Short answer, on our numbers, yes. A pre purchase inspection starts at $348. In the Instant Auto Reach Inspection Index, 55 of 100 inspected cars had at least one major or critical fault, and 30% of cars were rated fair or poor overall.
The simple maths
You are paying a few hundred dollars to check a purchase worth thousands. The inspection pays for itself in one of three ways.
| Outcome | What happens | How often we see it |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | You avoid a car with a critical fault | 12 in 100 cars had a critical finding |
| Negotiate | You take repair costs off the price | 43 in 100 had a major finding as their worst |
| Buy with confidence | You pay the asking price knowing it is fair | 10 in 100 were clean, 35 had moderate items only |
What buyers say it was worth
These are from our Google reviews, which sit at 5.0 from 55 reviews.
Customer Review
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding same-day service – truly above and beyond!
I can’t recommend the Instant Auto Reach team highly enough. I urgently needed a same-day inspection for my Mercedes ML350, and while other providers advised I’d need to wait 2–3 days due to the distance from Yarraville to Rye, Instant Auto Reach made it happen the very same day without hesitation.
What really impressed me was the commitment — travelling all the way from Werribee to Rye to ensure the inspection was completed on time. That level of professionalism, reliability, and customer service is rare.
If timing matters and you want someone dependable who genuinely goes the extra mile, Instant Auto Reach is the one to call. Highly recommended.
Thanks again, guys — you’re the reason I confidently purchased this vehicle!
All the best, Myles”
Review Link
That last buyer had called other inspection businesses. Most needed 48 hours notice.
When it is most worth it
- Private and Marketplace sales. No statutory warranty applies to private sales. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains what cover you do and do not get.
- Cars over 100,000 km. The fair-or-poor rate jumps from 15% to 40% past that mark.
- Cars you cannot see yourself. One reviewer in Sydney bought an older car in Melbourne on the strength of our photos, videos and phone call. That is what our interstate and remote inspection is for.
- EVs and hybrids. The battery is the most expensive part and you cannot judge it by looking.
- Anything urgent. We inspect 7 days, 7am to 7pm, often the same day. One buyer needed it done three hours before a dealership closed.
When you might skip it
Be honest with yourself here. If the car is nearly new, under manufacturer warranty, with full dealer history and a clean PPSR, the risk is lower. Even then, our Index includes a 2022 car with finance owing and a 2023 car with previous collision repair.
What you get for the money
- A 200+ point check of engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, steering, tyres, electricals and body.
- A diagnostic fault-code scan.
- A proper road test, not a lap of the block.
- A same-day digital report with photos and severity ratings.
- A plain-English buy / negotiate / walk recommendation and a phone call to talk it through.
Every inspection is also backed by our 100% money-back guarantee if the vehicle is sold to someone else.
One reviewer summed up the difference: detailed written reports with photos, clear severity ratings on every issue, no sugar-coating and no agenda.
The verdict
Buy with evidence, not hope. See the data in what 181 Melbourne inspections found, check our used car inspection checklist if you want to look the car over first, then book a pre-purchase inspection.
Book online or call 0402 220 178. Mobile across Greater Melbourne, 7 days.
A Few Hundred Dollars Now, or Thousands Later
You have read the numbers and what our customers said afterwards. The decision is simple, spend from $348 to know what you are buying, or find out the hard way.
Choose the level that suits the car. Basic covers the essentials with a diagnostic scan and road test. Standard adds photos of every item and a VicRoads history report. Ultimate adds a longer freeway road test, model specific checks and price negotiation with the dealership on your behalf.
CUSTOMER REVIEW
“Premium package was worth every cent. Great thorough inspection and communication is spot on. Definitely reccomended”
Check Review
Backed by our 100% money back guarantee if the vehicle is sold to someone else.
