That's why it's always a good idea to pay for an independent mechanic to conduct a mechanical inspection of a used car.Checked 2026-08-11
Pre-purchase inspection (PPI)
A mechanical inspection of a used car by a mechanic the buyer chooses, carried out before the sale closes.
Also called: PPI · independent inspection · mechanical inspection
What it means
Definition
A pre-purchase inspection is a mechanical inspection of a used car by an independent mechanic the buyer selects and pays, rather than by the seller. It reports the car's current condition, which is a different thing from a vehicle history report's record of what was reported in the past. It is arranged before the sale closes, at an independent shop or through a mobile inspector.
Why a buyer cares
What it changes
It is the only step in a purchase that produces information about the specific car from someone with no interest in the sale.
In practice
Where you meet it
Arranged by the buyer, before signing.
Two things that look alike
Not the same as
A vehicle history report covers reported past events; the FTC advises paying for an independent mechanic to inspect the car itself.
Read next
Related terms
Vehicle history report
A lookup of the title, odometer and salvage records reported against one VIN.
Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)
A notice a carmaker sends its dealers describing how to diagnose or repair a known problem on certain vehicles.
Open recall check (by VIN)
Entering a car's 17-character VIN in a recall tool to see whether a recall remedy is still outstanding on that exact vehicle.
Where this comes from