Buying a used car in Northern Virginia? What a pre-purchase inspection catches

A used car can look clean, drive fine around the block and carry a fresh Virginia safety sticker, and still need thousands of dollars of work in the next year. The safety inspection checks whether a car is safe to be on the road today. It does not tell you what is wearing out, leaking or about to fail.

What an inspection looks at

• Engine and transmission: leaks, noises, how it shifts, stored and pending codes.
• Brakes and tires: how much life is left and what replacement will cost.
• Suspension and steering: worn parts that show up as clunks or uneven tire wear.
• Underneath: rust, damage and signs of accident repair.
• A road test at real speeds, not just around the lot.

What you walk away with

A written report of what is wrong now and what is coming, with rough costs. You can use it to negotiate the price, ask the seller to fix items first, or walk away from a car that would have cost you.

Setting it up with a private seller

Book a time with the shop, then ask the seller to meet you there or drop the car off. A seller who refuses an independent inspection is telling you something. Dealer cars should get the same look, even with a dealer checklist.

John's Auto Care does pre-purchase inspections at 8401 Terminal Rd, Unit G in Lorton, a few minutes off I-95. Call ahead and we will fit it in before you sign.

Pre-purchase inspections at John's Auto Care.