WEEKDAYS 7:30-5:00

Buyer’s Inspection
As much as you’d rather not have to think about it, your vehicle comes with vehicle maintenance needs, whether you bought it off a showroom floor or secondhand.

New vehicles need gasoline, oil, tire pressure checks, window and body-washing—all things you can do yourself.

Used vehicles, ideally, come with a written history so perhaps you can tell what was done for yours before it came into your possession. If it didn’t come with a history, it’s a good idea to negotiate with the seller (car lot or private seller) a trip to a mechanic you trust to go through it and make sure it isn’t going to surprise you with problems right away or in the near future.

If your mechanic finds pressing issues, try to negotiate a lower price. Say, “The balance of what I was intending to pay you for a well-working vehicle will go toward fixing what’s wrong with it now.” If the seller balks, walk. There are plenty of decent vehicles out there so there’s no need to buy trouble.

Please Note: A third-party mechanic should be consulted even if you’re considering buying a certified used car from a dealership. Most certified used cars will still need repairs or maintenance matters that need to be addressed. It’s a fact: darned few dealerships will invest any more money into the used cars than is necessary; they simply won’t do every bit of the maintenance and repairs tasks that even their certified vehicles need. Don’t risk it. If the seller is on the up and up, he or she won’t deny you the ability to have your prospective new wheels checked out. Get your third party buyer’s inspection right here at G&J Auto Center—we have your back.