Pre-Purchase Inspection Cost in South Florida (2026)
A pre-purchase inspection typically costs about $100 to $250 at a shop or dealer, according to Edmunds and ConsumerAffairs, and on-site inspections usually cost more. In South Florida, Inspect First charges $299 for Standard and $399 for Premium or Luxury, with EV and hyper-exotic cars quoted. The buyer pays the fee, and it is small next to buying a car with hidden problems.
Shop and dealer inspections run roughly $100 to $250. Ours cost more ($299 or $399) because a make specialist comes to the car and goes deeper, and the FTC says a history report is no substitute.
How much does a pre-purchase inspection cost in South Florida?
Plan on $100 to $250 for a basic shop inspection and more for a mobile one. Edmunds says shop, chain and dealer inspections generally cost about $100 to $200. ConsumerAffairs puts a typical inspection at about $150 to $250 and says on-site inspections usually cost more than in-shop services.
| Provider type | Typical price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shop, chain or dealer | $100 to $200 | Edmunds |
| Typical inspection, shop or on-site | $150 to $250 (on-site usually more) | ConsumerAffairs |
| ASE-certified technician | About $200 | ConsumerAffairs |
| Inspect First Standard | $299 | Inspect First |
| Inspect First Premium / Luxury | $399 | Inspect First |
| EV / hyper-exotic | By quote | Inspect First |
Edmunds adds that shop inspections typically cover more than 100 points with a written description, and that the findings usually are not guaranteed. Read that written description before you pay anyone.
Why does Inspect First cost more than the typical range?
Our $299 and $399 sit above the generic bands, and you should know why. The price reflects what is in the inspection and who does it, not a markup on the same checklist.
- A Master Certified Technician who specializes in your make, such as a Honda specialist for a Honda or an EV specialist for a Tesla.
- A full OBD-II scan of every module, including pending codes, readiness monitors and fault codes cleared in roughly the last 30 days.
- Paint-depth readings on every panel (factory paint is roughly 4 to 7 mils) to find hidden bodywork.
- Panel gaps, frame measurement, and an undercarriage, flood and rust check.
- Travel to the car: driveway, dealer lot or parking lot, in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Boca Raton or Wellington.
- Photo evidence and a written report with a plain-English verdict, plus a phone walkthrough from Anthony Lapadula, who dispatches the technician.
Premium adds a borescope, an on-lift underbody check when available, and a VIN history cross-check against AutoCheck and NMVTIS. EV inspections add a battery state-of-health diagnostic and EV module scan. For a simple, low-risk car, a cheaper shop inspection can be a reasonable choice. See mobile vs shop inspection and how we compare to Lemon Squad.
Who pays for a pre-purchase inspection, and how long does it take?
You pay. The FTC says buyers have to pay the inspection fee, but it can help you avoid paying for a car with major problems. The seller does not cover it.
ConsumerAffairs says an inspection should take about one to two hours, with results the same day or the next business day. With Inspect First, most appointments are same day and otherwise typically within 24-48 hours, 7 days a week, 8am-6pm ET, in English and Spanish.
If a dealer says the car can't leave the lot, the FTC says you may be able to find a mobile inspection service that will go to the dealer. We come to dealer lots, driveways and parking lots in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which removes the drop-off logistics of a shop.
Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it?
For most used cars, yes, because the fee is small next to a major repair. The FTC says a vehicle history report may list accidents and flood damage, but typically will not list mechanical problems. It also says a mechanical inspection is a good idea even if the car has been certified by the dealer and comes with a warranty or service contract.
The logic is simple: you pay a known, small fee once to find out what a car needs before you own it. If the report flags a problem, get a repair estimate before you sign and weigh it against the asking price.
Since a history report typically will not list mechanical problems, the inspection fills that gap. See our South Florida flood-car checklist, why an inspection beats Carfax and Florida as-is rights.
What a pre-purchase inspection checks
Each common worry maps to a specific step.
- Hidden mechanical or electrical faults: the full OBD-II scan of every module, pending codes and readiness monitors.
- A code someone cleared before the showing: recovery of fault codes cleared in roughly the last 30 days.
- Repainted or repaired panels: paint-depth readings on every panel against the factory 4 to 7 mils, plus panel gaps and frame measurement.
- Flood or rust: the undercarriage, flood and rust check.
- Engine internals you can't see: the Premium borescope.
- A clean-looking history: the Premium VIN cross-check against AutoCheck and NMVTIS.
- EV battery health: the battery state-of-health diagnostic. See our Tesla inspection.
Note the FTC also says a mechanical inspection differs from a safety inspection, which usually only covers things that make a car unsafe to drive. You can preview the format in our sample report.
Ask the inspector these before booking: what is covered, whether paint depth is read on every panel, whether the technician knows your make, and whether you get photos and a written verdict.
Call or text 561-350-9389 or book an inspection. We come to the car, and Hablamos Español.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a mobile car inspection cost?
- ConsumerAffairs says on-site inspections usually cost more than in-shop ones, which it puts at about $150 to $250. Inspect First is $299 Standard and $399 Premium or Luxury, with EV and hyper-exotic cars by quote. See mobile vs shop.
- Do I need an inspection on a certified pre-owned car?
- Yes, it is still a good idea. The FTC says a mechanical inspection makes sense even if the dealer has certified and inspected the car and it comes with a warranty or service contract.
- What if the dealer won't let me take the car for an inspection?
- Ask for a mobile inspection. The FTC says that if a dealer won't let the car leave the lot, maybe because of insurance restrictions, you may find a mobile inspection service that will go to the dealer.
- Does a Carfax report replace a pre-purchase inspection?
- No. The FTC says a vehicle history report may list accidents and flood damage but typically will not list mechanical problems, and it is not a substitute for an inspection. See why an inspection beats Carfax.
- Is a state safety inspection the same as a mechanical inspection?
- No. The FTC says a mechanical inspection is different from a safety inspection, and safety inspections usually only focus on things that make a car unsafe to drive. A mechanical inspection looks at the car's overall condition.
Sources
- Buying a Used Car From a Dealer, Federal Trade Commission, 2026
- Inspect That Used Car Before Buying, Edmunds, 2026
- What Is a Pre-Purchase Inspection? (2026), ConsumerAffairs, 2026
Anthony Lapadula, Owner / Operator of Inspect First. He dispatches a Master Certified Technician who specializes in your car's make, then walks you through the findings by phone, in English or Spanish. 561-350-9389
Before you sign, let a Master Certified Technician check it. We come to the car.