FAQS

FAQS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • WHAT INSPECTION SHOULD I CHOOSE?

    Classifying vehicles by country of origin ensures our most experienced inspector is assigned to the vehicle and is equipped with the right tools to do the job. 


    Acura – ASIAN

    Alfa Romeo – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    AMC – AMERICAN

    Aston Martin – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Audi – EUROPEAN

    Bentley – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    BMW – EUROPEAN

    Bugatti – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Buick – AMERICAN

    Cadillac – AMERICAN

    Chevrolet – AMERICAN

    Chrysler – AMERICAN

    Daewoo – ASIAN

    Daihatsu – ASIAN

    Dodge – AMERICAN

    Ferrari – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Fiat – AMERICAN

    Ford – AMERICAN

    GMC - AMERICAN

    Honda – ASIAN

    Hummer – AMERICAN

    Hyundai – ASIAN

    Infiniti – ASIAN

    Isuzu – ASIAN

    Jaguar - EUROPEAN

    Jeep – AMERICAN

    Kia – ASIAN

    Koenigsegg – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Lamborghini – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Land Rover – EUROPEAN

    Lexus – ASIAN

    Lincoln – AMERICAN

    Lotus - EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Maserati - EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Mazda – ASIAN

    McLaren - EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Mercedes-Benz-AMG - EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Mercedes-Benz - EUROPEAN

    Mercury – AMERICAN

    MG – EUROPEAN

    MINI – EUROPEAN

    Mitsubishi – ASIAN

    Nissan – ASIAN

    Oldsmobile – AMERICAN

    Peugeot – EUROPEAN

    Plymouth – AMERICAN

    Pontiac – AMERICAN

    Porsche – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Ram – AMERICAN

    Renault – EUROPEAN

    Rolls-Royce – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR

    Saab – EUROPEAN

    Saleen – AMERICAN

    Saturn – AMERICAN

    Scion – AMERICAN

    Smart – EUROPEAN

    Subaru – ASIAN

    Suzuki – ASIAN

    Tesla – AMERICAN

    Toyota – ASIAN

    Triumph – EUROPEAN

    Volkswagen – EUROPEAN

    Volvo – EUROPEAN


  • SHOULD I PUT A "HOLD" ON THE VEHICLE?

    If you do not you run the chance that the vehicle will be sold to someone who did put down a deposit before your inspection takes place. The most common practice is to put down a deposit or “hold” to prevent the dealer from selling the vehicle to someone else while your interests move forward. Deposits can be refundable or non-refundable, be sure to ask and get it in writing. Some deposits have time limits and others could be cooked into the purchase price as part of the deal.

  • DO YOU MAKE APPOINTMENTS?

    We do not make appointments. We do guarantee your inspection will be complete on the day it is scheduled.

  • WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS?

    We are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • WHAT DO YOU INSPECT?

    Our main interest in any vehicle is the condition of the engine, transmission and drivetrain. If any of these fail you may find yourself with a 2000 lb. paper weight! That being said, we inspect everything a particular vehicle is equipped with. See a complete list of what we inspect here. We also document everything. See a sample report here.

  • HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET MY REPORT?

    Because our inspections are performed by mechanics there is no need for interpretation by anyone else. So, your report with link to photos is submitted immediately after the inspection is completed from the dealership or seller's location.

  • CAN I CHANGE VEHICLES AFTER ORDERING?

    So long as we haven't dispatched a technician then the answer is yes. If we are already in route there may be additional fees added to the original inspection. Please be sure that the vehicle you want us to look at is the vehicle you intend to purchase. 

  • WHAT IF THE SELLER DOESN'T SHOW UP?

    We call the seller before going to the vehicle to verify that the vehicle is still available and we will be able to proceed with the inspection. If the seller of the vehicle makes an appointment with the inspector and then doesn't show, you will be notified. Although this rarely happens... it does happen. There are no refunds under these circumstances.

  • CAN I PLACE AN ORDER OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS HOURS?

    Yes. Our business hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Our website is open to take orders 24 hours a day. If you place your order after hours or on the weekend, we will assign your order to the next business day.

  • SHOULD I BE AT THE INSPECTION?

    The short answer is no. Once you have placed your order we will handle everything. Keep in mind we travel to several locations daily and it makes appointments unrealistic due to the nature of what we do.

  • DO YOU INSPECT HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES?

    Yes. On hybrid and electric vehicles, we monitor the vehicle for any issues regarding the charging system. If the vehicle is a hybrid, we check to make sure that the battery is taking a charge, and to make sure that the vehicle is switching between the hybrid and gas engine systems without any problems. With all electric vehicles, we check to make sure that the vehicle is operating without issue while road testing. Hybrid and electric car batteries do fail and are expensive to replace. The deterioration of an electric car battery is typically measured in years. Not unlike rechargeable batteries in your TV remote. Purchasing an older hybrid or electric vehicle does come with some potential risks.

  • HOW LONG DO ELECTRIC CAR BATTERIES LAST?

    The simplest way to judge the longevity of a battery pack is by way of the manufacturer's warranty. Given the cost of replacing a battery pack, no automaker wants to get stuck with this bill due to the fact they overestimated the pack's resiliency and longevity. The battery's limited warranty, thus, provides an insight into what the manufacturer views as the typical pack's minimum life expectancy.


    All EVs sold today include a battery warranty of at least eight years and 100,000 miles. Tesla, for instance, offers an eight-year battery warranty and coverage of between 100,000–150,000 miles depending on the specific model.

  • DO YOU TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE?

    Yes. So long as it is street legal, safe to drive, and the seller allows us to drive it.  

    Some vehicles we do not test drive due to liability issues that often come with RV or commercial vehicles. We do not test drive anything that requires a commercial drivers license. In these cases we will ride along on a test drive if the seller is willing.


  • DO YOU INSPECT FRAME DAMAGE?

    We do a visual inspection to see if we see anything wrong with the frame. Just because we do not see any damage does not mean that the frame is not bent. The only way to be sure is to have the vehicle put on a frame machine and measured. This is expensive and will need to be brought to a frame specialist.

  • WILL SOMEONE CALL ME AFTER THE INSPECTION?

    Generally speaking we will not call you after the inspection. You will receive your report via email. If you have questions after reading your report feel free to call us during business hours.

  • DO YOU PROVIDE CARFAX REPORTS?

    We do not but the dealer should. If the seller is an individual/private seller you might ask if they are willing to provide a report. If not, you can purchase a report directly from a reputable reporting agencies website using the vehicle identification number. Note: Through the FTC and other agencies, the person purchasing a new or used vehicle has the right to know certain information. This means that the dealership must disclose details that could affect the individual and his or her decision to buy the automobile. These items may include current or void warranty, salvage titles, if serious repairs are needed and similar concerns.

  • WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CODE SCAN AND FULL VEHICLE SCAN ADD-ON?

    In the world of automobile diagnostics there are two types of tools. There are code readers and scan tools. A code reader can read, display, and clear your check engine light. A code scan is included in the base package of all inspections. A scan tool used in a “full vehicle scan add-on” will not only read codes it provides an in depth scan of manufacturer-specific codes and detects inefficiencies and irregularities with the electronics, which include the lighting systems, audio systems, air conditioning systems, fuel delivery and air induction, ABS, airbags, transmission and ignition system by accessing all of the modules in the vehicle and retrieving all of the stored faults and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), including pending and historic codes. In our line of work it allows us to see live data and graphs to help us monitor the health of the inspected vehicle in real time. The scan tool also has the software functionality to create and email a diagnostic pre-scan report from the tool to you. Code readers cannot do this nor can they be used on all cars due to their lack of computing capacity. We highly recommend the FULL VEHICLE SCAN add-on service to your inspection.

HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION?

HELPFUL INFORMATION WHEN NAVIGATING THE USED CAR MARKET

At ProMobile Inspections, we've got the know-how when it comes to mobile used vehicle pre-purchase inspections. With years of experience in the industry, we've seen it all - the good, the bad, and the downright questionable. But don't worry, we've become experts at navigating those obstacles and ensuring you get a thorough and reliable inspection report. Whether you're an out-of-state buyer or a local, our mobile service will put you on the fast track to  making a confident purchase decision.

NEW OR USED VEHICLE

Thinking about buying a used car but not sure if it's worth it? Well, many folks swear by the idea that a two or three-year-old vehicle is the way to go. And you know what? They might just be onto something. See, new cars lose a ton of their value in those first couple of years, so buying slightly used can save you some serious cash. Plus, at three years old, most cars haven't hit that age where they start causing you expensive repair headaches. That's where ProMobile Inspections comes in. We offer mobile pre-purchase inspections for used vehicles, perfect for both out-of-state buyers, online buyers in general and locals as well. So why take the risk? Get answers from experts before you make that big purchase.

BUYER BEWARE

When it comes to buying a used car online, it's like stepping into a virtual jungle. With so many options available, it's easy to fall into the trap of purchasing a lemon from an unscrupulous seller. This is especially true for those who are buying from out of town, as they can't physically inspect the vehicle themselves. Not to worry, because ProMobile Inspections is here to save the day! Our mobile used vehicle pre-purchase inspections are an ideal solution under these circumstances. We'll thoroughly inspect the car and provide you with a detailed report of any issues we find. So, you can relax and make an informed decision before handing over your hard-earned money.

CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED

When you come across a "certified" pre-owned vehicle, it's important to ask yourself who is actually certifying it. And more often than not, it's the same people who are selling the vehicle. Sounds suspicious, doesn't it? That's where ProMobile Inspections comes in. Our experienced mechanics have visited countless dealerships to inspect used cars that were certified by the seller, only to find hidden issues such as oil leaks, bad tires, motor mounts, worn out front ends, electronics not functioning correctly.. the list goes on. With our mobile pre-purchase inspections, we provide peace of mind for both out-of-state buyers, online buyers in general and locals as well. Trust the experts at ProMobile Inspections.

AS-IS NO WARRANTY

When you're buying a vehicle without a warranty, you're taking on all the risks if something goes wrong. That's why it's crucial to get a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you're purchasing a car from another city or online. We offer mobile pre-purchase inspections that are perfect for out-of-state buyers, online buyers in general and locals as well. Our team of experts will thoroughly check the vehicle, ensuring that you're making a smart investment. Don't let uncertainty drive your decisions - let ProMobile Inspections give you the confidence you need.

PUT A "HOLD" ON THE VEHICLE

If you're planning on getting a used vehicle, it is imperative that you take steps to ensure that the car won't be sold before we get a chance to inspect it. Now, here's the deal: it's common practice to put down a deposit or "hold" to stop the dealer from selling the car to someone else while you're sorting things out. If your just showing interest and someone else is showing cash. Cash wins every time. Fair or not, any previous agreements between you and the seller/salesperson are often unhonored. Deposits can be refundable or non-refundable, so make sure you're clear on that. 

RENTAL CAR COMPANIES

Rental cars usually have more miles on the odometer than similar used cars of the same year. This is always a concern. The good part is, rentals are usually maintained well, which can offset the fact that the mileage is higher than comparable vehicles. Did you know most car rental companies insure themselves because they're so big? So, oftentimes damage is not reported and you will not see it in any vehicle history report. Just make sure you dig up as much history on the vehicle as you can like if it is from a place that is prone to road conditioning with salt that will eventually lead to rust.

DEALERSHIPS

When it comes to buying used vehicles from dealerships, you'll have a wide selection of trade-ins from all over the state or even the country. At ProMobile Inspections, we understand the importance of a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially if your buying sight unseen or online. Remember, just because it's certified doesn't mean it is without issues. Generally speaking the big dealerships is where you find some really good vehicles. They are the most reputable we think. If they are made aware of a problem vehicle they will get it moved off the lot pretty quick or repair it for you. Our mobile service ensures that you can get a comprehensive report on the vehicle's condition before making a decision. With our expertise, you can be confident in your choice, no matter where you're buying from.  We travel to the dealership and residences to perform inspections. Schedule online today!

PRIVATE SELLERS

When it comes to buying a car, it's tough to tell if you're dealing with a genuine private seller or a sneaky entry-level dealer posing as one. Sure, they might have a decent vehicle up for grabs, but it's just plain dishonest to pretend it's their personal ride. Not exactly the best way to kick off a transaction, right? That being said, this scenario is fine as long as they are honest about it upfront. When you actually do find a person selling their personal vehicle you can get some really good deals. Private sellers love to talk about their cars and how well they take care of them. Some don't really want to sell at all! That's why ProMobile Inspections is here to help by offering convenient mobile used vehicle pre-purchase inspections, perfect for both out-of-state buyers, online buyers and locals looking for vehicles on Facebook marketplace and other social media and used car selling platforms.

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