Does this replace a professional pre-purchase inspection?

No — it tells you whether one is worth paying for. A clean 25-point pass says proceed to price talk; a handful of flags says spend the 100-200 euros on a specialist before any money moves; a red score says walk without spending anything.

Why does a cold start matter so much?

Most engine problems hide when warm. Rattles on startup, blue or white smoke, and hunting idle appear in the first thirty seconds of a cold morning start — which is why sellers love to have the car 'ready and warmed up' when you arrive. Ask for it cold.

How do I use the score in negotiation?

Each flagged item is a concrete, repairable fact — not an opinion about price. Get a quick repair quote for the two or three biggest flags and put those numbers, not feelings, on the table. The copy button gives you the list to work from.

Native tool · INT.03 Buy · runs on this page

Test Drive Check

Twenty-five checks, scored live on your phone while you stand at the car. Progress saves automatically — walk around, tap what you find, and leave with a risk score and a negotiation list instead of a feeling.

Free forever No login Saves locally Use at the car

Inspection · v1.0

OK / Issue / Major per item

01 · Around the car

Paint tone matches on every panel, no overspray

Panel gaps even, doors and boot close cleanly

Tires: matching brands, even wear across each tread

No rust in arches, sills or under door seals

Glass and lights free of cracks and moisture

02 · Inside

Wear matches mileage: wheel, seat bolster, pedals

Everything electric works: windows, AC blows cold, screens

No damp smell, dry carpets and spare-wheel well

All warning lights come on with ignition, then go out

Service history present, stamped, adds up

03 · Engine bay — arrive to a COLD engine

Cold start clean: no rattle, no smoke, steady idle

Oil cap and dipstick clean — no mayonnaise, level right

Coolant at level, right color, no oil film

No leaks in the bay or on the ground under the car

No belt squeal or accessory noise at idle and rev

04 · The drive

Tracks straight, wheel centered, no wander

Brakes straight and smooth — no pull, no pulsing

Gearbox and clutch smooth: clean shifts, sane bite point

Suspension quiet over bumps, no knocks or clunks

Power delivery clean: no flat spots, no smoke under load

05 · Paperwork

VIN on the car matches every document

Mileage consistent across records and inspection stamps

Import and accident history checked and explainable

No outstanding finance or liens on the car

Seller's identity matches the ownership documents

0risk points

Checks done0 / 25
Flagged0 issues · 0 major
VerdictStart checking

OK = as it should be · Issue = real flaw, priceable · Major = deal-changer. Progress saves on this device.

Why score it instead of reading a checklist

Printed checklists die in your pocket. At the car you are nervous, the seller is talking, and every list item feels equally important. Scoring changes that: a wet spare-wheel well is worth more caution than a stone-chipped bonnet, and the running total turns twenty-five observations into one decision — proceed, negotiate, inspect professionally, or walk.

The weights are deliberately simple and shown openly: an Issue is one point (a real, repairable, priceable flaw), a Major is three (a fact that changes the deal — structural rust, mayo under the oil cap, a VIN that does not match). Nothing hidden, nothing "AI" — just the arithmetic a calm friend would do for you.

What the score means

Risk points	Read	Move
0–2	Clean car	Agree the price against carpriceindex
3–6	Honest flaws	Negotiate with repair quotes in hand
7–12	Heavy leverage	Big discount or a specialist inspection first
13+	Walk away	There will be another car

Tab.01 — the bands, applied once at least ten checks are done

FAQ

No — it tells you whether one is worth paying for. A clean pass says proceed to price talk; a handful of flags says spend the €100–200 on a specialist before money moves; a red score says walk without spending anything.

Most engine problems hide when warm. Startup rattles, blue or white smoke, and hunting idle appear in the first thirty seconds of a cold start — which is why sellers love the car "ready and warmed up" when you arrive. Ask for it cold.

Each flagged item is a concrete, repairable fact. Get a quick quote for the two or three biggest flags and put those numbers, not feelings, on the table. Copy findings gives you the list to work from.