How Much Does a Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Cost in Sacramento?

If you are buying a used car in Sacramento, a pre-purchase inspection is one of the most useful checks you can make before you hand over money. At All Auto Repair & Inspection, a mobile pre-purchase inspection costs $175 on weekdays. Weekend visits cost $250, which is the $175 inspection plus a $75 weekend fee.

How much is a pre-purchase car inspection in Sacramento?

Our prices are simple. Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, the mobile pre-purchase inspection is $175. Weekend visits, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm by appointment, are $250.

The inspection comes to the car. We cover Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom and Elk Grove, and about 5 to 10 miles around each. There is no travel fee inside that area, so you do not need to move the car to our shop at 5000 Madison Ave.

Prices can change, so call 916-634-5500 to confirm the current price before you book.

What affects the price of a pre-purchase inspection?

Inspection prices vary from one provider to another. A few things usually decide what you pay:

• Where the inspection happens. A shop inspection means driving the car to the shop, which can mean time off work and a second car for the ride home. A mobile inspection comes to the car, wherever the seller keeps it. The price covers the inspector's time to reach the car as well as the check itself.

• How long the check takes. A standard visit has a set length. Some vehicles take longer to check, so the time on the job can change.

• The type of vehicle. Some cars need specialist tools or more time to read, and that can change the work involved.

• When you book. Weekend visits carry a different price, as ours do.

Public listings show a range of prices for mobile pre-purchase checks in the Sacramento area. One customer on a national mobile inspection site reported paying $168. That is one customer's figure, not a published list price, so treat it as a rough reference only.

What to ask before you pay for any inspection

Price is only part of the decision. When you compare providers, ask these questions:

• What exactly is included in the price?

• Is there a travel fee, and does it apply in the area where the car is?

• Will the inspector connect to the car's computer and road test the car?

• Do you send a written report, and how soon after the visit?

• Can I book a time that fits the seller's schedule?

What the price covers at our shop

Our mobile pre-purchase inspection starts with a computer diagnostic. The technician reads the fault codes stored in the car's computer, including problems that come and go. A road test follows, to see how the car starts, accelerates, steers and stops. A visual check looks for damage, wear, leaks and signs of past repairs.

You receive a written report of what we found. The report lists the findings so you can decide what to do next.

An inspection gives you facts about the car at the moment you are deciding. It cannot promise to find every problem. Use the report to ask the seller about a repair, to talk through the price, or to walk away from a car that is not worth buying.

Is the inspection fee worth it compared with a bad used car?

Compare the two costs, not just the fee. The inspection fee is known before the visit. The cost of buying a car with a hidden problem is not known until something breaks, and a repair you did not expect can cost more than the inspection did. A used car can look clean and still hide problems. A fresh coat of paint does not show what the car's computer has recorded, or how the car drives on the road.

The fee is small next to the price of the car itself. A short check before you pay is a way to protect the money you are about to spend.

Pre-purchase inspection or VIN verification?

A pre-purchase inspection checks the car's condition. A VIN verification checks that the VIN matches the title, registration and other official documents. They answer different questions, so buyers often need to know which one they are booking. Our VIN verification is $40 and takes about 30 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a pre-purchase inspection take?

The mobile pre-purchase inspection takes about one hour.

Is there a travel fee?

No. There is no travel fee inside our service area of Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom and Elk Grove, and about 5 to 10 miles around each.

Can I book a weekend inspection?

Yes. A weekend visit, on Saturday or Sunday from 10am to 2pm by appointment, costs $250. Call 916-634-5500 to check a time before you book.

Will the inspection tell me whether to buy the car?

The report lists what we found, so you can make the decision. An inspection cannot promise to find every problem, but it gives you clear information about the car's condition at the time of the check.

Do you check cars outside Sacramento?

We cover Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom and Elk Grove, and the area around them. For an address outside that area, call 916-634-5500 and we will confirm.

Book your pre-purchase inspection

Weekday visits are $175, and weekend visits on Saturday and Sunday are $250. Book our mobile pre-purchase inspection, or see the weekend visit. Driving for rideshare? Ask about our Uber and Lyft safety inspection.

Have a question first? Call 916-634-5500, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. We will come to the car and go over the report with you.