Know the car
before you buy it.
The seller knows what this car is hiding. In a few hours, so will you — before your money moves.
A complete inspection — hands-on mechanical checks and a full Autel Ultra system scan — and a written report of everything we find, before you sign.
Think of it as a home inspection, but for your car. A small investment now can save you $$$$ later.
Pick your depth.
Your appointment, in plain sight. Please arrive within 15 minutes of your appointment time. Running late? One reschedule is on us — your deposit moves with you, and we rebook you once. If a second appointment is missed, or an appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, an administrative charge of 20% of the inspection price applies and the rest of your deposit is refunded to your original payment method. No fine print — this is the print.
Air conditioning. Every tier checks climate control operation on the day of the inspection — that the system cools, heats and responds as it should at that moment. Air conditioning faults are often intermittent: a slow refrigerant leak, a tiring compressor or an electrical fault may not appear on inspection day. The report records what the system did that day; it is not a promise of future performance.
Vehicles we do not inspect. Our published PPI pricing applies to vehicles with a market value of up to $100,000. Market value means the value shown by recognized published value guides (such as Kelley Blue Book) for that vehicle — never the price negotiated or paid for it. And regardless of value or price, we do not inspect exotic, supercar, hypercar or collector vehicles, or high-performance flagship sports models such as the Porsche 911. At that level, the right inspection is the manufacturer's own certification program: it runs on factory systems and can carry factory warranty eligibility that no independent inspection can provide. Whether a vehicle qualifies is determined by us at the time of booking. We are glad to point you to the right program for the car you are considering — just ask us. Every inspection reports the vehicle’s condition on the day of inspection only. An inspection is not a warranty or a guarantee, and our responsibility is limited to the price of the inspection.
Pre-existing conditions. A pre-purchase inspection documents what is observable and measurable on the day, without disassembly. It is a thorough professional assessment — not a warranty, and not a certification that a vehicle is free of defects. A condition may exist and still be undetectable on the day of inspection; findings are reported exactly as found, and the report speaks only for the date and the mileage recorded.
A small, known price.
Or an unknown one.
One flat price, set by the tier you pick — Silver, Gold or Platinum. You know the number before we start.
An engine, a transmission, a control module — on a luxury car, one hidden problem can mean $8,000 or more to make it right. Buy a lemon, and that is only where the bill starts. The inspection costs a fraction of it.
You are not paying for a checklist. You are paying to know.
Four steps.
Zero surprises.
Book SERVIZIO online or call (305) 871-5551. We coordinate vehicle drop-off with dealers or private sellers.
On the lift, a full-system Autel Ultra scan, and a live dynamic road test.
Digital photo dossier, data logs, price negotiation leverage.
Apply your tier's repair discount (10%, 15%, or 20%) when Alfa Garage performs the repair work, within 60 days.
Arrange it with the seller.
The inspection is the easy part. Getting the car to us takes one honest conversation with the seller — here is how it usually goes.
BUYING FROM A PRIVATE SELLER
- ✓ Agree on a price that depends on the inspection — the deal closes after you see the report
- ✓ You pay for the inspection. That is standard, and it keeps the report yours
- ✓ Meet at the shop, or we coordinate the drop-off with the seller for you
- ✓ A small deposit while the car is with us is fair, if the seller asks for one
BUYING FROM A DEALER
- ✓ Say it early: your offer is conditional on an independent inspection
- ✓ Reputable dealers welcome it — it costs them nothing and builds trust
- ✓ Most will bring the car to us, or let you bring it
- ✓ Be wary if they insist the inspection happen at their own service center — that defeats the purpose
A seller who refuses an independent inspection has just given you the result of the inspection.
Inspection Checklist
Every Platinum PPI covers these systems in detail. Detailed findings, documented with photos.
ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
- ✓ Transmission shift quality
- ✓ Differential & transfer case
- ✓ Engine mounts
- ✓ Cooling system pressure test
- ✓ Exhaust system & emissions
ELECTRONICS & SYSTEMS
- ✓ Full ECU fault code scan
- ✓ Module communication check
- ✓ Battery & charging system
- ✓ Driver assistance systems (ADAS) calibration status
- ✓ Infotainment & navigation
- ✓ Climate control operation
- ✓ Lighting systems (all)
- ✓ Instrument cluster warnings
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
- ✓ Shock absorbers & struts
- ✓ Control arms & bushings
- ✓ Wheel bearings
- ✓ Brake pads & rotors
- ✓ Brake lines & fluid
- ✓ Power steering system
- ✓ Tire condition & age
BODY & STRUCTURE
- ✓ Paint condition & matching
- ✓ Signs of prior body repair, as observed
- ✓ Frame & unibody visual check
- ✓ Underbody visual inspection
- ✓ Rust & corrosion check
- ✓ Glass & seals condition
- ✓ Door/hood/trunk alignment
- ✓ Flood damage indicators
INTERIOR & COMFORT
- ✓ Seat operation & condition
- ✓ Dashboard & trim
- ✓ Airbag system status
- ✓ Seatbelts & pretensioners
- ✓ Power windows & locks
- ✓ Sunroof operation
- ✓ Odor & moisture check
- ✓ Spare tire & tools
DOCUMENTS & HISTORY
- ✓ VIN verification
- ✓ Service history review
- ✓ Recall status check
- ✓ Odometer reading, recorded as displayed
- ✓ Previous accident records
Need a deeper look?
These require disassembly or extended labor — available as additional services, not included in the standard PPI:
- → Compression & leak-down test
- → Timing belt/chain inspection (requires cover removal)
- → Turbo/supercharger boost evaluation
- → Wheel alignment adjustment (the readings are included in Gold & Platinum; adjusting is a service)
Ask your advisor for pricing — quoted per vehicle.
Read Your Report
Every report lands in one of three colors. Here is what each color means — and what you do with it.
Normal wear for the car’s age and miles — wiper blades, filters, fluids coming due. Nothing here should stop you. Buy with confidence; these are small points you can mention at the table.
Attention soon, not today — tires running low, a belt showing its age, a minor fluid seep. Budget for it, and subtract it from your offer. Our itemized estimate — with OEM part numbers on Platinum — is built for exactly this conversation.
Walk away. Frame or unibody damage, signs of flooding, major engine or transmission problems. In almost every case, the right move is to keep looking — the inspection just paid for itself.
One car, one day, one report. Your report is issued to you — for this vehicle, on the day of the inspection, at the mileage we recorded, backed by our photos and the readings of our instruments. It says what we found that day, in writing. It does not travel with the car, and it cannot speak for any day after.
And if you buy the car? Your tier credit still applies — Silver 10%, Gold 15%, Platinum 20% off the repair work when Alfa Garage performs it, within 60 days. A yellow flag today becomes a planned fix tomorrow, at your tier’s discount.
Good to know
Already bought it? A PPI isn't only for before you buy. If you've already purchased the vehicle or put down a deposit, an inspection documents its current condition — so you know what you're working with and can plan repairs on your terms.
Want us to go deeper? Our tiers cover what's listed. If you want additional areas inspected beyond the tier you selected, we're happy to do it — additional time is billed at our standard labor rate.
Disassembly for diagnosis. Our inspections are non-invasive. If a proper diagnosis requires removing parts (intake manifolds, panels, components) to access what needs checking, that disassembly and reassembly is a separate charge — quoted before we proceed, never a surprise.
What we do. We inspect, document, and report what we find — with photos and data. The decision to buy, negotiate, or walk away is always yours. We don't tell you what to do; we give you the information to decide with confidence.
Need an official copy of your report?
The original of every inspection report stays on file here at Alfa Garage Miami, and that original is the copy that counts. Official copies come only from us, and they are never read out or confirmed by phone.
Here is how it works. Fill out the form below and we send you a secure payment request for the copy fee, $20 + tax. Once it is paid, we email you the copy exactly as filed, with its digital seal. If a copy in circulation does not carry our seal, it did not come from us.
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