Not every pre-purchase inspection is equal. Some are a quick look under the bonnet; others give you evidence you can actually negotiate with. Melbourne mobile inspector Instant Auto Reach is a good benchmark for what a thorough service should include, so here are six things to check, and how they measure up.
1. Independence
The inspector should work for you, not the seller or the dealer. Instant Auto Reach is booked and paid by the buyer, and its reports call faults as they find them.
2. They come to the car
A good service meets the car where it is. Their mobile pre-purchase inspection goes to private sellers’ homes and dealer yards across Greater Melbourne, 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm.
3. A real scan and a real road test
Look for a diagnostic scan of the car’s computers and a road test longer than a lap of the block. Both are part of every Instant Auto Reach inspection, along with a 200+ point check.
4. A clear verdict, not just a checklist
A list of ticks does not tell you whether to buy. Their same-day report includes photos, a severity rating on each finding and a plain buy, negotiate or walk recommendation, followed by a phone call to talk it through.
5. Options for the car you are buying
Packages should suit the vehicle. Instant Auto Reach offers Basic from $348, Standard from $479 with photos of every item and a VicRoads history report, and Ultimate from $594 with a longer freeway road test and negotiation with the dealership on your behalf. Electric cars get a dedicated pre-purchase EV inspection, and the battery can be tested on its own with an EV battery health check.
6. Reviews that mention people by name
Genuine reviews name the inspector and describe what happened. Instant Auto Reach holds a 5.0-star Google rating, and its reviews read like this:
“Ray & his team live up to their reputation – thorough, friendly, prompt & professional with no hard sell. Highly recommended.”
Verified Google review
“Ray from Instant Auto Reach is an absolute dream to deal with, EASY ONLINE BOOKING service, great communication, detailed report & after care service. Ray was so meticulous he went above & beyond to be thorough in all aspects of my pre purchase check. A breath of fresh air to know he has your back. Highly recommend A1++”
Verified Google review
A note on roadworthies
A roadworthy certificate is a safety check the seller needs in Victoria. It is not a full inspection, so do not treat one as a replacement for the other.
The verdict
If a service ticks all six, you are in good hands. In Melbourne, Instant Auto Reach is one of the few that ticks every one.
