135 checklist items · 9 required photo slots

What I actually inspect

This is the same template that becomes your PDF, whether the vehicle is a car, a truck, a retired shuttle bus, or a box truck. I rate each item on site, photograph findings, and skip what I cannot honestly see. N/A items stay off the buyer PDF.

Identity & records

Confirm this is the vehicle described, and that identifiers, keys, and paperwork are consistent.

· VIN labels consistent (dash, jamb, visible tags)
· Odometer presentation consistent with wear
· Service history reviewed or noted as unavailable
· Keys, remotes, and spare provision
· Owner's materials, spare, jack, and inflator
· Open recalls / campaign notes
· Aftermarket modifications observed

Exterior body & paint

Walk the shell for collision clues, refinish, rust, and panel fit.

· Panel gap consistency (hood, doors, fenders, tail)
· Paint condition (fade, clear coat, industrial fallout, swirl)
· Body imperfections
· Evidence of prior refinish or overspray
· Front bumper, grille, and fascia
· Left front fender
· Right front fender
· Driver doors — fit, operation, and shuts
· Passenger doors — fit, operation, and shuts
· Roof, rails, and glass channels
· Trunk / liftgate fitment and operation
· Hood struts or prop rod
· Rear bumper and valance
· Wheel arches and lip rust
· Visible body rust or bubbling
· Exterior trim, moldings, and cladding

Glass & lighting

Optical and lighting defects are expensive and often missed on a walkaround.

· Windshield (chips, cracks, pitting, wiper smear)
· Wiper blades and wash pattern
· Remaining glass (doors, quarters, backlight)
· Exterior mirrors — glass, housings, folding
· Headlamps (lens, moisture, aim, function)
· Front markers, DRLs, and fog lamps
· Taillamps, brake, and reverse lamps
· Turn signals and hazard lamps

Interior condition

Wear versus mileage, odor, and moisture tell you more than a clean detail job.

· Driver seat wear versus indicated mileage
· Passenger and rear seats
· Seat mechanical / electrical operation
· Carpet, mats, and moisture evidence
· Odor (smoke, mold, pets, flood, heavy fragrance)
· Headliner, pillars, and sun visors
· Door panels, armrests, and switches
· Dash, vents, and interior trim fitment
· Instrument cluster illumination and function
· Seat belts and airbag lamp
· Trunk / cargo interior and spare well moisture

Controls & electrical

Cycle the features a buyer will use on day one, and note warning-lamp behavior.

· Power windows (all, including auto-reverse if equipped)
· Locks, fobs, and alarm/immobilizer behavior
· Child safety locks
· Power mirror adjustment and heat
· Horn
· Infotainment, speakers, and Bluetooth pairing screen
· Camera views and parking-aid display
· Front and rear defrost / heated glass
· Warning lamps at idle after start
· Sunroof / convertible operation (if equipped)

Engine bay & mechanical

Look for leaks, noise, neglected maintenance, and prior work — not a compression test unless you perform one.

· Cold-start behavior (if observed)
· Idle quality and smoothness
· Abnormal engine noises (knock, tick, belt, exhaust tick)
· Visible oil leakage (seepage vs active drip)
· Visible coolant leakage or residue
· Radiator, tanks, and cooling fans
· PCV hose and valve, if visible
· Accessory drive belt and tensioner
· Coolant and vacuum hoses, clamps
· Battery condition
· Air intake, filter, and housing
· Engine mounts (visual)
· Turbo / supercharger area (if equipped)

EV & hybrid

For hybrids and electric vehicles. I do not inspect Teslas. Gas and diesel cars skip this section. Battery health is read from a scan tool.

· Orange high-voltage cables and warning labels
· Ready state and hybrid / EV warning lamps
· Inverter, converter, and power-electronics area
· Hybrid / EV coolant level and leaks
· Charge-port door, latch, pins, and moisture
· Portable charge cable supplied with the car
· High-voltage battery shield, from the ground
· High-voltage battery health from the scan tool
· Regenerative braking takes up
· Drive motor or reduction-gear noise

Fluids

Condition of what you can actually inspect — milky oil and burnt fluid are not lot-sheet items.

· Engine oil level and condition
· Coolant level, color, and contamination
· Brake fluid level and appearance
· Power steering fluid (if hydraulic)
· Transmission / DCT / CVT fluid if checkable
· Washer reservoir and function

Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission and the rest of the drivetrain. Shift quality is confirmed on the test drive.

· Park / Reverse / Drive engagement
· Transmission leaks (case, pan, cooler lines)
· CV axles and boots
· Driveshaft, U-joints, and carrier bearing (RWD/AWD)
· Differential
· Transfer case (4WD/AWD)
· 4WD / AWD engagement if tested
· Clutch take-up and pedal (manual)
· Drivetrain mounts (visual / clunk on load)

Steering & suspension

Play, leaks, and worn joints. Confirm pull and noise on the drive.

· Steering play and on-center feel
· Power assist operation
· Tie-rod ends, rack bellows, and inner rack ends (as accessible)
· Ball joints
· Control arms and bushings
· Struts / shocks (leakage, mounts, dust boots)
· Air suspension components, if equipped
· Sway-bar links and bushings

Brakes

Measure or estimate lining where visible. Pulsation belongs on the test drive.

· Left front lining remaining (visual / measured)
· Right front lining remaining
· Left rear lining remaining
· Right rear lining remaining
· Rotor condition (scoring, rust lip, cracks, heat spots)
· Brake hoses and visible hard lines
· Calipers (seepage, dust-boot tears, seized slide pins)
· Parking brake operation
· Pedal feel (firmness, travel, warning lamp)

Tires & wheels

Tread remaining at each corner, wear pattern, and wheel condition.

· Left front tire — tread remaining
· Right front tire — tread remaining
· Left rear tire — tread remaining
· Right rear tire — tread remaining
· TPMS warning
· Tire sizes match across the car
· Uneven wear pattern (camber, toe, cupping, center wear)
· Wheel condition (cracks, bends, repairs, curb damage)

Undercarriage & exhaust

Rust and exhaust condition as visible from the ground.

· Undercarriage rust — surface versus structural
· Exhaust system (leaks, hangers, damage, flex)

HVAC

A/C performance and odor are among the first complaints after delivery.

· A/C cooling performance
· Heat output
· Blower speeds and cabin distribution
· Defrost / defog performance
· HVAC odor (microbial, coolant, burning)

Test drive

If you cannot drive it, mark the section N/A and say why. Do not pass a car you did not drive.

· Road test completed under representative conditions
· Brake-shift interlock
· Acceleration and power delivery
· Shift quality under load (or clutch behavior)
· CV or axle noise in a full-lock turn
· Braking — straight-line, vibration, noise, ABS feel
· Steering — pull, wander, return, noise
· Cruise control, if equipped
· Driver aids on the road, if equipped
· Wind noise and body rattles
· Ride, clunks, and suspension noise

Diagnostic scan

Record whether you scanned and any active or history codes.

· OBD-II or OEM-level scan performed
· Active / history codes

Photo set

Required shots on every job, plus close-ups of any finding.

VIN plate. Dash or door-jamb plate, readable.
Odometer. Cluster with ignition on if possible.
Front. Straight-on front.
Right side. Full passenger-side profile.
Left side. Full driver-side profile.
Rear. Straight-on rear.
Roof. Roof, rails, and glass from above if you can get it.
Engine bay. Bay from above, hood open.
Interior — dash. From driver's seat, cluster visible.

Limits: no hoist, no disassembly, no compression test unless we plan it. Undercarriage notes are from the ground. This is not a warranty and not a provincial safety certificate.

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