Modern-classic pre-purchase inspection checklist

Use this sheet to record what you saw, what the seller said and what still needs checking. It is not a roadworthy certificate, valuation or substitute for an independent inspection by a qualified professional. Ask the seller before taking photographs, connecting diagnostic equipment, moving trim or driving the car.

For every line, mark one status:

• **Satisfactory:** observed and no concern recorded.
• **Investigate:** a difference, fault, gap or uncertainty needs follow-up.
• **Not inspected:** access, permission, conditions or knowledge did not allow a useful check.

Do not use "satisfactory" when you mean "probably fine". Add a photograph number, document reference or short note where it helps.

Inspection record

• Date, time and location: ______________________________
• Seller or representative: _____________________________
• Asking price: ________________________________________
• Odometer displayed: __________________________________
• Registration: ________________________________________
• VIN as read from vehicle: _____________________________
• Claimed year, model and variant: ______________________
• Weather and lighting: _________________________________
• Was the engine cold on arrival? Yes / No / Unknown
• People present: ______________________________________

1. Identity and specification

Record identifiers exactly as they appear. Do not repair a faint or unexpected character from memory.

• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — VIN visible on the vehicle and matches the documents presented.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — build, compliance and registration details agree, or differences are explained and documented.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — engine identification checked where safely accessible and relevant.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — option, data or paint-code labels photographed where present.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — body style, engine, transmission and trim match the advertised variant.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — import or Australian-delivery status established from evidence rather than appearance.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — modifications listed, including wheels, suspension, brakes, engine management and emissions equipment.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — keys, books, tools and removable equipment counted.

Identity notes and photo references:

____________________________________________________________________

2. Ownership, registration and history

A folder of paper is useful only if it can be connected to this car and put in sequence.

• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — seller's identity and authority to sell can be verified through the appropriate transaction process.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — registration status and identifier details checked using the relevant state or territory service.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — a current PPSR search will be obtained close to purchase using the VIN entered carefully.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — service book entries form a plausible chronology.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — invoices show dates, odometer readings, vehicle identifiers, workshop details and work described.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — major claimed repairs or restorations have invoices and photographs where available.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — recall or campaign questions have been referred to the manufacturer or authorised channel where relevant.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — gaps, duplicate documents and unexplained odometer changes are listed for follow-up.

Do not assume a parts receipt proves installation, or that a stamp describes every item completed. Note seller statements separately from documentary evidence.

History gaps and questions:

____________________________________________________________________

3. Body, structure and exterior

Inspect a reasonably clean, dry car in daylight if possible. Dirt, rain and low light can conceal differences.

• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — panel gaps and shut lines visually consistent side to side.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — paint colour, texture and finish checked across adjacent panels.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — overspray, masking lines, disturbed fasteners or replacement labels recorded.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — visible corrosion, bubbling, swelling or previous rust repair photographed.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — sills, wheel openings, floor edges and accessible mounting areas viewed without dismantling.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — doors, bonnet, boot or tailgate open, close and latch normally.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — glass, lamps, mirrors, seals and exterior trim checked for damage and correct operation.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — water entry, dampness or obstructed drainage evidence noted in accessible areas.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — wheels inspected for visible damage; wheel and tyre markings recorded.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — tyres checked for age markings, size, load/speed markings, tread condition and uneven wear.

Do not crawl beneath an unsupported vehicle. A workshop inspection on a suitable lift is the place for a proper view of floors, structural points, leaks and previous repairs.

4. Cabin, controls and safety equipment

• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — seats, belts, latches and adjustment mechanisms checked without forcing them.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — visible wear compared with the claimed use and recorded without treating it as proof of mileage.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — warning lamps illuminate and extinguish through the normal start sequence; anomalies recorded.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — windows, locks, mirrors, wipers, washers, horn and interior lighting tried.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls tried.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — audio, navigation, displays and fitted accessories checked.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — signs of dampness, water staining, odour or damaged trim recorded.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — airbag or restraint-system alterations, warning lights or damaged covers referred for professional assessment.

5. Under-bonnet observations and cold start

Keep hands, hair, clothing and tools away from belts, fans, hot parts and moving components. Do not open a hot cooling system. Do not touch orange high-voltage cabling or components.

• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — engine was cold before starting, or its prior running state was disclosed.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — fluid levels and visible condition observed only where the manufacturer permits a safe check.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — visible leaks, staining, damaged wiring, loose items or improvised repairs recorded.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — hoses, belts and mounts viewed for obvious deterioration without treating appearance as a full assessment.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — start time, idle behaviour, warning messages, smoke and unusual sounds noted.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — no seller-added warming, battery reset or warning-light explanation left unrecorded.

Observation is not diagnosis. Give recordings and notes to the inspecting workshop rather than naming a failed component yourself.

6. Road-test notes

Drive only with permission, appropriate licence and insurance arrangements, on a safe route. If the car appears unsafe, do not drive it.

• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — engine response and displayed temperature observed under ordinary use.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — clutch or transmission engagement, shifts and noises recorded.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — steering feel, self-centring, vibration and straight-line behaviour noted.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — brake pedal feel, stopping behaviour, warning lamps and unusual sounds noted without conducting aggressive tests.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — suspension noises and body movement noted over a suitable low-speed surface.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — driveline vibration or noise recorded by speed, load and road condition.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — cruise control and driver-assistance functions tried only where safe and lawful.
• [ ] Satisfactory [ ] Investigate [ ] Not inspected — hot restart and post-drive leak or odour observations recorded.

Route, speed range and conditions:

____________________________________________________________________

7. Independent professional inspection

Give the workshop this checklist and ask for a separate report. Request clear categories for safety or roadworthiness, urgent repair, developing issue, routine maintenance, previous repair and not assessed.

Ask the inspector to confirm:

• vehicle identity and relevant variant equipment;
• underbody and structural condition on suitable lifting equipment;
• braking, steering, suspension, tyres and wheel condition;
• evidence of leaks, overheating, collision or corrosion repair;
• fault codes and system checks appropriate to the model, with limits stated;
• service-history gaps and likely baseline work;
• modifications, legality or certification questions requiring specialist advice;
• parts or areas that could not be inspected.

Purchase record

• Professional inspection booked with: _____________________________
• Date: __________________________________________________________
• Safety or legal issues: _________________________________________
• Work required before normal use: _________________________________
• Unresolved identity/history points: ______________________________
• Written estimate obtained? Yes / No
• PPSR search date and certificate number: _________________________
• Outcome and reasons: ____________________________________________

A good checklist does not tell you to buy the car. It preserves enough evidence to weigh the purchase with the excitement turned down and the unknowns left visible.