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Provider Playbook
Pre-Purchase Inspection

Be the expert eyes buyers can't be

Remote pre-purchase inspections, condition reports, and an honest deal-or-walk verdict.

Set up a inspection gig

Most collector cars are bought at a distance — an auction two states away, a dealer across the country. The buyer can't be there, so they hire you to be. A great PPI isn't a checklist; it's a written, photographed, defensible opinion that a five- or six-figure decision rests on. Sell rigor and independence.

Gigs to offer

What sells in inspection

Standard PPI

Full visual inspection, cold start, road test, and a photo report — the core remote-buyer gig.

Concours-level PPI

Compression/leakdown, paint-depth survey, on-a-lift undercarriage, and a detailed written report.

Auction-lot inspection

Fast, deadline-driven inspection and verdict before a specific lot crosses the block.

Numbers-matching verification

VIN, chassis, engine, and gearbox number checks against factory records and registries.

Video walkaround

Narrated cold-start and walkaround video so the buyer sees and hears the car themselves.

Pricing shape

How to price your work

Price by depth of inspection and speed of turnaround. Buyers racing an auction clock will pay a premium for a same-day report.

Standard

$250–$450

Turnaround: 2–3 days

  • Cold-start observation
  • Full exterior/interior survey
  • Road test
  • 50+ photo report
  • Verbal deal-or-walk summary
Most booked

Enhanced

$500–$850

Turnaround: 2–4 days

  • Everything in Standard
  • Compression / leakdown test
  • Paint-depth gauge survey
  • On-a-lift undercarriage check
  • Written report

Concours

$1,000+

Turnaround: 3–5 days

  • Borescope of cylinders
  • Fluid analysis
  • Numbers-matching & provenance research
  • Full formal condition report
  • Narrated video

Add-ons that upsell

Same-day / rush reportNarrated video walkaroundChassis/engine number verificationProvenance & history-file reviewDyno or road-load data

Your portfolio must show

  • A sample (redacted) written report
  • Photos of real findings — accident repair, rust, over-spray
  • Cold-start / walkaround video clips
  • Your inspection setup: lift, paint gauge, borescope

Ask every client for

  • Listing URL, VIN/chassis number, and photos
  • Car's exact location and how to get access to it
  • Seller or auction-house contact and viewing window
  • Deadline — especially if an auction is ending
  • The buyer's specific worries (rust, matching numbers, accident history)

Specialist tips that win repeat work

Always insist on a genuine cold start — a pre-warmed engine hides the faults buyers most need to know about.
Photograph the VIN and every number you verify; your report is only as strong as its evidence.
State conflicts of interest plainly. Your independence from the seller is the entire product — protect it.

Inspection FAQ

How do I handle a car I have to travel to inspect?

Build travel into a clearly stated service radius with a mileage or day-rate add-on beyond it. Set expectations in your requirements list so an auction-lot buyer knows the timeline before they book.

What protects me if a buyer disputes my report?

Document everything — photos, video, and a written report with dated evidence for each finding. Describe what you observed on the day rather than guaranteeing the future, and keep your records. Rigor and evidence are your best protection.

Ready to get booked as a inspection specialist?

Set up your profile and your first gig — listing is free for founding providers.

Start your inspection gig

Other specialist tracks

Detailing Transport Photography Mechanical Restoration Body & Paint Storage