Pre-Purchase Car Inspection in Dubai & the UAE

What a pre-purchase car inspection actually covers

A pre-purchase inspection is a structured examination of a used car before money changes hands. Ours runs to more than 600 individual checks across seven areas: engine and gearbox, suspension, brakes and steering, exterior and paint, interior and electronics, accident and flood history, and tyres and underbody — finishing with a full diagnostic scan of every module the car will report on.

The checks that matter most in this market are the ones a test drive cannot reveal. Paint-depth readings on each panel show filler and resprays that polish hides. A diagnostic scan shows fault codes cleared shortly before a viewing. An underbody inspection shows corrosion and accident repair that a clean engine bay distracts from. You can read the full inspection checklist or see every service we offer.

How much a car inspection costs in Dubai

Our pricing is fixed: AED 299 for the Standard inspection, which covers 400+ checkpoints including diagnostics, body, engine, gearbox, tyres, brakes and accident history; and AED 399 for Comprehensive, which adds paint thickness on every panel, flood assessment, underbody and suspension, brand-specific diagnostics and a photo and video report.

Mobile visits within Dubai are included in those prices. Other emirates carry a small fixed travel fee, quoted before you book rather than added afterwards. There is nothing to pay until the inspection is finished. Full details are on the pricing page.

How long it takes and when you get the report

Most inspections take 60 to 90 minutes depending on the package and the vehicle. The report is compiled on site and sent the same day, usually within a few hours, by WhatsApp and email — followed by a call from the inspector to explain what was found and what it means for the price you have been quoted.

Why an independent inspection is different

A dealer-arranged check is paid for by the person selling the car. We sell nothing and repair nothing, so there is no second interest pulling at the result. If a car is sound we say so plainly; if it is not, you get the evidence in writing, with photographs, and can decide whether to walk away or negotiate.

That independence is the whole product. It is also why we publish what we check rather than only a headline number — a count means little if the items behind it are not recorded on the report you receive.

GCC spec versus imported cars

Specification matters more in the UAE than in cooler markets. GCC-specification cars are built with larger cooling capacity, better corrosion protection and air conditioning sized for this climate. Imported vehicles — particularly from North America, Europe and Japan — may be cheaper to buy and harder to live with, and some arrive after flood or auction damage abroad.

We identify the specification, look for the signs that an import has been repaired before shipping, and tell you what it means for running costs and resale. Our guide to red flags when buying a used car covers the warning signs in more detail.

Where we inspect

We are a mobile service across all seven emirates. Most of our work is in Dubai — villa driveways, tower car parks, showroom forecourts and the used-car yards at Al Aweer — and we travel regularly to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Al Ain.

You do not need to be present. If you are buying from another emirate or from overseas, we meet the seller, carry out the inspection at their location and report back to you.