Genuinely confused on this. Scotty often mentions to get a mechanic to check a car while in the verge of buying it used. How does that work? I'm pretty sure that dealers won't let you just drive out of the lot and take it to a mechanic before making a choice lol.
Some mechanics offer a mobile service. However if the dealer won't let you take the car to a mechanic to be evaluated that's a red flag to stay away from there. For that matter it's best to stay away from dealers entirely when looking at used vehicles.
If a dealer or a seller will not let your perspective purchase be examined by someone you choose, walk away from the deal.
I have bought used cars from dealerships before. They let me take them for inspection after I signed what is basically a rental agreement but without charging me anything for the "rental". As Chuck said, run away if they won't let you get it inspected.
Why not? They will have your car inspected by their mechanic if you trade it in. Dealers don't trust anybody about anything. They shouldn't expect blind trust from their customers.
In fact, they do it prior to discussing what they will pay for it.
It’s pretty simple actually: have the purchase be contingent on a pre-purchase inspection (by a mechanic of your choosing), and if the dealer refuses then you walk away. The question becomes which mechanic do you take it to that will be competent and thorough (this is an issue if buying a vehicle outside of your town).
I'm pretty sure that dealers won't let you just drive out of the lot and take it to a mechanic
when selling sailboats, it's pretty much expected that the buyer will take it for a spin, and then pull the boat out of the water to have his engineer inspect it from stem to stern. Every deficiency that the inspector finds decreases the sale price.
If the seller won't let you check the car out, then you shouldn't even waste your time with it.
