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Inspect First vs Lemon Squad: which pre-purchase inspection fits a South Florida buyer?
An honest side-by-side for South Florida car buyers — including when the other option is the better choice.
Lemon Squad is a national mobile inspection company; Inspect First is a South Florida service where the owner, Anthony Lapadula, personally dispatches a Master Certified Technician who specializes in the car's make. Both come to the car. The differences are in who shows up, what gets checked, and who you talk to afterward.
Everything in the Lemon Squad column below comes from Lemon Squad's own website. Where their site doesn't say, we write "Not stated" rather than guess.
Inspect First vs Lemon Squad: side by side
| Attribute | Inspect First | Lemon Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Comes to the car | Yes: Driveway, dealer lot or parking lot | Yes: Per their site, the inspector goes to the vehicle |
| Make-specialized technician | Yes: Dispatched by make | Not stated |
| Full module scan | Yes: Every module scanned | Fault code scan of engine, transmission, ABS and airbag |
| Wiped-code recovery | Yes: Recovers recently cleared codes | Not stated |
| Paint depth on every panel | YesYes | Not stated |
| Frame check | Yes: Frame measurement | Checks for previous accident and flood damage |
| Bilingual EN/ES | Yes: English / Español | Not stated |
| Phone walkthrough with the owner | Yes: With Anthony, the owner | Optional $49.99 call with in-house staff |
| Written report + photos | Yes: Written report + photos | Yes: 25+ photos (Standard) |
| Price | $299 Standard · $399 Premium · EV/exotic by quote | $220 Standard · $286 Exotic |
| Typical turnaround | Usually scheduled within 24–48 hours, often same day; report same day | Typically within two business days; report usually the next morning |
Lemon Squad details per lemonsquad.com and lemonsquad.com/local/miami-fl, as of Sep 2026. Prices and inclusions may change — check their site. Sources: lemonsquad.com, lemonsquad.com/local/miami-fl.
When is Lemon Squad the better choice?
Lemon Squad has real advantages. It's a national network, so if the car is outside South Florida — say, a truck in Texas you're buying remotely — a national service can reach places a local one can't. Its listed Standard price is also lower than ours. If you're buying a common, late-model car, want a basic mechanical and photo check, and cost is the deciding factor, their Standard package may be all you need.
Inspect First is built for a different buyer. Anthony dispatches a technician who specializes in the specific make — a BMW specialist for a BMW, an EV specialist for a Tesla — because the expensive failures on those cars are make-specific. Every inspection includes a scan of every module (not just the engine, transmission, ABS and airbag), a check for recently cleared fault codes, and paint-depth readings on every panel to find respray and body filler that photos can hide.
The other difference is who you talk to. With Inspect First, the phone walkthrough is with Anthony, the owner, and it's included in the Premium inspection. It can be in Spanish. For a South Florida buyer looking at a luxury, European, EV or higher-risk car, or anyone who wants to talk the findings through with a person accountable for the result, that's usually worth the difference in price.
Our honest take: for a basic check on an ordinary car, especially outside our area, Lemon Squad is a reasonable option. For make-specific risk in South Florida, choose the specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Inspect First cheaper than Lemon Squad?
No. Lemon Squad lists its Standard inspection at $220 on its website (as of Sep 2026). Inspect First's Standard is $299 and Premium / Luxury is $399. The difference pays for a make-specialized technician, a scan of every module, wiped-code recovery and paint depth on every panel.
Does Lemon Squad send a make-specialized mechanic?
Their website doesn't say. Inspect First always dispatches a Master Certified Technician who specializes in the car's make.
Do both services come to the car?
Yes. Lemon Squad states its inspector goes to the vehicle, and Inspect First inspects at the dealer lot, driveway or parking lot.
Which is better for a car outside Florida?
A national network like Lemon Squad covers more places. Inspect First focuses on South Florida; for other markets, call Anthony — he has trusted partner inspectors in some areas and will tell you honestly if he can't help.
Can I get the inspection in Spanish?
With Inspect First, yes — booking, report and the phone walkthrough. Lemon Squad's site doesn't state Spanish service.
More comparisons: Independent inspection vs the dealer's inspection · Pre-purchase inspection vs Carfax and AutoCheck · Mobile vs shop pre-purchase inspection
Book an inspection
Talk to Anthony before you buy.
Send the VIN and where the car is. Anthony dispatches the right Master Certified Technician for the make — usually within 24–48 hours, often the same day. Hablamos Español.
Mon–Sat · 8am–7pm ET