Last reviewed: 18 October 2026
For most used cars you’re about to buy, a mobile car inspection is the more practical choice, and a workshop inspection gives the clearer view underneath. We run a mobile service, so weigh our view with that in mind. A mobile inspector comes to the car wherever it’s for sale, so the seller doesn’t have to drive it anywhere. A workshop can put the car on a hoist, but someone has to take it there, and not every seller will. If the seller is happy to take the car to a workshop you know, that’s a good option. If not, a mobile car inspection is how the car gets checked at all.
Mobile vs Workshop Inspection at a Glance
The two differ mainly in where the car is checked and who has to move it:
| What differs | Mobile inspection | Workshop inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Where it happens | Wherever the car is: a home, a dealer’s yard or an auction | At the workshop |
| Who moves the car | Nobody | The seller, or whoever agrees to take it |
| The underside | Checked where it can be reached | On a hoist, if the workshop has one |
| Cold start | Can be seen, if nobody has run the car | The car usually arrives warm |
| Road test | Where the car can be driven | Usually from the workshop |
| Report | Same day, with photos (InspectCar) | Depends on the workshop |
| Price | $250 Standard, $395 Premium (InspectCar) | Depends on the workshop |
The Key Difference Between Mobile and Workshop Car Inspection
It’s who has to move the car. For a workshop inspection the seller has to agree to take the car there, at a time that suits the workshop, and some sellers won’t. A mobile car inspection checks the car where it already is, so the only thing you need from the seller is access. For a private sale, that can decide whether the car gets inspected at all.
There’s a smaller difference too. A car brought to a workshop has usually just been driven there, so it arrives warm. At the seller’s place, the inspector can see how it starts from cold, as long as nobody has run it first.
What a Hoist Shows That a Mobile Inspector Can’t
A hoist lifts the whole car to standing height, so the floor, the chassis rails, the exhaust, the suspension and the inside edges of the tyres are all in plain view. That matters most on an older 4WD that has been off road, on a car where rust is the worry, or on anything that may have sat in floodwater. A mobile inspector checks the underside for leaks, corrosion and damage where it can be reached, but can’t see every part a hoist exposes. We’d rather you knew that before you book.
When a Mobile Car Inspection Makes More Sense
Choose mobile when moving the car is the problem, which covers most of the ways used cars are sold:
- Private sales. The seller may not want to give up a morning to drive the car to your mechanic, so the private sale inspection happens at their place instead.
- Dealer yards. The car stays on the yard. Queensland’s used vehicle rules let you have it independently inspected during the 1 business day cooling-off period without losing it, so a mobile car inspection fits inside that window.
- Auctions. You usually can’t test drive before bidding, but you can inspect the car during the viewing, and a mobile inspector can meet it at the auction house.
- Buying from a distance. If you live too far away to arrange it yourself, a mobile car inspection sends you the report and photos the same day, before you travel.
- Unregistered cars. They can’t legally be driven to a workshop without the right paperwork, so the inspection comes to them.
When a Workshop Inspection Makes More Sense
Choose a workshop when the seller is happy to take the car in and the underside matters most, for example on an older 4WD that has been off road, or a car where rust is the main worry. A hoist gives a clearer view of the floor, chassis and suspension than an inspector working from the ground. A workshop is also the place to diagnose a fault on a car you already own, which isn’t what a pre-purchase inspection is for.
What a Mobile Car Inspection Needs From the Seller
Access, and a safe place to work. Before the inspector arrives, it helps if:
- the car is somewhere flat and safe, off the road if possible
- the keys, and any service books, are with the car
- nobody has started the engine, so it can be checked from cold
- the car is registered, if you want a road test.
On a dealer’s yard or at an auction this is usually sorted already. With a private seller, ask us to contact them to set a time, and we will.
Mobile or Workshop for Your Type of Vehicle
The type of vehicle shifts the balance, mostly by how much depends on the underside:
- Hatches, sedans and small SUVs. Mobile suits most of them: the checks that matter happen at the car, and access underneath is usually easy.
- 4WDs and utes that have towed or been off road. The underside matters most, so a workshop hoist gives the clearest view. A mobile Premium inspection checks the drivetrain, the transfer case and the underbody where they can be reached. See 4WD and SUV inspections.
- EVs and hybrids. The battery and high-voltage checks don’t need a hoist. Premium covers battery health, the charging system and the high-voltage parts at the car, and an Aviloo battery test adds a state-of-health certificate. More on EV inspections.
- European and luxury cars. Most of the extra work is electronic, and Premium reads live diagnostic data at the car where it supports it.
What a Mobile Car Inspection Checks
The same ground a pre-purchase inspection covers anywhere. InspectCar’s Standard inspection works through 150 points:
- the engine, gearbox and drivetrain, including leaks, noises and fluid condition
- brakes, steering, suspension and tyres
- bodywork and paint, with paint-depth readings to find repaired panels
- the underside for leaks and corrosion, where it can be reached
- the electrics, with a battery load check and a scan for current and stored fault codes
- a 5 to 7 km road test where the car can be driven.
Premium covers 250+ points and adds checks for 4WDs, utes, EVs, hybrids and luxury cars, full paint-depth mapping and a market valuation.
Questions to Ask Before You Book Either
Whether you go mobile or to a workshop, these answers tell you what you’re paying for:
- Does it include a road test, and how far?
- Do I get a written report with photos, and when?
- Is a PPSR certificate included, or do I need to get one myself?
- Who is the inspector working for: me, or someone with an interest in the sale?
- Can I talk the findings through with the inspector afterwards?
Are Mobile Car Inspections Worth It in Brisbane?
For a private sale, usually yes. Brisbane’s used cars sell from dealer yards, auctions and private driveways across a big city, and a mobile inspector can meet the car at any of them. In a private sale in Queensland there’s no statutory warranty, so faults found after you pay are yours to fix. Here’s our full answer on whether an inspection is worth it.
What About the Sunshine Coast?
Towns there are spread out, and a seller in Noosa may not want to drive the car to a workshop in Maroochydore. A mobile car inspection saves that trip. Sunshine Coast inspections with InspectCar are booked by phone. See how we cover the Sunshine Coast.
How Much Is a Mobile Car Inspection?
With InspectCar, $250 for Standard (150 points) or $395 for Premium (250+), and both include a PPSR certificate and a same-day report with photos. Workshop prices depend on who you use, so compare what’s included rather than the headline price. With a workshop, also count the seller’s time and any cost of getting the car there. See what each package includes.
Our Verdict
If the seller won’t move the car, a mobile car inspection is the way to get it checked. If they will, and you have a workshop you know, either option works, and the workshop gives you the better look underneath. Whichever you choose, get it done before you pay. Here’s the same decision as a chart:
Wondering about timing? Here’s how long an inspection takes.
Questions About Mobile and Workshop Inspections
Is a mobile car inspection as thorough as a workshop inspection?
For most of the car, the checklist is the same: engine, gearbox, brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, body, electrics and a road test. The difference is the underside. A hoist shows it more clearly, while a mobile inspector checks what can be reached.
Do I need to be there for a mobile inspection?
No. The inspector deals with the seller, and you get the report with photos the same day.
How long does a mobile car inspection take?
Most take 60 to 120 minutes at the car, depending on the package and the vehicle, and the report arrives the same day.
Can a mobile inspection be done at an auction?
Yes, during the auction house’s viewing times. You usually can’t test drive a car before bidding, so the inspection covers everything except the road test.
Does a mobile car inspection include a PPSR check?
With InspectCar, yes. Both packages include a PPSR certificate, which shows money owing, write-offs and stolen records.
Which is better for a private sale?
Usually mobile, because the seller doesn’t have to take the car anywhere. If they’re happy to, a workshop you know is a good option too.