- European and Prestige Cars
European Car Pre-Purchase Inspection
Looking at a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen or Porsche? We inspect it where it’s parked across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, scan it for fault codes, look for hidden repairs and send you the report the same day.
What a European Car Inspection Checks
A European car pre-purchase inspection covers the same ground as any used car inspection, with extra attention on the parts that cost the most to fix. InspectCar’s Standard inspection ($250) checks 150 points, including paint-depth spot checks, a battery load check, an underside check for leaks and a scan for current and stored fault codes, with a 5 to 7 km road test where the car can be driven. Premium ($395) adds the luxury vehicle checks: advanced electronics, suspension systems such as air suspension, and interior features. It also adds full paint-depth mapping, live diagnostic data where the car supports it, an extended road test with a short highway run where possible, and a market valuation.
Both packages include a PPSR certificate and a report with photos the same day. We inspect at dealerships, private sellers’ homes and auctions across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
- Fault-Code Scan
- Paint-Depth Checks
Write-Off Check
On the PPSR certificate, both packages
Accident Repairs
Repaired, Not Written Off
In Queensland, a car is written off only when the cost of repairs plus what the wreck is worth would be more than the car was worth before the damage. Damage that writes off a $15,000 hatchback can simply be repaired on a $90,000 car, so an expensive car can carry serious crash repairs and never appear on the written-off vehicle register. The PPSR certificate in both packages shows a write-off if there is one. For repairs that were never recorded, we look at the car itself:
- Paint thickness that changes from panel to panel, measured across the car on Premium
- Uneven panel gaps, and overspray on rubbers and trims
- Panels, lights or glass that look newer than the rest of the car
- Tool marks on the bolts that hold the bonnet, guards and doors
- Stored faults in the airbag and safety systems
A write-off status is permanent and follows the car interstate. But a car more than 16 years old when it’s damaged can’t be written off in Queensland at all, so on an older car the inspection is the main check.
The Checks
Where European Cars Need a Closer Look
Standard covers each of these at a basic level. Premium goes further on the electronics and suspension and adds live diagnostic data.
A scan for current and stored fault codes, which can show faults a warning light no longer does
Oil and coolant leaks from ageing seals, hoses and plastic cooling parts
How the gearbox shifts on the road test, including dual-clutch gearboxes
Brake wear and tyres, including run-flats on cars that came with them
Air suspension: whether the car sits level and holds its height
Electronics, from windows and lights to cameras and driver aids
Makes
European Makes We Inspect
Including:
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Audi
- Volkswagen
- Porsche
- Volvo
- Land Rover
- Mini
We also inspect Skoda, Peugeot, Renault, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Fiat and every other European make, whether it runs on petrol, diesel or electricity. Electric and hybrid models get battery and high-voltage checks on Premium, or as a $60 add-on.
Service History
Checking a European Car’s Service History
Many European cars tell the owner when the next service is due, based on time and how the car has been driven, and many newer ones keep their service records with the maker’s dealers instead of in a stamped book. A gap in the history isn’t always a problem, but on a car with expensive parts it’s worth knowing about before you pay.
Ask the Seller For
- The service book, or a service history printout from a dealer for that make
- Invoices for big jobs, such as gearbox, timing, suspension or brake work
- Any recall work the car has had
- Both keys, and the locking wheel nut key if the car has one
- What's left of any new-car or extended warranty, and whether it transfers
The inspector checks what the car shows against what the history says. If the dashboard says a service is overdue, the report will say so too.
Packages
Standard or Premium for a European Car?
Standard ($250) suits an everyday European car, such as a Volkswagen Golf or a Skoda Octavia, when you want the mechanical basics and a scan for fault codes. Premium ($395) is the better fit when:
- The car has air suspension or adaptive dampers
- It's full of electronics: driver aids, large screens, electric seats or a folding roof
- It's worth enough that a hidden repair would cost thousands
- You want full paint-depth mapping to look for crash repairs
- You want a market valuation and negotiation tips for your offer
On Standard, you can add full paint-depth mapping or a video walkthrough for $50. See both packages side by side.
FAQ
European Car Pre-Purchase Inspection Questions
More on our FAQs page, or read whether an inspection is worth it.
Do you inspect cars at prestige dealerships?
Yes. We inspect at dealerships, including prestige dealers, as well as at private sellers’ homes and auctions. If you can, ask for the car not to be started before the inspector arrives, so it can be checked from cold.
Can you read the fault codes on a BMW or Mercedes-Benz?
Yes. Every inspection includes a scan for current and stored fault codes. Premium adds live diagnostic data, where the car supports it.
Will you find out if the car has been in an accident?
The PPSR certificate shows whether it was written off. For repairs that were never recorded, the inspector checks panel gaps and other signs of repair, with paint-depth spot checks on Standard and full mapping on Premium.
Do you inspect Porsche, Land Rover and Volvo?
Yes, and every other European make. Tell us the make, model and year when you book.
How much does a European car inspection cost?
$250 for Standard or $395 for Premium, which includes the luxury vehicle checks. Both come with a PPSR certificate. See the packages.
Book a European Car Inspection
Choose Standard ($250) or Premium ($395). The inspector comes to the car, and you get a PPSR certificate and a report with photos the same day. Book online, or call 1800 372 001, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm.