Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
for Luxury Cars in Ireland
Treat the history check, document check and mechanical inspection as separate steps. One cannot replace the others. The CCPC recommends checking a used car's history and finance history, carefully examining its condition and mileage, and using a mechanic where possible.
Step 1: Run the history check first
Before travelling, ask for the registration, VIN, seller's identity and clear photos of the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC), NCT record and service evidence. Use an appropriate vehicle-history service and establish exactly which databases and countries its report covers. Check:
- Outstanding finance and whether the seller has authority to sell the car.
- Damage or write-off indicators and the limits of the report.
- Mileage consistency across NCT, service and history records.
- Import status and original foreign documents where relevant.
- Identity details — VIN, registration, colour, fuel type and engine details should agree.
Step 2: What to check yourself
Match dates, mileage and described work across invoices and digital or stamped records.
Inspect in daylight for uneven gaps, finish changes, overspray, cracks and poor repairs.
Have a professional check corrosion, leaks, impact damage, suspension and brake components.
Heavy wear can justify a closer mileage and usage-history review; it is not proof by itself.
Test keys, lights, screens, cameras, seats, climate control, charging equipment and driver aids.
Record tyre make, size, age, tread and visible damage; ask the inspector to measure brakes.
Arrange a lawful, insured test drive and ask to see the car start from cold. Check warning lights, steering, braking, transmission, ride and all controls. An NCT certificate is a document to verify, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Step 3: What to pay a specialist for
Choose an inspector who is independent of the seller and familiar with the model. Agree the scope in advance: identity, ramp inspection, diagnostics, road test, bodywork, service requirements and a written report. Ask what is excluded and whether estimates for urgent work will be provided.
Step 4: Beware the watch-outs
Pause if the VIN or documents do not agree, the seller's identity is unclear, finance cannot be resolved, mileage is inconsistent, modifications are undeclared, the car cannot be inspected independently or you are being rushed to pay. Record the reason and walk away until it is resolved.
The CCPC's printable buyer checklist covers crash and mechanical history, mileage, owners, finance, service, NCT, imports and dealer warranty questions.
Open the CCPC checklist →