How Much Does a Pre-Purchase Inspection Cost in Canada?

A pre-purchase inspection typically costs $150–$250 at an independent shop in Canada; dealerships often charge $200–$300 or more. It is the best $200 you will spend when buying used.

What is included: a lift inspection of the suspension, brakes, and exhaust; an engine and transmission check; a scan for stored fault codes; tire and fluid condition; and usually a short road test. The good ones hand you a written report, often with photos.

Always use your own mechanic — never the seller's. An inspection from the seller's buddy is worth exactly what you paid for it: nothing. If you are buying far from home, CAA and the Automobile Protection Association can point you to reputable inspectors.

If the seller refuses an inspection, walk away. That refusal tells you everything the inspection would have told you, and it costs you nothing to learn.

On a $15,000 used car, uncovering $2,000 of hidden rust or a failing transmission is a spectacular return on a $200 inspection. Even a clean report is worth it — you buy with confidence instead of crossing your fingers.

And when the inspection turns up work the car needs, do not just take the seller's word that “it's minor.” Look up what those repairs typically cost — it is your strongest negotiating lever on the price.