Independent inspections are a good way to see if a used car is going to be a good purchase for you. You cannot rely on what the seller tells you about a vehicle. There is a good primer on inspecting a used car on this website but that's really designed to give you an a strong initial impression of a used car. Independent inspections are a good bet.
Alliance Inspection Management (AiM) conducts automotive inspections for consumer buyers and sellers with one vehicle to buy or sell, as well for domestic and imported automotive manufacturers, dealers, finance companies and fleet operators with thousands of cars. Last year it opened its consumer business, which made it seem logical to ask the company about its relatively new line of business. Eric Widmer, its vice president, answered the questions.
Q. The consumer division of AIM Inspections opened in 2009. How many consumer vehicles has the company inspected since opening the division?
A. Since launching our [consumer to consumer] product in 2009 we have completed over 1500 consumer inspections.
Q. Your company does 150-point inspections on used cars, which equals or exceeds what manufacturers do when certifying their used vehicles. What are some things your inspectors look for that a manufacturer may not in a used car?
A. We conduct a detailed visual inspection, our inspectors are highly trained to find previous repair and frame damages in addition to cosmetic imperfections. By conducting a test drive we have the ability to be the eyes and ears of the prospective buyer or seller.
Q. Your sample reports online show photographs. Does the inspector photograph the car as part of the inspection?
A. As the quotation goes "a picture is worth a thousand words." Our inspectors take pictures of both profile shots and conditions that would affect the value of the car. If the buyer or seller fully understands the complete condition they can make better choices.
Q. Do your inspectors assign a cost to their inspection results? If a car requires extensive repairs, will an inspector suggest an amount to knock off the price or assign it a value?
A. We have the ability to post repair estimates, but do not post them on consumer inspections because the labor rates in local markets can fluctuate greatly. For a consumer, we generally describe the damage and photo-document it so they can make an informed decision. On our wholesale side we utilize Audatex estimating software to price out each chargeable damage to come up with an exact dollar amount.
Q. If a car is certified by a manufacturer, does it make sense to hire an independent inspection service like yours? Is there any added value to the consumer?
A. There are many types of "certified" programs in the marketplace. Some are backed by the manufacturer and in those cases it is a matter of trusting that the dealer performed all of the required work. It would make sense for any provider of a "certified pre owned" process to hire AiM to audit what the dealer is certifying. In cases where a "certified" program is offered by someone other than a manufacturer, a vehicle inspection is a smart move because the buyer will get an unbiased assessment of the vehicle's condition. If the buyer has an inspection together with a vehicle history report, they'll have enough information on the vehicle to make a rational buying decision, whether it's "certified" or not.
Q. When does it make sense not to have an independent inspection done?
A. I can't think of a case where the inspection would be detrimental. An independent inspection provides validation to both the buyer and seller that what is being represented is correct.
Q. Why should a seller have an inspection done? What value is there in that?
The independency of AiM is the main selling point; we have no vested interest in either the buy or sell side of the transaction. There are agendas on both sides in any transaction. We have none.
Q. Is your company's work guaranteed? If so, what is the guarantee?
A. Our terms and conditions are laid out on the website and we are in the process of adding an oil sample test that will have an implied warranty if it passes to alleviate concerns with the engine and transmission.
Q. You have nearly 600 ASE certified inspectors. Does this ASE certification include auto body certification? Frame problems cannot always be accurately diagnosed by a mechanic.
A. Note: We do not have ASE certified inspectors nationwide. If our inspectors feel that a condition needs additional follow-up we will recommend that the buyer/seller seek an expert opinion on that particular item. Most buyers and sellers can make the decision based on our condition report on whether to conclude the transaction or not.
Q. Do your inspectors work only for AIM? Or, are they on call from their own service facilities, for example?
A. Our inspectors are an employee based workgroup. Our philosophy is to give the inspectors a company car, a uniform program and all the right equipment to do the job correctly. Utilizing contractors is an attractive price solution but you cannot assure quality and professionalism that we feel is more important to the consumer.
Q. Your fee is $129. Does that waver? Will certain things make it go higher?
A. There are additional service levels that range in price. We have a level that includes an Autocheck vehicle history report; we have a different rate for classic and older models. We are constantly evaluating new product offerings and polling our consumers to see what adds value. When the market tells us that a service is viable and important we add the service to our offerings. A great example of this is the oil sampling. Our consumers told us that they needed more help validating the condition of the engine and transmission than what we could tell them by test driving and inspecting the engine compartment so we developed the process to pull the so called "DNA" from the oil extend a guarantee if it passes to alleviate any anxiety over these two particular items.
