If you are comparing pre-purchase inspection services in San Diego, prices vary quite a bit. Here is what you are actually paying for at different price points.
What Does a Pre-Purchase Inspection Typically Cost?
In the San Diego market, professional inspections range from about $99 on the lower end to $300 or more for luxury and exotic vehicles. National aggregator services like Lemon Squad typically charge $150 to $250. At JAG Auto Inspections our packages start at $99 for Basic and go to $199 for Premium, which includes a full POV video report ideal for remote buyers.
What Should a Legitimate Inspection Include?
At minimum: a full exterior visual inspection, paint thickness gauge analysis of all panels, OBD2 diagnostic scanning, interior evaluation, and a written report with photos. Any inspection that doesn't include a paint thickness gauge is leaving one of the most important tools off the table. A thorough inspection should also include a test drive — you cannot fully evaluate a transmission, brakes, or suspension without driving the vehicle.
What Makes the Price Difference?
The biggest variable is the inspector's background and tools. A general mechanic with a basic code reader is a different service than an inspector with collision repair expertise, a professional multi-module scanner, a paint thickness gauge, and UV lighting. The price difference between those services is often $30 to $50. The difference in what they find can be thousands of dollars.
The Real Return on Investment
The average pre-purchase inspection either finds an issue that justifies a price negotiation, identifies a deal-breaking problem that saves the buyer from a bad purchase, or confirms the vehicle is as represented and gives the buyer complete confidence. In all three scenarios the inspection pays for itself. Skipping a $149 inspection to save money on a $20,000 purchase is not a savings. It is a gamble.