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Buying a car? Don't forget the pre-purchase inspection

Hagerty

November 09, 2012

We’ve undertaken our fair share of road trips for Hagerty Classic Cars magazine — from traversing historic Route 66 to a family amusement park adventure in a classic wagon — and we’ve learned a lot along the way.
 
The lesson that resonated the most, however, was the importance of a professional pre-purchase inspection. See Exhibit A: Our calamity-filled Route 66 trip in which the shop tasked with the all-important inspection lets us down spectacularly.
 
Luckily, for our Hagerty Family Vacation we enlisted the assistance of Road Ready Certified from ClassicCars.com. Road Ready Certified sends a qualified inspector to the seller's business or residence to actually lay a set of eyeballs on your prospective purchase.
 
Road Ready Certified inspects not just the cosmetics but some of the all-important mechanical systems like brakes, power steering, tires, etc. It doesn't get as detailed or invasive as a compression test, but any smoke, funny noises, dirty oil, etc., are noted so that the prospective purchaser can take further action as warranted. The cost is generally under $300.
 
The result for us was good. Our classic American road trip in a '71 Olds Vista Cruiser that had been inspected by Road Ready Certified went off without a hitch and we felt like we already knew the car when it arrived based on the detailed report from Road Ready Certified.
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Comments

  1. Robert G. Reed MT. Brook, Alabama 35213

    I bought a "restored" 1940 Buick Super Sedan from Volo Cars in Illinois. They told me the car was completly resored inside and outside. Well the photos looked great. They told me it runs great and is in great condition. So I did not go up to drive the car, but had it delivered here by truck. Well, it needed everything mechanically. The cost thus far for all the work, rebuilt transmission, flywheel, clutch,brakes wheel bearings plugs and wires etc, etc. is $12,011. I left a message on their answeringmachine and sent the head honcho an E-Mail. No response. I did learn that the car sat in their museum for over five years with gas in the tank. My advice is: do not buy a car that is in a museum, and always see the car in person and drive it.

  2. Helmi There are several ways that you can cionsder.Call your local agent or do the online quote yourself.Take which way,it depends on your time and knowledge.

    There are several ways that you can cionsder.Call your local agent or do the online quote yourself.Take which way,it depends on your time and knowledge.

  3. Henry Kansas

    I will never buy another car without using an Escrow service. They hold my purchase money in escrow and only release it once I verify the car is in the condition promised. Sellers get real honest when they can't pull a fast one on you. For a couple hundred buck an escrow service keeps honest people honest. I use an outfit called Paysafe escrow.

  4. Craig Auckland

    @Robert - was it Volo or Road Ready who told you the car was good to go?

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