Pre-Purchase Inspections & Auto Appraisals
Pre-Purchase Inspection and Certified Appraisal
Pre-Purchase Inspections – When you are considering the purchase a high-value vehicle or your next daily driver that is a few miles from home—or a vehicle far from home–you need an accurate, certified appraisal that lets you know what you’re getting into. Hidden damage, missing parts, or non-original manufacturer’s parts can devalue a car and turn what seems like a great deal into a nightmare. With Benchmark Auto Appraisers L.L.C., you can rest assured that you’ll have a thorough pre-purchase inspection and certified appraisal at a fair price.
Experience and Expertise Set Us above the rest in Pre-Purchase Inspections
Whether it’s an antique, classic, or collectible car or just a great ride for your family, you want to know that the vehicle is all its owner claims it is. With more than 42 years in the automotive business in sales, restoration, service and car collection, Benchmark founder and CEO Daniel Jendrowski is a court-trusted vehicle appraiser whose appraisals have stood the test of even the toughest scrutiny.
- Experience: Whether it’s a diminution of value due to past accidents or a little rust covered up by shoddy repairs, Daniel will track it down. Having appraised more than 3,000 vehicles and having purchased just as many, his practiced eye has seen just about every trick in the book, so you can depend on Daniel and his network of certified appraisers to give you an accurate, dependable estimate for total peace of mind.
- Expertise: With extensive vehicle research libraries that date back to 1900, we research every detail on every car we appraise. We keep up on all the latest industry publications and attend a broad range of auctions that include R&M Classic Auctions, ADESA, and Barrett Jackson Auctions. Our expertise has earned us the trust of clients such as the Lingenfelter Motorsports Collection, the Sloan Museum, and the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. Relax—you’re in good hands with Benchmark Auto Appraisals.
Pre-Purchase Inspections – Certified Vehicle Appraisals and Inspections in New York and the Continental U.S.
As a certified member of the Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers (BOCAA), we provide certified, dependable appraisals throughout the United States. Our appraisals conform to the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Procedures (USAAP), a U.S. Congress-authorized appraisal industry board.
With extensive experience in the New York vehicle appraisal industry and a network of expert vehicle appraisers all over the country, we can deliver a thorough pre-purchase inspection for your car wherever you are. For extra convenience and savings, we offer online appraisals at a reduced rate. After we’re done, we’ll write up a full report that’s easy to read and easy to understand.
When you get ready to buy a car, you can depend on Benchmark Auto Appraisers L.L.C. to make sure you get exactly what the dealer promised. That’s our promise to you. Accurate, fair, and always at a competitive price—a Benchmark Auto Appraisers L.L.C. is the industry benchmark for vehicle appraisals. Give us a call at 1-877-888-6113 for a friendly Free Consultation or to schedule yours today!
What We Check: Classic Car Pre-Purchase Inspections
Multi-point inspection covering the entire vehicle
Our specially trained mobile inspectors will travel to the vehicle and conduct a 3 to 5 mile test drive along with a comprehensive 158-point visual inspection of the exterior, interior, underneath the car and the engine compartment. They typically take 30+ photos.
The test drive is an integral part of the testing process to ensure the roadworthiness of the vehicle.
Our inspectors perform a Comprehensive Visual Inspection of the following items:
Exterior – Body
- General Body Condition
- Body Modifications
- Body Panel Fit
- Paint Condition
- Rust/Corrosion
- Door Condition
- Door Weather Stripping
- Door Handles/Locks
- Front Fenders
- Rear Fenders
- Hood Condition
- Roof/Pillars/Roof Rack
- Trunk/Hatchback
- Front Bumper
- Rear Bumper
- Fuel Door Operation/Gas Cap
- Side Mirrors
- Truck Bed/Tailgate
Exterior – Lighting
- Headlights – High/Low
- Fog Lights
- Side Marker Lights
- Tail Lights
- Turn Signals
- Brake Lights/Center Light
- Emergency Road Hazard Lights
- Reverse Lights
- License Lights
- Other Lights
Interior Convenience & Controls
- General Condition
- Owners Manuals
- Gearshift Operation
- Parking Brake Control
- Hood Release
- Tilt Steering
- Seat Position Adjusters
- Power Seat Switch/Motor
- Power Window Switch/Motor
- Door Locks/Power Switches
- Power Mirrors
- Sunroof
- Sun Visor Vanity Mirrors
- Windshield Wiper Controls
- Defogger/Defogger Light
- Horn
- Remote Fuel Door Release
- Remote Trunk Release
- Cigarette Lighter
- Remote Key FOB
- Alarm
Engine/Underhood
- Engine/Underhood Modifications
- Hood Release Operation
- Hood Latch Operation
- Hood Hinges/Struts
- Hood Insulation
- Engine Emissions Placard
- Engine Emissions System
- Battery Condition/Battery Hold Down
- Alternator/Generator
- Engine Wiring
- Engine Leaks
- Cooling System/Radiator/Cap
- Radiator Coolant Condition
- Heater Hoses – A/C Hoses
- Drive Belts Condition
- Air Cleaner/Filter
- Engine Oil Condition
- Engine Oil Sludge
- Transmission Fluid Condition
- Power Steering System
- Brake Master Cylinder Fluid Check
- Windshield Washer Fluid
Exterior – Glass/Trim
- Front Windshield
- Rear Windshield Condition
- Door Glass Condition
- Grill
- Body Trim/Moldings
- Chrome Condition
- Convertible Top
- Wipers Front/Rear
- Antenna/Operation
Interior – Condition
- General Condition/Odors/Mildew
- Interior Modifications
- Headliner
- Front Seat Cover(s)
- Rear Seat Cover
- Seat Belts
- Headrests
- Front Carpet/Floor Mats
- Rear Carpet/Floor Mats
- Cargo Carpet
- Door Sill Plates
- Door Trim Panels
- Door Glasses/Tint
- Dashboard
- Interior Trim/Moldings
- Airbag Covers
- Glove Box Operation
- Spare Tire
- Tire/Jack/Tools
- Toolkit Complete
Interior Instruments/Lighting
- Gauges
- Odometer
- Dash/Instrument Lighting
- Check Engine Light
- Airbag Warning Light
- ABS Warning Light Operation
- Clock
- Dome Light
- Rear View Mirror/Compass
- Sun Visor Vanity Lights
- Trunk Light
- Warning Lights – Other
Interior – Radio Entertainment
- Radio Operation/Condition
- Speaker Operation/Condition
- CD/DVD Operation
- Navigation System
- Back Up Camera
- Rear Entertainment System
Interior – Heating and A/C
- A/C Operation/Temperature
- Heater Operation/Temperature
- Climate Control Operation
- Blower Speeds/Operation
- A/C Registers
- Seat Heater/Cooler Operation
Drivetrain/Chassis
- Chassis/Undercarriage Condition
- Chassis/Undercarriage Modifications
- Frame/Unibody Condition
- Exhaust System
- Suspension Systems
- Shock Absorbers
- Steering Condition
- Transmission/Cooler Line Leaks
- Brakes
- Tire Condition and Tread Depth
- Wheel Condition
- Tire Data Map
Test Drive When Possible – Test Drive is typically 3-5 miles long. The Test drive is an integral part of our process, and essential in identifying underlying issues that may be present. With the vehicle parked, the inspector will perform a series of tests to check Brake Operation, Steering for play and response, Horn, Lighting, Gauge operation, and Transmission function to include Clutch and Shift mechanisms. Due to liability concerns, the vehicle owner almost always expects to drive during the test drive portion. We will always respect that decision, and to ensure accurate results, our inspector while sitting next to the driver, will provide the necessary instructions during the test drive, in order to record all of the required test points. Some of the checklist items during the Test Drive are Starter Function, Engine Noise, Engine Operating Temperature, Exhaust Noise, Tire Noise, Transmission Operation, Alignment, Vibration, Suspension, Rattles and Squeaks. Road Ready Inspections and its inspectors reserve the right not to participate in the test drive in the event that the he/she deems the vehicle, road and/or weather conditions as hazardous for driving. The inspector makes the final decision.
- Test Drive Length and Speed
- Cold/Hot Start Quality
- Starter Function Quality
- Engine Idle Quality
- Engine Noise/Knocks/Rattles
- Engine Smokes/Excessive Blowby
- Normal Engine Operating Temperature
- Engine Acceleration/Power Check
- Exhaust Noise Level
- Transmission/Clutch Operation
- Transmission Shift/Gears Operate Smoothly
- Steering Wheel Centered
- Steering System Operation
- Vehicle Alignment/Tracking Check
- Abnormal Road Vibration
- Abnormal Tire Noise
- Suspension and Handling Quality
- Brake Operation
- Parking Brake Operation
- Speedometer/Odometer Operation
- Abnormal Wind Noise
- Squeaks/Rattles
*This is not an all-inclusive list of what we check.