Car owners will take their car to the auto repair shop for repairs if there is an obvious problem in their car or the car is not starting. However, sometimes the car owner would like to find out the real condition of the car, whether it is likely to have any problem in future, or whether any components are slightly damaged. This information will help the car owner correctly assess the value of the car if he wishes to sell it or repair the car if he is planning to go on a long trip. Since the car owner does not have the expertise or tools to inspect the car properly it is advisable to hire the services of a professional inspector for the car.
Inspection centre
To hire a professional for inspecting the car, the car owner should contact a business or organization offering car inspection services. The car owner can use online as well as offline resources to find a car inspection centre. Many of the repair shops also have the resources for inspecting the car since they will usually inspect the vehicle to accurately diagnose the cause of the problem, before starting repairs. Some of the considerations for choosing the inspection centre for the car are discussed below
Purpose
In some cases, the inspection is required because the user is planning to go on a long road trip and would like to carry out repairs. In this case, he can choose any inspection centre he wishes. In other cases he wishes to sell his car, so the car inspection should be done by a reputable inspection centre whose report will be acceptable to the car buyer. Sometimes, the inspection report is required by government agencies for certain purposes like COE renewal. In this case, the government agency will usually specify the inspection centres whose reports are acceptable to them, since they check the vehicle according to the criteria specified.
Facilities
Another consideration while choosing the inspection centre are the inspection facilities, tools and equipment available. In some cases, the report will be prepared mainly by visual inspection, while the better inspection facilities have sophisticated testing equipment. They have tools for assessing the damage to the car body. Additionally, they also have specially developed test rigs for the evaluation of brake effectiveness and side slip testing. For undercarriage inspection, they have equipment that will lift the car so that the inspector can examine the car undercarriage properly.
Selection
So while evaluating the different inspection centres it is advisable to ask them the different parts of the vehicle which will be covered in their inspection report. The inspection centre should also be asked if they are certified by any government agencies. Usually the inspection centres which are run by non-profit organizations, associations are likely to be more accurate in their report since they are not making additional money from repairs. The fees charged for inspection should also be compared before making a decision. After the inspection centre is selected, the car owner should book an appointment either by phone or online.
