Toyota & Lexus Pre-Purchase Inspection

We evaluate every major system and document our findings so you have a complete picture of the vehicle's actual condition:

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Mechanical Systems

 

• Engine condition — leaks, unusual noises, oil consumption indicators, visible wear

• Transmission operation and fluid condition

• Cooling system condition and coolant quality

• Brake system — pad life, rotor condition, fluid condition

• Steering and suspension — play, wear, ride quality assessment

• Exhaust system — condition, leaks, catalytic converter function

• Fuel system visual inspection

 

Electrical and Electronics

 

• Full system diagnostic scan — reads fault codes from every module on the vehicle

• Battery and charging system test

• All exterior lighting

• Interior electronics and display functions

• HVAC system operation

 

Hybrid Systems (for Prius, Highlander Hybrid, Lexus hybrids, etc.)

 

• Hybrid battery health assessment

• Hybrid system warning codes

• Regenerative braking function

• Hybrid-specific drivetrain inspection

 

Body and Undercarriage

 

• Undercarriage inspection for rust, damage, previous repairs, and accident indicators

• Panel gaps and paint uniformity assessment (can indicate prior body repair)

• Frame and structural components

• Fluid leak inspection

 

Tires and Wheels

 

• Tread depth and wear pattern (uneven wear can reveal alignment or suspension history)

• Sidewall condition

• Wheel condition

 

We provide you with a written summary of findings, organized by priority, so you can make a fully informed decision.

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Used vehicle listings don't always tell the complete story — and sometimes they're intentionally incomplete. A pre-purchase inspection can uncover:

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• Undisclosed accident or flood damage

• Deferred maintenance that the seller hasn't disclosed or addressed

• Oil leaks or engine wear consistent with neglect

• Hybrid battery degradation that significantly reduces the vehicle's value and utility

• Rust or corrosion issues that aren't visible from a standard exterior inspection

• Fault codes stored in the vehicle's modules that don't currently trigger a warning light

• Evidence of cheap or improper prior repairs

• Wear levels inconsistent with the stated mileage

 

Even when a vehicle turns out to be exactly as advertised, an inspection gives you negotiating leverage, peace of mind, and a documented baseline for future maintenance.

The vehicle doesn't need to be at our shop for us to inspect it. Many pre-purchase inspections happen when a buyer is evaluating a vehicle from a private seller, a dealership, or a used car lot. Here's the typical process:

 

1. You arrange with the seller to bring the vehicle to our shop, or schedule a time when we can inspect it at the seller's location (contact us for availability).

2. We perform the full inspection — typically 1–2 hours.

3. We review our findings with you directly and answer any questions you have.

4. You make your decision with complete information.

 

We recommend every used vehicle purchase be preceded by an independent inspection — regardless of the seller's reputation, the vehicle's history report, or how good it looks in the photos.

We specialize exclusively in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. That means we're not applying a generic checklist — we're bringing 35-plus years of specific knowledge about how these vehicles age, what their common failure points are at various mileages, what a properly maintained one looks like versus one that's been neglected, and how to spot issues that won't show up on a Carfax report.

 

A few hundred dollars for an independent inspection is far less expensive than discovering after purchase that the vehicle you bought needs thousands of dollars in work.