Pre-Purchase Inspection
Be sure of what you are buying with a Drivesure Pre-Purchase Inspection
The purchase of a motor vehicle is the often the largest purchase people will make. We give the vehicle a thorough check and road test, using the latest diagnostic equipment on brakes, battery, alternator and more.
Pre-Purchase Inspection
A Drivesure Pre-Purchase Inspection is:
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Fast and easy: An inspection is done at a Drivesure Vehicle Testing Station and takes about one hour from start to finish. We use specialist brake, suspension and engine diagnostic equipment and can usually do them the same day. You will receive a comprehensive written report emailed to you directly, and piece of mind.
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Cost-effective: A small price to pay to be sure you’re not buying a lemon.
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Flexible: We inspect all makes and models of cars, vans and light commercial vehicles.
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Independent: You can be sure we have no connection with either the car or its seller, so you are getting an honest, realistic appraisal of the vehicle.
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Clear and concise: You get a clear, easy to understand inspection report that details any issues found. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to talk you through the report. Please be aware that all Pre Puchase Inspections are limited to visual/diagnostic only.
Note that we do not provide compression tests.
Safety Checks
Have you purchased a used imported japanese vehicle in the last 18 months?
NZTA are urging checks on the the passenger airbag for correct operation to ensure the safety of you and your passengers. The NZTA information release on this issue can be found here.
What is the problem?
Some imported vehicles may have the airbag disabled and a device fitted to fool the SRS Warning System. This was done by japanese owners whilst they awaited delivery of a replacement airbag, and some of these vehicles may have made their way to New Zealand. This fault would not have been identified as a fault prior to 5 October 2016.
What do I do?
Bring your vehicle into any of the Drivesure Compliance sites listed below and our Vehicle Inspectors will confirm if your passenger airbag is disabled or not.
There is a small fee of between $60 and $90 for this service, dependent upon the vehicle type.
Where do I go?
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Drivesure Henderson, 9 Moselle Avenue
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Drivesure Papakura, 278 Great South Rd
About the inspection
Our inspectors (who are all NZ Trained technicians with many years of automotive experience ) carry out a visual and operating inspection, and check the general state of the vehicle at the time of inspection. A Drivesure Pre Purchase Inspection is based on an external examination of components to identify faults which exist at the time of the inspection.
Our Pre-Purchase Inspections are done in a proper Vehicle Testing Station, so we can use advanced brake testing equipment to assure safety and compliance with WOF requirements. Some Drivesure sites also offer Engine Diagnostics for a small additional fee. This is particularly useful for 4WD or European cars.
It’s not feasible to dismantle component assemblies to inspect internal parts. These are evaluated by such factors as noise, operation and performance on the road.
We can’t identify hidden defects, intermittent problems, problems which can’t be identified on a visual inspection or where parts of the vehicle would need to be dismantled.
We also can’t identify items which could occur after inspection.
Areas we do and don't inspect
Exterior
We inspect the chassis & panels for rust, dents, scratches and accident damage.
We don’t remove any covers, trim or panels.
Interior
We inspect all interior trim, dash & instruments for condition and operation including the air-conditioning system.
In some cases we can’t assess the operation of some vehicle features, e.g. functionality of electronic memory seats.
Drive line
We check for correct operation of all drive train components including the transmission, differential, CV joints etc.
We don’t check internal drive line components such as the differential, transmission gears, wheel bearings etc for levels of wear or deterioration
Engine
We use specialist diagnostic equipment and years of experience to assess the general state of the engine. We’ll let you know if it looks like its been regularly serviced, or not.
We don’t provide a relative compression test or inspect any of all of the internal engine components.
Cooling system
We inspect the cooling system’s general operation for leaks and the coolant fluid condition.
We don’t dismantle the radiator or remove radiator hoses to check internal components.
Suspension & steering
We inspect steering and suspension components for effective operation, damage or fluid leaks.
We don’t remove or dismantle any suspension components.
Brakes
We test brake performance under normal load conditions and check all visual brake components including brake linings where visible.
We don’t remove the wheels or brake drums.
Wheels
We inspect wheels tyres for tread depth and general condition. Including the spare.
Vehicle operation
We test drive the vehicle to assess the overall performance and drive-ability. We check aspects such as the transmission shift quality, general engine performance, drive line vibration, brake performance and road handling.
In some traffic conditions we may not be able to conduct an appropriate road test. If the vehicle doesn’t have a current WOF or registration at the time of inspection, we may not be able to conduct a road test.
Vehicle Weight
We test vehicles up to 3.5 tonne (GVM).
We don’t inspect vehicles over 3.5 tonne (GVM).
Our inspection doesn’t replace the need for regular vehicle maintenance. Mechanical components do wear out and items can fail unexpectedly without prior warning such as headlights, water pump and cam belt.
Do you have more questions?
Our expert team will help you get back on the road as soon as possible. We won't try to hit you up for extra work you don't need but we list any maintenance items we see during the inspection to help you avoid costly breakdowns in the future. At Drivesure we strive to boost your confidence through our precision service and tailored support.