Car Inspection FAQs

Pre Purchase Inspections - My Car Inspections network engineer will carry out a vehicle Examination and provide a report of its findings to you. My Car Inspections industry standard inspection consists of a visual, external check and does not include a fault diagnosis, or any dismantling or removal of parts. In total we will report in excess of 300 aspects of the vehicle(where applicable), depending on the make and model of the vehicle and the type of inspection you have booked. A road test (where applicable)will be carried out within the local speed limits. 

Witness Inspection - A witness inspection will be produced based on your individual requirements as advised to our booking engineers planning team. A My Car Inspections Witness report will be carried out by an appointed agent suitable for the inspection requirements and will report accordingly. These reports are fully independent as are the findings contained within.

Due to the visual nature of any inspection, it may not be possible to carry out all checks in all cases. In the event that an inspector is unable to carry out any element of the inspection due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control then the inspection fee is non refundable.

Inspectors do not analyse, dismantle or remove any part or component or mechanism from the vehicle when carrying out the inspection and therefore liability cannot be accepted for defects which arise in any part of the vehicle which is not included in , or not reasonably apparent or capable of identification at the time of inspection, nor for latent defects which are later discovered, nor for defects which arise after the inspection if they were not reasonably detectable at the time the inspection was carried out.

The inspection does not include stress or weight tests on any part of your vehicle including, without limit: seat fitting, belt, strap, grab rails, mountings, harness or adaptation, or their security.

No inspection will take place of the internal fittings or the workings of the roof hatch of a campervan, Motorhome or Horsebox. Vehicles should be unladen for the purposes of the inspection.

To carry out the inspection we require the seller to provide the following, (failure may restrict the scope of the inspection and that the full inspection fee will remain payable):

keys to the vehicle

Sufficient fuel for the Road Test

The vehicle will be located on a hard, level surface off the public highway if this is not possible, the inspection may be restricted

The vehicle must be present at the address of the inspection as provided at the time of the booking and ready for inspection

Inspection during daylight hours in good weather conditions. Poor weather conditions or visibility may mean the inspection is restricted

The vehicle to be in a reasonably clean condition

The vehicle to be in a roadworthy and driveable condition

A valid MOT Certificate (where applicable) and the vehicles DVLA registration documents should also be available for inspection.

My Car Inspections and its authorised engineers reserve the right to rearrange an appointment. In these situations, you will be given as much notice as reasonably possible.

My Car Inspections will not be liable for any delay or failure to carry out the inspection service if we are prevented from doing so in circumstances beyond our reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God; legal restrictions which prevent us attending the vehicle; industrial dispute or severe weather conditions.

Once a suitable time has been agreed we will confirm this by email or text message in addition to forwarding our invoice by email. Payment can be made securely using the link provided by debit/credit card or PayPal. Payment can be made at any time up to close of business the day before the inspection. Failure to do will result in cancellation of the appointment.

Any signifcant adverse infromation will be reported to you prior to us inspecting the vehicle to allow you the option to abort the inspeciton should you wish to. If you wish to cancel the inspection as a result of the findings of our history check there is a charge of £30. If you wish to cancel the inspection for any other reason then this can be done at anytime up to close of business the day before the inspection. 

Cancelation after close of business (unless otherwise agreed) the day before the inspection will be subject to the full fee unless otherwise agreed.

Pre Purchase Inspections - My Car Inspections appointed engineer will carry out an industry standard inspection and report verbally and online within 24 hours of the examination taking place.

Upon completion of the online report, My Car Inspections engineers planning team will send login details to access your report here

Witness Inspections - My Car Inspections appointed engineer will carry out a bespoke inspection based on your requirements and report verbally and in writing within 72 hours of the examination taking place.

A witness report will be provided on My Car Inspections appointed engineer own headed report suitable for court purposes. This report will be provided in a pdf digital format by email and posted by 2nd class mail on request

My Car Inspections authorised and appointed engineers all carry suitable Road Traffic, Public Liability and Professional Negligence insurance and are subject to blind audits and our unique customer review rating Our staff and contractors will use reasonable skill and care when providing the vehicle Examination service.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your inspection, please bring your complaint to our attention as soon as you can of becoming aware of it. If you have any dispute or query with the written report, you agree to offer us the right to fully investigate the complaint against our appointed agent and when required re-examine the vehicle before you carry out any repair or rectification work on the vehicle. This does not affect your statutory rights to take legal action or exercise any other legal remedy. Complaints can be notified by phone but must be made in writing.

Liability cannot be accepted for defects not reasonably apparent in vehicles which have been subject to abnormal use which is not apparent during our inspection and is not drawn to our attention. You accept that such vehicles are may be more prone than usual to latent defects.

You agree that a lack of defect in any part of the vehicle at the time of the inspection does not constitute a warranty or guarantee of durability in any part of the vehicle, nor is it a guarantee against defects arising in the future.

Our engineers reserve the right not to carry out or to continue with a vehicle inspection if anyone behaves in a threatening or abusive way to our staff or contractors, or if the vehicle is situated in an unsafe or unsuitable position. In these circumstances, you will not be entitled to any refund. My Car Inspections will not be responsible for any unforeseeable losses, losses that were not caused directly by us or for any business losses. This does not reduce your statutory rights to claim compensation in relation to the services our agents provide.

We may monitor and record communications with you (including phone conversations and emails) for quality assurance and compliance reasons. Interpretation, use of English law & language.

These Terms and Conditions, and any agreement entered into in connection with the same, shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.