- Our vehicle inspections are visual checks only. They don't include mechanical dismantling of any part of the vehicle.
- The Advanced inspection includes the additional checks listed in the table below.
- The inspections provide a general assessment only, and are not intended to diagnose a specific issue with the vehicle.
- You’ll receive a full refund if you cancel before the day of the inspection. Cancellations made on the day of the inspection incur a £15 fee.
Vehicle Inspections
Check a used vehicle's condition
With the pre-purchase checks in our Vehicle Inspection, you can see whether a used car is in good order before you buy
Why choose The AA for your independent vehicle inspection?
We can inspect cars, 4x4s, motorhomes, vans, hybrid vehicles and electric cars. They include vehicles up to 20 years old, but exclude insurance write-offs.
The price and level of inspection depends on the vehicle you're looking at and the checks you'd like. That includes the type, age, value and model of vehicle, and excludes insurance write-offs.
10% off for AA members
AA breakdown members get 10% off a vehicle inspection, helping you save on extra peace of mind.
Fast, hassle-free booking
We aim to inspect your chosen vehicle within 2 to 4 working days of booking.
Independent checks before you buy
Get a trained engineer’s view of the vehicle’s condition, with details of any problems found in your report.
Important information
We offer three levels of pre-purchase vehicle inspections
Each inspection includes
Qualified engineer to inspect the car, van or motorhome you're interested in.
A visual check of a vehicle with details of any problems we find
A PDF report with details of the findings of the inspection
Basic
AA member price†
Fixed £99Non-member price†
Fixed £110
Up to 98-point check
For vehicles up to 20 years old
Detailed report of checks and findings
Limited checks of exterior and interior
Limited checks of Engine and Fuel system
Basic road test
Comprehensive
AA member price†
£197 to £287Non-member price†
£219 to £319
Up to 214-point check
For vehicles up to 20 years old
Full photographic report
Detailed physical inspection, including mechanical parts
Bodywork checks for accident damage
Up to 10-mile road test
Brake pads and discs checked (if visible without removing wheels)
Advanced
AA member price†
£251 to £305Non-member price†
£279 to £339
Up to 221-point check
For vehicles up to 20 years old
Full video and photographic report
Detailed physical inspection, including mechanical parts
Bodywork checks for accident damage
Up to 10-mile road test
Full brake pads and discs condition check
Brake fluid analysis
Digital Battery Test
Diagnostic system overview
† Comprehensive and Advanced prices depend on the vehicle type and engine size. Your final price will be confirmed before booking and payment.
For a Comprehensive inspection, pricing analysis for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026 suggests that 10% of customers would qualify for the lowest price within the price range. This is indicative only as prices have since changed.
The Advanced inspection is a new product and the full price range is shown. Pricing data is still being established.
Member prices apply only to AA breakdown members. Membership is paid for separately and is subject to its own terms.
What is a vehicle inspection check before purchase?
A pre-purchase vehicle inspection is an independent check of a used vehicle’s condition before you commit to buying it, carried out by a trained engineer to help identify visible faults, damage or potential issues that may not be obvious during a viewing or test drive. You’ll receive a report explaining what’s been checked and what’s been found, giving you added reassurance before you decide whether to buy.
Every vehicle has a story to tell. And when you're buying a used vehicle, it's hard to tell what condition it's in just by looking at it. That's where our Vehicle Inspection with pre-purchase checks can help. The inspection includes:
- Qualified engineer to inspect the car (or van or motorhome) you’re interested in.
- A report for peace of mind that it's roadworthy and safe.
- Once you have your report, you can point out the issues we've found to the seller before you buy. That way, you can ask the seller if they can fix it or reduce the price before you part with your money.
How does a vehicle inspection work?
You can book your vehicle inspection online in a few simple steps:
Fill in a few details
Tell us about the vehicle, choose the level of inspection you’d like — Basic, Comprehensive or Advanced — and make your payment online.
We arrange the inspection
We’ll contact the seller to arrange a suitable time, then assign a trained engineer to inspect the vehicle and carry out a road test where possible.
Get your report
Your engineer will talk you through the report, explaining what they found so you can review any issues before deciding whether to buy.
What does a vehicle inspection cover?
Inspection includes
- Body exterior*
- Engine compartment
- Electrical controls (interior and luggage compartments)*
- Front and rear suspension (front and rear under frames)*
- Steering
- Clutch
- Transmission
- Exhaust system
- Fuel system
- Brakes
- Wheels and tyres
- Road test of up to 5 or 10 miles (depending on the vehicle type, road conditions, traffic, fuel level and engineer’s judgement)
Inspection does not include
- Vehicle data checks, outstanding finance, VIN match, previous owners, or mileage accuracy – but you can use our vehicle check to get information on this
- Oil and fuel consumption
- Sources of oil leaks
- Multimedia systems or sat navs
- Cylinder compression
- Air-conditioning function and efficiency (using specific diagnostic equipment)
- Vehicle electrics and electronics (requiring the use of specific diagnostic equipment)
- Exhaust emissions and/or catalytic converters (requiring the use of gas analysing equipment)
- Habitation area of motor homes (electrical systems, water/gas fittings and associated appliances; body/caravan area for water ingress or dampness)
- Dismantling, removing, disconnecting or taking apart any item on the vehicle (for more details see our Ts&Cs)
* Limited checks and exclusions apply for basic, van and motorhome inspections.
Why should you get a vehicle inspection before buying a car?
- You can save yourself time, hassle and potentially thousands of pounds with a used car inspection. It won’t delay the sale and it’ll help you avoid any costly surprises.
- Our trained engineers give you a completely neutral report on the vehicle’s condition. It means you’ll quickly have detailed information to help you decide whether or not to buy.
- If you do decide to buy, you can ask the seller to fix any issues we've found or reduce the price before you buy.
What our expert says...
"Buying a used vehicle is a big commitment, so it pays to look beyond the shiny paintwork. You wouldn’t buy a house without a survey, and the same thinking should apply to a car, van or motorhome. Hidden faults can be expensive to fix, and they’re not always obvious on a test drive. An AA inspection gives you an independent view of the vehicle’s condition, helping you buy with your eyes open."
James Hosking, Operations Director - Digital at The AA
Buy your car with confidence
We also offer a car history check service to find out about a car’s history, finance status and previous owners
Reasons why we might refuse to inspect a vehicle
In certain circumstances we're entitled to refuse to inspect a vehicle: If our engineer can't get reasonable access to the vehicle to carry out the inspection.
In certain circumstances we're entitled to refuse to inspect a vehicle: If our engineer can't get reasonable access to the vehicle to carry out the inspection.
- If the vehicle doesn't have an MOT.
- If the vehicle doesn't appear to be of standard production (it may be a kit car or been modified in a certain way) or to be roadworthy.
- If you've given us incorrect or incomplete information, whereby the engineer is prevented from carrying out the inspection.
In these circumstances we'll refund the cost of the inspection unless you ask us to rearrange it.