Best in town 5 year/50k mile warranty
RoadsideÂ
assistance
0% interest financing options available
ASE certified technicians
Get a dealer alternative estimate on your repair
Free shuttle service while we work on your vehicle
400+ 5 Star Reviews
400+
Reviews
Free Second Opinion Inspection.
100% Price Match Guarantee.
Free Second Opinion Inspection. 100% Price Match Guarantee.
Pre-Purchase Inspection
Know What You’re Buying Before You Drive Away
A used vehicle can look perfect on the surface while hiding costly problems underneath. A pre-purchase inspection gives you a detailed understanding of a vehicle’s condition before you make a major investment.
Totally responsive and easy to work with. First time interaction was like dealing with an old friend. I’ve found my mechanic.
Totally responsive and easy to work with. First time interaction was like dealing with an old friend. I’ve found my mechanic.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Service
A Smarter Way to Evaluate Your Next Vehicle
Buying a car is about more than appearance, mileage, or a smooth test drive. Issues with the engine, transmission, suspension, electrical system, or previous repairs may not be noticeable until after ownership begins. A detailed inspection helps uncover concerns that could impact reliability, safety, and future repair costs.
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Our technicians carefully review key systems, checking for signs of wear, existing problems, and maintenance needs that may affect the vehicle’s long-term performance. Instead of leaving you to guess about a vehicle’s condition, we provide honest insight that helps you move forward with confidence. From private-party purchases to dealership vehicles, every inspection at Art of Maintenance is approached with the same level of care and attention. We focus on accurate findings, clear explanations, and practical recommendations so you understand the vehicle you’re considering, not just what it looks like on the outside.
Schedule A Pre-Purchase Inspection Service Today!
What a Pre-Purchase Inspection Can Reveal
Finding these concerns before purchase can help you avoid unexpected expenses and make a better-informed decision. Before committing to a used vehicle, an inspection can help identify:
Electrical faults and battery problems
Inspections can identify electrical system faults and battery-related issues, including a weak or failing battery, charging system problems, faulty wiring, malfunctioning sensors, blown fuses, or warning light concerns. Detecting these issues before purchase helps prevent unexpected electrical failures, reduces the risk of costly repairs, and ensures the vehicle’s critical systems are functioning properly.
Previous accident repairs or poor workmanship
A pre-purchase inspection can identify signs of previous accident damage or substandard repairs, including mismatched paint, improper panel alignment, frame damage, replacement body panels, poor welds, or non-factory repair work. Detecting these issues before purchase helps verify the vehicle’s structural integrity, uncover hidden damage, and ensure you make a more informed buying decision.
Uneven tire wear or suspension issues
A professional pre-purchase inspection can identify uneven tire wear and suspension problems that may indicate poor wheel alignment, worn shocks or struts, damaged steering components, or previous accident damage. Detecting these issues early helps prevent premature tire replacement, improves vehicle safety and handling, and provides a clearer understanding of the vehicle’s overall mechanical condition.
Hidden engine or transmission problems
A pre-purchase inspection can identify hidden engine or transmission problems that may not be noticeable during a test drive, such as fluid leaks, unusual wear, diagnostic trouble codes, or early signs of mechanical failure, helping you avoid costly repairs and make a more informed buying decision.
Brake system wear and safety concerns
Pre-purchase inspection can identify worn brake pads and rotors, leaking brake components, uneven brake wear, damaged brake lines, or other issues that may compromise stopping performance and vehicle safety. Detecting these problems before purchase helps you avoid unexpected repair costs, ensures the braking system is operating properly, and gives you greater confidence in the vehicle’s overall condition.
Fluid leaks and maintenance concerns
We can detect fluid leaks from the engine, transmission, cooling system, brakes, power steering, or differential that may indicate worn seals, failing gaskets, or other developing mechanical issues. It can also uncover signs of deferred or inadequate maintenance, including worn belts and hoses, contaminated or low fluids, overdue service intervals, aging filters, and other neglected components.
Warning lights or stored diagnostic issues
An inspection can detect active dashboard warning lights and stored diagnostic trouble codes that may indicate underlying engine, transmission, emissions, or electrical system faults, even if no symptoms are currently noticeable. Identifying these issues before purchase helps reveal hidden mechanical or electronic problems, prevents unexpected repair costs, and ensures the vehicle’s systems are functioning properly.
Cooling system weaknesses
We will identify cooling system weaknesses, including coolant leaks, worn hoses, a failing water pump, radiator damage, thermostat issues, or signs of engine overheating. Detecting these problems before purchase prevents costly engine damage, improves long-term reliability, and ensures the cooling system is operating efficiently.
ASE certified technicians
Get a dealer alternative estimate on your repair
Free shuttle service while we work on your vehicle
Helping Portland Drivers Buy With Confidence
Choosing the right vehicle in Portland, Oregon starts with having the right information. Our team combines experience, careful evaluation, and straightforward communication to make the buying process more transparent.
Get the information you need before making your next vehicle purchase, schedule a pre-purchase inspection with Art of Maintenance today.
Experiences.
Real
Results.
Art of Maintenance was quick and professional. I needed my alternator replaced in the middle of a road trip and they were able to get it done within hours. Great service and very nice people!
I didn’t think my 13 year old car could look new and smell clean again. Ryan did the impossible. We are very pleased with the amazing job he did detailing inside and out!
I have been put through hell when I comes to mechanics working on my vehicles, but not at Art of Maintenance. They got my vehicle in and tested the issues quickly, did the work right and made sure I knew what was going on every step of the way. Every question I had they answered and made me feel like my car was in good hands. Now having my car back all of the issues have been fixed, and I have peace of mind. Car maintenance is not cheap but at least when you go to Art of Maintenance they make sure you get the best customer service with efficient and accurate work.
Thank you!!
Great place and great management!
We’ve taken our cars to Art of Maintenance since we moved to PDX two years ago. We find consistently excellent service that is on time, with good communication and reasonably priced.
They were very helpful and professional. Found a weird but easy to fix problem with our mini cooper and fixed it quick and without further charges. Also provided a complete health check for the car, estimates for future work, and checked in with us days later to make sure everything was ok. Will go to them again.
I’ve been taking my Honda CRV to this place for the past couple years. Before that I would take it to the dealer, but got fed up when the dealer could not diagnose a starter issue (it was a tricky problem but Art of Maintenance was able to figure it out). Art of Maintenance has top notch mechanics. They are very customer service oriented, easy to talk to, and I feel have always given me good information, and taken good care of my car. I have called around on some of the bigger repairs to compare prices and they are always competitive. I’m super happy with this car repair place. I would recommend it to anyone.
The team at Art of Maintenance is fantastic. They treated my car as if it was their own. One shop told me I needed new brakes and I brought to Art of Maintenance for second quote and they said I was good for a while longer on brakes even though it meant loss of business for them. They will be my new auto shop moving forward!
Always professional and kind!!
Quick, thorough, no surprises, they get the job done, with quality.
The fix my brakes and did a great job
Excellent customer service!
*Rates from 0%-36% APR. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check, may not be available in all states, and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. Options depend on your purchase amount, and a down payment may be required. CA residents: Loans by Affirm Loan Services, LLC are made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license.
