Buying a used car privately or from a small dealer carries real risk. The seller knows the car better than you do, and not everything they know will make it into the advert. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent technician changes that balance — you find out what the car's computer knows before you hand over money.
PAD provides mobile pre-purchase checks across Pontypridd and South Wales from £35. Here's what's involved.
What a pre-purchase check covers
Full OBD multi-module scan
Your car has between 10 and 20 electronic control units depending on the model — engine, transmission, ABS, airbag, body control, and more. A professional scan reads fault codes across all of them, including stored codes that have been cleared from the dashboard. A warning light reset before a viewing doesn't erase the stored code from the BMS — we read it.
12V battery load test
A failing 12V battery causes symptoms that look like much more serious problems — random fault codes, electrical gremlins, cars that won't start. A load test checks actual cold cranking amps and internal resistance under load, not just voltage at rest. Included in every PAD pre-purchase check.
Written report before you commit
The report is emailed while we're still at the seller's address. You see the findings before you decide — proceed at the asking price, negotiate based on faults found, or walk away. That's the point of an independent check.
EV and PHEV pre-purchase checks
If you're buying a used EV or plug-in hybrid, a standard inspection isn't enough — you also need independent battery health verification. PAD's EV pre-purchase check (£79) adds an Aviloo certified State of Health test to the standard scan. You get the precise battery health percentage in a certificate that any buyer, dealer, or insurer accepts. Same price as a standalone battery test — the OBD scan and 12V test are included at no extra cost.
We come to the seller
You don't need to move the car. PAD meets you at the seller's address — a private driveway, a dealer forecourt, a pub car park. Anywhere the car is. Evening and weekend appointments available, including same-day for addresses within 10 miles of Pontypridd with enough notice.
WhatsApp the listing before booking. PAD will scan it and flag anything worth asking the seller before we come out — saving you a wasted trip if there are obvious red flags.
Coverage across South Wales
Free travel within 10 miles of Pontypridd town centre. A small mileage charge applies beyond that — most of RCT, Cardiff, Merthyr, and Bridgend are covered. Message with the seller's postcode for an exact quote.
What it costs
- Standard pre-purchase (any vehicle) — £35
- EV pre-purchase + Aviloo certificate — £79
- PHEV pre-purchase + Aviloo certificate — £89
- HPI check add-on — £6
No deposit at booking. You pay on the day, once the inspection is complete.