The Buyer Wants to Bring Your Car to Their Garage. Is That Reasonable?

The buyer likes the car but wants their mechanic to look at it first. Fair enough. A pre-purchase inspection can help them decide, and you can agree to one without simply handing over the keys. Sort out the garage, the appointment and who’s paying before either of you takes time off.

Agree on the appointment details

Confirm the garage, appointment time and expected duration. Ask what the inspection includes and who is paying. Contact the garage independently to confirm the booking and explain that you own the car.

We’d suggest you agree that inspection is permitted but repairs, dismantling or additional work require your separate approval. Nobody should assume that an inspection appointment authorizes changes to your vehicle.

Work out how the car gets there

You can propose taking the car to the garage yourself and meeting the buyer there. If someone else would drive it, confirm licence and insurance arrangements first. Don’t send an uninsured, unregistered or potentially unsafe vehicle onto the road because the garage is nearby.

If the car can’t be driven, discuss a mobile assessment or suitable transport. Confirm the cost before booking. An inspection that costs more to arrange than expected can quickly turn a friendly conversation into an argument.

Ask to see the findings

Before the inspection, agree to review a copy of the findings together. When the buyer asks for a price reduction, distinguish an identified fault from routine future maintenance or a cosmetic preference.

A written estimate helps make the discussion specific. You can seek your own mechanic’s opinion if a finding is unclear. You don’t have to accept a rushed explanation in a parking lot.

Decide what changes the deal

Discuss inspection conditions before committing to a sale. If the report identifies a previously unknown problem, update your description for future buyers too. If an issue affects safety, get professional advice before further driving.

A successful inspection doesn’t replace payment checks, a written agreement or the relevant Quebec transfer process. It answers a different question: what condition is the car in?

For a direct-buyer route, ask Car Buyers Montreal for an offer and discuss the assessment process. For private test drives, read our test-drive planning guide.