Pre-purchase car inspection Sydney — mobile, on-the-spot report
Independent, mobile, and on-the-spot. We inspect where the car is — dealer yard, private sale driveway, or auction holding compound — and hand you the written report before we leave.
- Reviewed by
- NSW Pink Slip Review Panel
- Published
- 22 February 2026
- Read time
- 3 min
A pre-purchase inspection is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy against a bad used car. $280 to know the truth before you sign; often the difference between negotiating $2,000 off the price and paying it in repairs six months later.
What we check
Roughly 90 items across five domains: exterior (paint, panels, accident detection), structural (frame, boot floor, rear crash-zone), mechanical (engine, transmission, cooling, exhaust), electronic (scan for active and stored codes across all modules), and interior (function of all controls, seatbelts, windows, locks).
Where we inspect
Anywhere the car legally is — dealer yards, private sale driveways, auction compounds, workshop bays. Sydney metro, Wollongong, Blue Mountains and Central Coast, 7 days a week.
What you get
A written report handed over on the spot. It lists every finding, categorised by severity, with photos where relevant. You can share it with the seller, use it to negotiate, or take it to your own mechanic for a second opinion.
Frequently asked.
- How long does the inspection take?
- 60–90 minutes for a standard passenger car. Larger or higher-spec vehicles can take up to two hours.
- Do I need to be there?
- It helps but isn't required. Many buyers book us to inspect while they're at work — we call you with the findings and email the report the same day.
- Do you inspect at auction?
- Yes — we regularly attend Pickles and Manheim yards during viewing days. Book at least 24 hours ahead so we can coordinate access.
About the author
NSW Pink Slip — Lead Inspection Team
Lead AIS-Authorised eSafety Inspector · 18+ years
Our lead inspection team is Transport for NSW-authorised under the Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) to issue eSafety Checks (pink slips) for light vehicles up to 4.5t. Combined 18+ years of hands-on Sydney workshop experience — starting in general repair, moving through diagnostic specialisation on European and Japanese platforms, and settling into full-time mobile inspection since 2019. Every article on this site is authored or reviewed by a currently-authorised AIS examiner. If we can't verify a claim against a Transport for NSW or Service NSW source, it doesn't ship.
- ✓Transport for NSW authorised AIS examiner
- ✓Cert IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis
- ✓Cert III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- ✓Cert III in Automotive Electrical Technology
- ✓Working with Children Check (WWC) verified
Reviewed by NSW Pink Slip Review Panel — Reviews every technical article for accuracy against current Transport for NSW rules, AIS inspector guidelines and manufacturer service data.
Meet the full inspection team →Related from the workshop.
Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Sydney 2026 — Mobile, On-the-Spot Report ($280 Flat)
Used Car Inspection Sydney 2026 — Independent Pre-Purchase Check (Flat $280 inc GST)
