyres
- Brake discs, which can rust on hybrids that rarely use the friction brakes
- Brake fluid and pedal feel
- Tyre tread and wear patterns
- Wheel bearing and suspension noises
05
Body and Underbody
- Rust and corrosion underneath
- Signs of accident repairs
- Damage under the car near the battery and cables
- Paint-depth checks on the panels
06
Road Test
- Pulling away on electric power
- The switch between electric and petrol
- Gearbox behaviour, including CVT and e-CVT
- Braking feel and stability
- Noises and vibrations
Ex-Rideshare Hybrids
Buying an Ex-Rideshare Hybrid
Hybrids are popular with rideshare drivers and taxi fleets, and those cars run up kilometres quickly. If you buy one from a licensed dealer, check its statutory warranty: a car with 160,000 km or more, or built more than 10 years before the sale, gets a class B warranty of 1 month or 1,000 km, whichever comes first, instead of 3 months or 5,000 km.
Kilometres
Match the odometer against the service records and the wear on seats, belts and door handles.
Battery Warranty
Ask how much hybrid battery warranty is left, what it requires, and whether rideshare use affects it.
Servicing
Hard-working hybrids need regular servicing. Ask for the logbook or a dealer printout.
Do I need the hybrid check, or is Standard enough?
Standard covers the petrol side and the rest of the car. The battery and high-voltage checks come with the $60 EV or hybrid check or with Premium, so add one if the battery’s condition matters to you.
Can you check a hybrid battery?
Yes. The EV or hybrid check and Premium cover the hybrid battery’s health, its cooling and its warning lights. Aviloo’s certificate is for plug-in hybrids and EVs, on supported models.
Do you inspect plug-in hybrids?
Yes, including the charge port and cable. Aviloo’s battery test works on many plug-in hybrids: tell us the make, model and year when you call.
Is an ex-rideshare hybrid worth buying?
It can be, if the price reflects the kilometres and the servicing has been kept up. The inspection shows the condition, and a dealer sale at 160,000 km or more carries only a 1-month or 1,000 km statutory warranty.
How much is a hybrid inspection?
Standard with the EV or hybrid check is $310, and Premium is $395. Both include a PPSR certificate. See the packages.
Plug-In Hybrids
Plug-In Hybrids and Costs
A plug-in hybrid has a bigger battery that charges from the wall, so it gets the charging checks too. Hybrids also cost less to transfer in Queensland: registration duty on a hybrid is $2 per $100 of the car’s value (up to $100,000), where a four-cylinder petrol car pays $3.
Charging
Charge port, flap and cable on a plug-in hybrid
Aviloo Test
$250 on its own or $450 with Premium, on supported plug-in models
Registration Duty
$2 per $100 on a hybrid, up to $100,000
Electric Range
Ask what electric range it gets now, and compare it with the official figure
Book a Hybrid Inspection
Book Standard with the hybrid check for $310, or Premium for $395. The inspector comes to the car, and you get the report, with photos and a PPSR certificate, the same day. Online, or on 1800 372 001 (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm).