Used Car Inspection - AA, RAC or Other

sallycanwait

We bought a used Honda Civic at the weekend and had looked over it as best we could with our limited knowledge. All seemed ok. On buying it, we were given the HPI check which showed 6 previous owners (2001 Y reg) which was a bit of a surprise, but it goes well and seems in good nick.

After getting it home, my dad had a good look over it and was a bit concerned by the amount of rust on the suspension area (think that's where it is), although strangely there are some bits that have none.

For peace of mind, we want to get a proper inspection done so if there is anything wrong we can take it back within the 3 month warranty period to have it sorted and still hopefully be within our rights if something major.

The AA and RAC are the best known although differ slightly in price, but just wondered if anyone could recommend which is best to go with or if there are any others I could try. Have done an extensive search on here already and can't find anything - surely someone knows!!!

Premier_2

Sadly, now you've bought it, an engineers report will do nothing but possibly upset you.

Used car warranties usually only cover major mechanical breakdown. If the car is still running, there's not much you can do unless you can prove the car does not conform to contract. (e.g. its been cut & shut)

sallycanwait

That may be so, but if there is something covered by the warranty I'd still rather know about it now and get it sorted, as well as have the peace of mind of knowing it isn't a cut and shut and is mechanically ok (I have a 6 month old daughter and will be driving lots in the next month or so with her in the car).

Have found 2 other companies: Dekra and Auteco.

Just trying to compare what each offers for the price...

michaelro

Honda main dealer or Honda Specialist?

I had a Subaru main dealer give a car I was considering a once over - Cost me £80.
Car had CV boots that needed replacing that I wouldn't have spotted - Would have cost several hundred pounds so I gave the car a miss.

Might be worth a call to get a price - At least they know what to look for.

More to the point, wouldn't it be worth trying the place you bought it from first to save yourself the inspection fee??

bennybroadbean

I had an AA full inspection on an old Mini Cooper (1993) when I first starting driving - to be honest it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. The inspector had said the car was in good working order, no rust, no damage etc etc - they agreed that the car was worth the advertised price. Anyhow we acted on their advise (as we are no mechanics) and purchased it - turns out the car had rust round the arches and on the sills - to cut a long story short we threaterned to sue the AA if they didnt pay.... they ended up paying the the whole repair job!

Premier_2

bennybroadbean wrote: »

I had an AA full inspection on an old Mini Cooper (1993) when I first starting driving - to be honest it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. ...they ended up paying the the whole repair job!

Cheap repair then? Or perhaps written on extremely expensive paper?

bennybroadbean

Premier wrote: »

Cheap repair then? Or perhaps written on extremely expensive paper?

Repair job came it at £2600 to put the car right.