Buying a used car or truck from a private seller usually means buying it as-is, with no dealer warranty and no easy way to undo the deal. A pre-purchase inspection is the best protection you have. Under the Bus Auto inspects used vehicles where they are parked, at the seller’s home, a parking lot or a dealer lot, anywhere in Canon City and Fremont County, so you know what you are buying before you pay.
Why Mobile Inspections Work Well for Private Sales
Many private sellers will not let a buyer take the vehicle to a shop. A mobile inspection removes that obstacle. You arrange a time with the seller, we meet you at the vehicle, and you get an independent opinion from someone who has no stake in the sale.
What We Inspect
Engine and Drivetrain
Cold start behavior, idle quality, leaks, belts and hoses, fluid condition, noises, and signs of overheating or neglect. We scan for stored and pending trouble codes and check whether codes were recently cleared, which can hide problems.
Transmission
Fluid condition where it can be checked, shift quality on a test drive where the seller allows it, and leaks.
Brakes, Tires and Suspension
Pad and rotor wear, brake fluid, tire tread and uneven wear, ball joints, tie rods, shocks, struts and steering play.
Electrical
Battery and charging system, lights, power accessories, heating and air conditioning, and dashboard warning lights.
Body and Frame
Rust, especially on frames and brake lines, signs of collision repair, mismatched panels, and fluid or water damage.
Trucks, Diesels and Trailers
For pickups and work trucks we also look at towing equipment, suspension wear from heavy loads, and diesel-specific items such as fuel system condition and exhaust smoke. We can inspect a trailer that comes with the truck, including axles, equalizers, brakes, wiring and decking. See trailer repair.
What You Get
We walk you through what we found, what is normal wear for the vehicle’s age and mileage, what needs attention soon, and what would be expensive to fix. That information helps you decide whether to buy, negotiate the price or walk away.
Before the Inspection
- Ask the seller not to start the vehicle before we arrive, so we can see how it behaves on a cold start.
- Get the year, make, model and approximate mileage to us when you book.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records if they have them.
- Run a vehicle history report on the VIN yourself before the inspection.
Limits of Any Inspection
An inspection reports on the condition we can observe and test at that time. It cannot predict every future failure, and it does not include disassembly of the engine or transmission. If something calls for a closer look in a shop, we will tell you.
Schedule a Pre-Purchase Inspection in Canon City
Call (719) 964-0522 or send us a message to book service. We work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Tell us the year, make and model, what the vehicle is doing, and where it is parked, and we will confirm what we can handle on site.
Pre-Purchase Inspections Throughout Fremont County
Under the Bus Auto is based in Canon City and covers Fremont County and the surrounding area. Nearby service areas include Florence, Penrose, Lincoln Park, Brookside, Williamsburg, Rockvale, Coal Creek, the Royal Gorge area, Wetmore. See the full list on our service areas page.