What dealers look for during an inspection

A dealer inspecting your car is estimating what it will cost to make it retail-ready. Every unknown becomes a deduction.

The usual checks

• Tire tread and brake life
• Paint consistency and panel gaps that suggest past repair
• Warning lights and stored fault codes
• Glass, interior wear and working electronics
• Title status and service history

Why disclosure helps you

A disclosed scratch is priced once. An undisclosed one is priced twice: for the repair and for the doubt it creates about everything else.

Dealers discount uncertainty far more heavily than they discount honest wear.

What you do not need to fix

Major repairs before selling rarely pay for themselves. Dealers do that work at their own cost. Describe the issue clearly and let it be priced.