BUY WITH EVIDENCE

Pre-Purchase Car Inspections Across the Dayton Metro

Independent, buyer-first inspections at the vehicle's location across Greene, Miami & Montgomery

THE MOBILE PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION

One clear price. A decision-ready report.

Every point we check, published in full

Most inspection ads quote a number and stop there. Here is the actual list — the same 121 items that appear on the report we hand you, in the same order. Count them.

121rated checkpoints

29measurements recorded

18photos minimum, up to 40

1straight answer: buy or walk

Exterior, body & frame 16

Panel gaps, rust, glass and structure — plus a coating-gauge reading on every painted panel.

Paint Condition & Color Match fade, blend lines, overspray
Body Panels & Panel Gaps alignment, ripples, filler
Frame / Unibody / Structural Rails
Prior Collision or Repair Evidence welds, seam sealer
Paint Thickness Consistent With Baseline gauge — see grid
Rust & Corrosion rockers, arches, floors, subframe
Doors, Hood & Trunk / Hatch Operation
Latches, Hinges, Struts & Prop Rod
Moldings, Trim, Emblems & Bumper Covers
Windshield & Glass chips, cracks, delamination
Mirrors & Housings
Exterior Lighting & Lenses verify all functions
Wipers, Blades & Washer Operation
Fuel Door, Cap & Filler Neck
Undercarriage — Impact / Scrape Damage
Visible Fluid Leaks Underneath

Tires, wheels & brakes 8

Tread, sidewalls, hardware and the brake lines and ABS components we can see without a lift.

Tread Depth Even Across Set cupping / feathering
Tires Matched — Brand, Size & Age
Sidewalls bulges, plugs, dry rot, curb damage
Wheels, Covers & Center Caps
Lug Nuts, Studs & Wheel Locks key present?
Brake Lines, Hoses & Fittings rust, chafing, weeping
Parking / Emergency Brake Mechanism
ABS Components & Wheel Speed Sensors

Under hood — engine bay 24

Fluids, leaks, belts, charging and every service item that costs money after you sign.

Engine Oil — Level & Condition sludge, metal, milkiness
Engine Oil Leaks valve cover, pan, front/rear main
Coolant — Level, Condition & Freeze Point
Radiator, Cap, Hoses & Clamps
Cooling Fans / Fan Clutch Operation
Water Pump & Weep Hole
Transmission Fluid — Level & Condition burnt smell, color
Power Steering Fluid, Pump & Lines
Brake Fluid — Level, Color & Moisture
Battery, Terminals, Hold-Down & Cables
Charging System Output alternator, belt, wiring
Starter Operation & Engagement
Serpentine Belt, Tensioner & Pulleys
Timing Belt / Chain — Service Interval records? due?
Vacuum Lines, Fuel Lines & Injectors
Air Filter, Intake & Airbox
Ignition Components coils, plugs, wires — visual
Engine & Transmission Mounts
Turbocharger / Supercharger if equipped
Exhaust Manifold, Gaskets & Leaks
Wiring, Connectors & Harness Condition repairs, tape, splices
Evidence of Rodent or Water Damage
Fluid Cross-Contamination oil in coolant / coolant in oil
VIN Plate, Emissions & ID Labels VIN matches title?

Computer diagnostics (OBD-II) 10

A full scan — including the codes a seller can't clear and the monitors that show they tried.

Warning Lamps at Key-On MIL, ABS, SRS, TPMS
Active / Stored Trouble Codes
Pending Codes
Permanent Codes cannot be cleared — red flag
Readiness Monitors Complete recently cleared?
Freeze Frame Data Reviewed
Manufacturer-Specific / ABS / SRS / TCM Codes
Live Data Reviewed fuel trims, misfire counts, O2, temps
Distance / Warm-Ups Since Codes Cleared
Module Communication — All Systems Respond

Suspension, steering & driveline 20

The joints, bushings, boots and mounts that turn a cheap car into an expensive one.

Shocks / Struts, Mounts & Bearings leaking, bottoming
Springs & Spring Seats
Control Arms & Bushings
Ball Joints — Upper & Lower play, boots
Tie Rods — Inner & Outer
Steering Rack / Gearbox, Boots & Leaks
Steering Play & Column / U-Joint
Sway Bars, Links & Bushings
Wheel Bearings & Hubs
CV Axles, Boots & Clamps torn boots, grease slung
Driveshaft, U-Joints & Carrier Bearing
Differential(s) — Leaks, Fluid & Noise
Transfer Case — Leaks & Operation 4WD / AWD
Transmission Case — Leaks & Pan
Clutch, Hydraulics & Pedal Feel manual transmissions
Exhaust System — Pipes, Hangers & Leaks
Catalytic Converter & Heat Shields present / not cut
Fuel Tank, Straps, Lines & Vent
Subframe, Cradle & Underbody Rust
Skid Plates, Splash Shields & Fasteners

Interior, electrical & safety 23

Everything you touch, plus airbags, belts, HVAC output and flood evidence under the carpet.

Heat & Defrost Output
Air Conditioning Output & Compressor record vent temps above
Blower, Modes & Cabin Filter
Gauges, Cluster & Warning Lamps
Airbag / SRS Lamp & Components deployment evidence?
Seat Belts, Retractors & Pretensioners
Seats, Adjusters, Heaters & Upholstery
Headliner, Carpet, Mats & Interior Trim
Odors, Moisture or Flood Evidence lift carpet & spare well
Windows, Regulators & Switches
Door Locks, Keyless Entry & Remotes
Ignition Switch, Keys & Anti-Theft
Infotainment, Sound System & Bluetooth
Backup Camera & Parking Sensors
Driver Assist Features cruise, blind spot, lane keep
Sunroof / Moonroof / Convertible Top & Drains
Interior & Courtesy Lighting
Accessory Outlets, USB & Charging Ports
Horn Operation
Pedals, Shifter & Wheel Wear matches odometer?
Spare Tire, Jack & Tool Kit
Owner's Manual & Service Records
Glove Box, Console & Storage Latches

Road test 20

Driven on surface streets and the highway, cold start through post-drive leak check.

Cold Start Behavior & Idle Quality
Engine Power, Response & Hesitation
Transmission — Up & Downshifts flare, slip, harshness
Transmission — Kickdown & Torque Converter
Clutch Engagement & Slip Under Load manual
Braking — Stopping Distance & Feel
Braking — Pull, Pulsation or Noise
Parking / Emergency Brake Holds on Grade
Steering Feel, Effort & Return to Center
Tracking & Alignment pull, wander, crooked wheel
Suspension Over Bumps clunks, bottoming, float
Wheel Bearing / Driveline Noise
Vibration at Speed note MPH: ________
Cruise Control Operation
4WD / AWD Engagement & Disengagement
HVAC Performance Under Load
Warning Lamps During Operation
Unusual Odors, Smoke or Steam
Highway Stability & Merge Power
Post-Drive Leak Check & Under-Hood Recheck

Numbers, not just checkmarks

Twenty-nine of those points get a written measurement instead of a mark, so you can see how close a part is to needing replacement rather than just whether it passed today.

11paint thickness readingsOne per panel, measured against a roof baseline.

10tire readingsTread depth and pressure at all four corners and the spare.

8electrical & fluid valuesBattery, charging, coolant freeze point and vent temperatures.

Why our number is smaller than theirs

A 300-point inspection is usually a 100-point inspection counted differently. Split "tires" into four corners and it becomes four points. Split "exterior lights" into seven bulbs and it becomes seven. Nobody did more work.

We could count ours the same way and advertise a number in the thousands. We'd rather show you the list and let you check it against the report.

Ask any shop quoting a bigger number to publish theirs.

What you get back

A 12-page signed PDF, not a photo of a clipboard. Here is what is in it and where to find it.

1Client, seller and vehicle record, including VIN, odometer and asking price
1–5All 121 rated checkpoints across the seven sections above
2Paint thickness grid — 11 panels measured against a roof baseline
2Tire measurements — tread and pressure at four corners and the spare
3Electrical and fluid readings, including battery, charging and vent temperatures
3Trouble code log with status and severity for every code found
5Prioritized findings with estimated parts and labor for each
5Asking price against a suggested adjusted offer
5The recommendation: buy, buy with repairs, or walk away
6An 18-photo mandatory set, expandable to 40 images
7Video log for noises and faults a still image cannot show
8Inspector notes, signature and the terms the inspection was performed under

Pages 9 to 12 carry the images and video links themselves, so the report and the evidence stay in one file you can forward to the seller.

What it costs

One flat fee per vehicle. The price changes only with distance — never with what we find.

Dayton metro $249 Troy, Dayton, Miami County and the surrounding area.

Columbus & Cincinnati metro $349 Scheduled along our regular route between the metros.

Off-route $449 Anywhere outside those areas; covers the added distance.

Cross-shopping more than one car? Every additional vehicle inspected at the same lot on the same visit is $199 — full 121-point inspection and its own report. Compare two or three candidates side by side before you commit to any of them.

$199per extra vehicle

Same 121 points, same measurements, same photo and video report at every tier. Payment is taken when you book, which holds the appointment and the slot on our route. Reschedule or cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before your appointment time — after that the slot is committed and the fee is non-refundable. If the car sells before we arrive, let us know as early as you can.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

A practical, decision-ready inspection at the vehicle's location

COVERAGE ZONE

Mobile Repair Delivered to Your Door

We serve the following communities within a 20-mile radius of Troy, OH:

Troy, OH
Piqua, OH
Tipp City, OH
Covington, OH
Vandalia, OH
West Milton, OH
Huber Heights, OH
Surrounding Areas Within 20 mi

Not sure if you’re in our area?

Call or text us at 937-609-3554 and we’ll let you know right away!

THE REPORT

Evidence you can use before you buy

Overall Assessment

Three steps before you sign

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

Rated 5.0 by drivers across the Miami Valley

Get a buyer-first inspection before you commit

COMMON QUESTIONS

Before you book

The things buyers ask us most. If yours isn't here, call or text — we'd rather answer it now than have you guess.

How much does a pre-purchase inspection cost?

$249 across the Dayton metro — Greene, Miami and Montgomery counties.

For Columbus and Cincinnati, $349 per vehicle on a route day, which requires two confirmed nearby inspections, or $449 for a dedicated appointment dispatched from Troy.

Every additional vehicle inspected at the same lot on the same visit is $199, and each one gets the full 121-point inspection and its own report.

Do I need to be there while you inspect it?

No. We inspect the vehicle where it sits and send you the report, so this works whether you're at work, in another city or out of state.

You're welcome to come if you'd like to see things first-hand, but nothing about the inspection depends on it.

Does the seller have to agree to it?

Yes. We need the seller's permission, safe access to the vehicle and enough room to work around it.

Most private sellers and dealers agree without hesitation. If a seller refuses an independent inspection outright, that refusal is worth more to you than anything we could have found.

Do you put the car on a lift?

If an arangement with the seller/dealr to put the vehicle on a lift for a under vehicle inspection, we are more than happy to do so.

Otherwise the answer is no. This is a mobile inspection performed where the vehicle is parked, so the undercarriage is assessed from the ground. Anything we could not reach or see is written into the report as not tested rather than quietly skipped.

In exchange you get two things a rushed shop inspection often leaves out: coating-gauge paint readings on all eleven panels, and a full module scan that catches permanent codes and incomplete readiness monitors.

What if the car can't be started or driven?

We inspect everything that can be inspected and record the rest as not tested. The report is explicit about its own limits.

The road test happens only when the vehicle is legal, insured, permitted by the seller and safe to drive. A car that cannot be road tested is itself a finding, and we say so.

Why 121 points when other shops advertise 300?

Because we count honestly. A 300-point inspection is usually a 100-point inspection counted differently — split “tires” into four corners and it becomes four points, split “exterior lights” into seven bulbs and it becomes seven. Nobody did more work.

We publish all 121 items on this page, in the same order they appear on the report, so you can check one against the other. Ask any shop quoting a bigger number to publish theirs.

What is paint thickness testing and why does it matter?

A coating gauge measures how thick the paint is on each panel. Factory paint falls in a predictable range, and a resprayed panel or one with filler under it reads well outside that range.

It matters because good bodywork defeats the things a visual inspection relies on. Panel gaps can be reset and blend lines can be buried, but coating thickness doesn't hide. We take a baseline off the roof, which is rarely refinished, and measure every other panel against it.

The readings are recorded as measurements, not verdicts. Thickness can also come from factory finishing or a previous owner's touch-up, and we're careful to say so.

Will you try to sell me the repairs you find?

No. We have no financial interest in the vehicle and nothing to gain from the outcome. The report is the product — it says buy, buy with repairs, or walk away, and it puts a dollar figure next to each finding so you can negotiate with it.

The estimates exist to tell you what the car will really cost, not to route work back to us.

What do I actually receive?

A 12-page signed PDF covering all 121 rated checkpoints, 29 written measurements, a prioritized findings list with estimated parts and labor, the asking price against a suggested adjusted offer, and a clear recommendation.

It includes a mandatory 18-photo set that can run to 40 images, plus video for noises and faults a still picture can't show. The photos travel inside the same file, so you can forward the whole thing to the seller as-is.

Do you review the vehicle history report?

If you have a Carfax or AutoCheck report, send it over and we'll read it against what the car actually shows — a clean history on a car with 14-mil paint on one door tells you something on its own.

We don't purchase history reports for you.

When do I pay, and what if my plans change?

Payment is taken when you book, which holds your appointment and your slot on our route.

Reschedule or cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before your appointment time. After that the slot is committed and the fee is non-refundable. If the car sells out from under you before we arrive, tell us as early as you can and we'll do what we can.

How far will you travel?

Our standard service area covers a 20-mile radius of Troy, including Piqua, Tipp City, Covington, Vandalia, West Milton and Huber Heights, at the Dayton metro rate.

We also run inspections into the Columbus and Cincinnati metros. If you're outside all of that, call or text and we'll tell you straight away whether we can reach it and what it would cost.

Still deciding? Tell us the car and we'll tell you whether it's worth inspecting.

Call or text 937-609-3554