Hi, when I get my next car, I'd like to have it inspected. I wonder if anyone has any advice on this? My real concern is losing the deposit on the car if something "big" turns up or the dealer won't repair something that is flagged up.
Do you think they would refund the deposit on the car?
It would be from a main dealer on a car less then 2 years old. Would like to hear from anyone who has used RAC or AA for inspection, I'm not a member of either.
Thanks
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I have in the past just used the threat of an inspection, most dealers will check the car thoroughly before it leaves them, inform the garage that the car will be inspected after you take delivery. A reputable garage would not want to have let a sub standard car leave them so would make sure vehicle was as near to perfect as possible
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I have in the past just used the threat of an inspection, most dealers will check the car thoroughly before it leaves them, inform the garage that the car will be inspected after you take delivery. A reputable garage would not want to have let a sub standard car leave them so would make sure vehicle was as near to perfect as possible
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Quite an optimist....
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>A reputable garage would not want to have let a sub standard >car leave them so would make sure vehicle was as near to >perfect as possible
In a perfect world maybe. From my experience garages are quite happy to see a sub standard car leave because it means they have got rid of it and do everything possible to get out of fixing it should you have the cheek to take it back.
Having just paid over £100 to have my brakes repaired - a fault the dealership told me they had fixed twice - I only wish I had paid the £200 to the RAC to inspect the car first.
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If you're worried about losing you deposit then don't give them one. You have much power when buying.
"I'll buy that car after a satisfactory AA/RAC inspection"
Martin
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I have had a previous car inspected. I had to because of the car loan. I think it was worth it (car passed with flying colours) and I got a discount as an AA member. The car was a Citroen ZX and it ran very reliably for about 4 years before I traded it in.
I threatened an inspection when looking for my previous car to that. The garage said they wouldn't hold it for me and made loads of excuses as to why. Needless to say I left at that point - what have they got to hide?
If you are willing to spend up to £200 on an inspection, you are a serious buyer and the garage should hold the car for you to make up your mind, without accepting a deposit (as with my ZX).
Having said that, where I have bought from a main dealer, I have not bothered with the inspection as they should be reputable. But maybe I'm too trusting.
Hope that helps...
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I have had a previous car inspected. I had to because of the car loan. I think it was worth it (car passed with flying colours) and I got a discount as an AA member. The car was a Citroen ZX and it ran very reliably for about 4 years before I traded it in.
That's more likely because it was a good car. No-one's capable of spotting somethig that may fail in a few months time, let alone four years.
I threatened an inspection when looking for my previous car to that. The garage said they wouldn't hold it for me and made loads of excuses as to why. Needless to say I left at that point - what have they got to hide?
If you were running a business and someone walked in and wanted to hand over the cash for te car, would you tell him that the car was on hold to someone who might not buy it or would you just sell the car to someone who's capable of making a decision for themselves?
If you are willing to spend up to £200 on an inspection, you are a serious buyer and the garage should hold the car for you to make up your mind, without accepting a deposit (as with my ZX). Having said that, where I have bought from a main dealer, I have not bothered with the inspection as they should be reputable. But maybe I'm too trusting.
That's sensible enough, the law is very srongly in the consumers favour now, its really not worth spending money on getting any car inspected if it's being bought from a dealer.
If its a few years old then insist on getting a new MOT, even if this means volunteering to pay for the MOT yourself. Much more comprehensive examination than the RAC will ever manage at the dealers premises and usefil to the buyer too.
Hope that helps...
--
I read often, only post occasionally
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As the other posts have said "subject to satisfactory independent (company name) inspection" should be written on the order form (big letters). I have rejected cars from a Seat main dealers by doing this (deposit returned) and got some minor repairs done on a Toyota from a main dealer at no extra cost to me.
Used RAC, but the others will probably be as good.
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Which level of RAC inspection did you get? I am particulay interested in making sure the car does'nt pull, know if its had a prang. Also things like trim damage or service items that might need doing.
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well i would always be concenred unless i was watching the inspection, and drive away in it immediately afterwards
for instance it must be easy to put good tyres on a car when you know an inspector is coming out, then replace the bad ones after he has gone
punter picks up car with dodgy tyres, nice clean inspection report
i am sure similar could go on in other ways
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I used the highest level which includes a road test. You do learn a lot about the cars, so don't let little things worry you. They also give you a valuation.
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