A pre-purchase inspection puts a used vehicle on a lift and checks the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, frame, and onboard computer for stored fault codes before you hand over money. San Francisco Auto Repair, rated 4.7 stars from 77 Google reviews, gives you a written report to negotiate the price or walk away.
Buying a used car without an inspection means trusting a stranger's word on the one thing that costs the most to be wrong about. San Francisco Auto Repair puts the car on a lift at 7355 Geary Blvd and inspects it the way a mechanic would if they were the one buying it — not the way the seller would prefer it looked at.
That means checking things a test drive won't show you: compression across cylinders, the condition of brake pads and rotors, play in the suspension and steering, rust or prior accident damage underneath, and whatever codes are sitting in the computer even if the check-engine light isn't on yet.
What gets checked during the inspection?
The inspection covers the drivetrain, the chassis, and the electronics — not just what's easy to see under the hood, and not just what the seller points out during a five-minute walkaround.
- Engine: compression, visible leaks, belt and hose condition, unusual noise on startup
- Transmission: fluid color and smell, shift quality on the test drive
- Brakes and suspension: pad thickness, rotor condition, play in tie rods and ball joints
- Frame and undercarriage: rust, weld marks, or misalignment that points to prior accident repair
- Onboard computer: a full scan for stored and pending fault codes
Can you inspect it before I sign anything?
Yes — and that's the point. An inspection done after you've already put down a deposit only tells you what you're stuck with. Book it while the car is still just a listing, bring it to our bay on Geary Blvd, and you'll have the report in hand before you owe anyone money.
We're open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM, closed Sunday, so there's usually room to get a car looked at before a private-sale window closes.
How long does a pre-purchase inspection take?
It depends on the vehicle and what we find once it's on the lift — a clean car moves faster than one with a leak or a code that needs chasing down. Call (628) 444-4559 and we'll tell you what to expect for that specific car before you book it in.
What if the seller won't let me bring the car to your shop?
Most of our pre-purchase inspections happen on our own lift at 7355 Geary Blvd, where we can actually get underneath the car. If a seller refuses to let you get an independent inspection anywhere, that alone is worth treating as a warning sign rather than a scheduling inconvenience.
What do I get after the inspection?
A written report covering what we checked and what we found, so you can use it to negotiate the price or decide to walk away with real information instead of a guess. Nothing gets fixed as part of the inspection itself — it's a second opinion, not a repair.