A 125-point pre-purchase inspection is a provider’s checklist for assessing a vehicle before purchase. The number does not tell you whether a particular item was visually checked, measured, scanned or tested on the road. Ask for the actual checklist and sample report before comparing packages.
This guide explains how to evaluate a point-count offer. It is not a promise that every Inspector.ae package includes 125 checks or the specialist procedures discussed below. The agreed inspection package defines the work for your vehicle.
Start with your buying questions
A low-mileage car with incomplete records, a repaired import and an EV with a range concern need different emphasis. Tell the inspector what you need to understand and ask which checks can answer it. More checklist points do not automatically mean more useful evidence.
- Identity and records: VIN matching, displayed mileage and the records made available.
- Body and paint: accessible condition, panel fit and any agreed paint measurements.
- Mechanical condition: visible leaks, accessible components and permitted functional checks.
- Cabin and equipment: lights, controls, restraints and other agreed functions.
- Diagnostics: the specific systems the equipment can access.
- Road behaviour: observations from a safe, permitted road test, if included.
These are areas to compare, not a universal numbered checklist. Some items will not apply to a particular vehicle; others cannot be assessed without more access.
Ask how the important items are checked
“Brakes checked” could refer to visible condition, accessible measurements or road-test behaviour. “Battery checked” could mean a low-voltage battery test, not a high-voltage capacity assessment. The report should make those distinctions clear.
- Visual inspection: records what can be seen without the excluded dismantling.
- Functional check: records how a component behaves during the available test.
- Measurement: should state the reading, units and relevant interpretation.
- Diagnostic scan: records supported electronic findings and explains which questions remain.
- Specialist procedure: may need separate approval, equipment, time or a workshop.
A green tick is less useful than an explanation when a finding affects your purchase. Ask how “satisfactory”, “attention required” and “not tested” are defined.
Confirm the access before paying
Ask whether the visit is mobile or workshop-based, how the underside is accessed, whether any covers or wheels are removed, and whether the seller permits the proposed work. A parking-space assessment does not automatically offer lift access.
Agree whether the vehicle can be started cold and driven legally and safely. An inaccessible component or unavailable road test should be recorded as a limitation, not counted as a successful check. The mobile package page states its actual inclusions and exclusions.
Check what the diagnostic scan adds
A compatible scan can identify relevant fault codes and supported data, but coverage varies by model and equipment. Ask which control modules can be accessed and whether the report identifies any failed communication.
A fault code is a starting point for diagnosis, not a conclusive parts list. A scan with no codes does not rule out all faults. Recent resets or incomplete monitoring can require explanation, but they do not by themselves prove tampering.
Where the car has a particular symptom, ask whether a general inspection can investigate it or whether a separate diagnostic appointment is needed. Save the findings before any authorised repair work or reset.
Do not assume specialist tests are included
Engine compression, leak-down testing, cooling-system pressure testing, structural measurements, component removal and high-voltage battery procedures are not implied by a point count. Confirm each relevant procedure explicitly, including permission and any extra charge.
An inspection is also separate from repairs, a warranty, a valuation and an official RTA vehicle test. A service invoice or scheduled maintenance item should not be presented as work completed during the inspection unless it was actually authorised and performed.
Compare hybrid and EV coverage carefully
Ask whether “battery health” refers to a low-voltage test, a value reported by the battery management system or a defined capacity procedure. Displayed range alone is not a capacity test, and a reported State of Health figure does not predict remaining battery life.
The inspection should identify the supported charging and battery checks for that model. For example, Tesla’s Model Y battery-health guidance says its optional test is not available on every vehicle and may require up to 24 hours connected to an AC charger. A routine viewing cannot be assumed to include it.
See our hybrid and EV inspection guide for the distinction between routine checks and specialist work.
Use the report to make the decision
A useful inspection report identifies the vehicle, date, scope, findings and limitations. It should distinguish observations from a confirmed diagnosis and identify follow-up checks where necessary.
Compare important findings with available history and the seller’s description. Get a repair estimate where it affects your budget. A report can support a discussion about repairs or price, but it does not guarantee a discount, an accident-free history or future reliability.
Questions to ask when comparing quotes
- Can I see the actual checklist and a sample report?
- Which scans, measurements and road tests are included?
- What access or seller permission is required?
- What happens when an item cannot be tested?
- Which specialist procedures cost extra?
- What is the total price, VAT treatment and expected report timing?
Choose the scope that answers your buying questions. The value comes from relevant checks and a clear explanation of their limits.