Very similar to a home inspection, having a vehicle inspection performed before purchasing the vehicle enables you to have peace of mind about the vehicle’s current condition. With that newly found information you will be able to weigh the pros and cons of the vehicle you are looking at purchasing. You’ll be armed with information that can enable you to negotiate a lower price for the vehicle, negotiate repairs to be performed, purchase the car “as is” or pass on purchasing the vehicle.

Most all other inspection companies subcontract their inspections to different inspectors around the nation. This alone causes a number of low quality inspections to fall through the cracks and into the hands of the customer. This is primarily caused by inadequate vetting and training of their contracted inspectors. Here at MI Auto Inspections, no inspection request is subcontracted out. All inspections are done in-house. From initial inspection request to the final inspection report being sent to your email, you will have access to talk to the ASE Certified Technician Brandon Brown regarding your concerns about the vehicle before and after the inspection is performed. This access will ensure that all aspects of the inspection report are clearly understood, without confusion.

Our area of service covers a 100 mile radius from the Georgia zip code 30080.

A 25 mile radius from our office is included within our initial inspection fee. Additional mileage over 25 miles requires a $1 per mile, one-way fee to be included. Ex: 45 miles would be $20 mileage plus inspection fee.

There are instances where a inspection request can be issued a refund. Those requests will be based on a case-by-case scenario. All cancellation or refunds will accrue a $25 surcharge.

Inspections are typically completed and emailed out to you within 24 hours of purchasing your inspection. At times the inspector’s prior inspection schedule, the seller schedule or bad weather can hinder the inspection from being performed within 24 hours after purchase. Reports that need to be expedited before the 24 hour time frame of purchase will accrue a $50 expedition fee.

All inspection requests are prepaid. This ensures that you are serious about purchasing a vehicle and our services. This will also help expedite the process of contacting the seller to schedule a appointment for inspection.

No, there are sellers who believe their vehicle is in better condition than the findings in our report. Often these sellers are blinded by what they perceive the vehicle to be versus what a professional automotive technician knows the vehicle to be. A disgruntled seller can sometimes cause difficulty or unease if we have to go and perform another inspection at their location. When you receive your inspection report and are educated on the pros and cons, if you feel as though you do not want to purchase the vehicle, simply tell the seller you’re going pass, thanks for your time.

We start off by performing a visual inspection around the body of the vehicle. We’re looking for any and everything that differs from a Factory OEM vehicle. We’re looking for body panel misalignment, paint discrepancies, paint / bodywork, dents, dings, scratches and any evidence of accident or frame damage. A paint meter is then used to help ensure if the paint is OEM or aftermarket. Another great feature of using a paint meter during the inspection process is that it helps detect signs of rust and Bondo. Very important tool for detecting hidden accident damage and hidden Bondo that is typically found on classic vintage vehicles. After a careful inspection of the exterior, we perform a comprehensive inspection of the engine compartment.

We ensure all standard accessible fluid levels are checked for their condition and level. Belts, batteries, mounts and overall engine condition is then evaluated. Once visual engine compartment evaluation is complete, we start the vehicle. Starting the vehicle this early ensures that the vehicle will be running for at least a half an hour before the test drive. As soon as the engine is running, we inspect the tailpipe for abnormal smoke and use a stethoscope to ensure no abnormal engine noises are present. While the vehicle is running, we then perform a visual inspection of the vehicle’s undercarriage and exterior lights.

For the undercarriage inspection we are looking for fluid leaks or seepages, rust / corrosion or any signs of flooding, steering and suspension wear and tear, drive shaft wear and tear, visual brakes and tire condition, and frame or unibody damage. We also listen for any abnormal noise coming from the exhaust or lower portion of the engine.

Once we finish the comprehensive inspection of the undercarriage we move on to the interior of the vehicle. This portion of the inspection looks for interior flooding, seat/seat belt condition and operation, instrument cluster gauges, dashboard, center console and trim conditions, all on board electronic components condition and operation, and interior of the trunk along with the spare and spare tire tools. Every button inside of the vehicle is operated to ensure its operating condition.

Once our inspection of the exterior, interior, engine compartment and undercarriage or complete we prepare for the test drive. Test drives are performed on a case-by-case basis. If the seller allows, weather permits and the vehicle is deemed safe to operate, we perform a minimum 5 mile test drive. During this test drive we’re paying close attention to the engine and transmission performance, braking performance, steering and suspension performance, tire and wheel bearing performance, instrument cluster warning lights and gauges, overall drive-ability and reliability, and also safety and comfort features like Lane keep assist and cruise control.

Once the test drive is complete, we perform an on-board scan of the vehicles computer systems. Scanning the computer after the vehicle has been running for some time and a test drive has been performed minimizes the chances of a reset ECM computer sneaking pass our inspection process. On most vehicles our computer scan will cover the ECM, TCM, ABS and airbag system. We also look at the vehicle’s monitors to ensure that the vehicle is currently ready to pass standard Georgia emissions. Diesel truck computer scans are also available