- Utes, 4x2 and 4x4
Ute Pre-Purchase Inspection
Buying a ute that has worked for a living? We inspect it where it’s parked across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, from the chassis and tray to the tow bar and drivetrain, and send you the report the same day.
What a Ute Pre-Purchase Inspection Checks
A ute pre-purchase inspection looks at the whole vehicle first, then at the parts that do the work. InspectCar’s Standard inspection ($250) checks 150 points across the engine, gearbox, brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, body and electrics, with an underside check for leaks and corrosion, a scan for fault codes and a 5 to 7 km road test where possible. Add the 4×4, ute or van check for $49 and the inspector looks closely at the drivetrain, including the transfer case on a 4×4, and at the condition of the underbody. Premium ($395) includes those checks and adds live diagnostic data, full paint-depth mapping, an extended road test and a market valuation.
Both packages include a PPSR certificate and a report with photos the same day. We inspect utes at the seller’s home, at a business, at a dealer or at an auction, across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
- Chassis & Tray
- Towing Wear
Chassis and Towing
Chassis, Tray and Tow Bar
A ute carries its load behind the cab, so that’s where we look hardest. Overloading, a heavy canopy or years of towing put the chassis under strain, and a crack or a repair weld there is a much bigger problem than a dent in the tray.
- The chassis behind the cab: cracks, bends and repair welds
- Leaf springs, shackles and shocks, and how the ute sits when empty
- The tow bar, its capacity marking and the trailer wiring
- How the tray or canopy is mounted, and rust where it sits
If the ute has a canopy, a service body or a slide-on camper, mention it in your booking or call 1800 372 001, so the inspector can plan for it.
Work History
A Ute That Worked for a Living
Plenty of used utes have spent their lives on building sites, in fleets or on farms. A well-maintained work ute can still have plenty left in it, but the wear shows up in different places from a ute that has only done the school run.
Signs of Hard Work We Look For
- Damage to the tray, tub or canopy, and rust under tub liners
- Holes and wiring left behind by beacons, radios and toolboxes
- Clutch, gearbox and rear spring wear from heavy loads
- Seats, steering wheel and pedals more worn than the kilometres suggest
- Chips, dents and scrapes underneath from rough roads
If the ute came from a fleet or a business, ask for its service records. The report shows what the work has done to it, with photos.
GVM Upgrades
Buying a Ute With a GVM Upgrade
A GVM upgrade raises how much the ute can legally weigh when it’s loaded. Under Queensland’s vehicle modification rules, mass re-rating is a complex modification: it has to be done to a Queensland-approved code and certified by an approved person, and the new GVM has to be reported to the Department of Transport and Main Roads within 14 days.
Before you buy an upgraded ute, check:
- The modification plate, and the certificate from the approved person
- Whether the new GVM was reported to Transport and Main Roads
- Whether your licence covers the new GVM
A car licence (class C) covers vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes GVM, so a ute upgraded past that needs a heavier class, such as light rigid (LR). We report on the condition of the springs, brakes and tyres carrying the extra weight. Confirming the certification is a job for an approved person.
Over 4.5 Tonnes?
A car licence won't cover it
Diesel Utes
What We Check on a Diesel Ute
Diesel utes have their own weak spots. On the inspection and the road test, we look at:
Starting and Smoke
How it starts, idles and smokes, from cold if the seller can leave it off
Turbo and Power
Boost, whistles and how it pulls on the road test
DPF and AdBlue
Warning lights and stored codes from the DPF and AdBlue systems
Leaks and Fluids
Oil, coolant and fuel leaks, and the condition of the oil
Lots of short trips can block a diesel particulate filter (DPF), and the first sign may only be a stored fault code. Premium adds live diagnostic data, where the ute supports it.
Prices
Ute Inspection Prices
What each option costs, at the ute’s location:
Standard inspection: $250 for 150 points
4x4, ute or van check: $49 on top of Standard
Standard with the ute check: $299 in all
Premium: $395, ute checks included
A PPSR certificate with both packages
A report with photos the same day
Areas
Where We Inspect Utes
Across South East Queensland, including:
- Brisbane
- Logan
- Ipswich
- Moreton Bay
- Redland
- Gold Coast
- Tweed Heads
- Sunshine Coast
Most areas can be booked online. On the Sunshine Coast, call 1800 372 001 to book.
FAQ
Ute Pre-Purchase Inspection Questions
Still deciding? Our FAQs cover booking, timing and the report.
Do I need the ute check on a 2WD ute?
It’s worth adding if the ute has carried heavy loads or towed, since it covers the drivetrain and the condition of the underbody. For a lightly used 2WD ute, Standard on its own may be enough.
Can you inspect a ute with a canopy or service body?
Yes. We check how it’s mounted and what we can see underneath it. Let us know when you book.
Do you check GVM upgrades?
We look for the modification plate and check the condition of the parts that carry the extra weight. Confirming the certification is a job for an approved person.
Will you road test the ute?
Yes, on public roads, if it’s registered and safe to drive: 5 to 7 km on Standard and longer on Premium. We test it as we find it.
How much is a ute inspection?
Standard is $250, and the ute check adds $49, making $299. Premium costs $395 and already covers the ute checks. A PPSR certificate comes with either. Compare the packages.
Book a Ute Inspection
Pick Standard with the ute check for $299, or Premium for $395. Either way, the inspector comes to the ute, and you get a PPSR certificate and a photo report the same day. Book online, or call 1800 372 001 (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm).