Klarer Automotive (219) 718-6322

Home / Pre-purchase inspection

Know what you're buying before you pay

Used-car inspections from a Mercedes, BMW, Audi and VW specialist in Hammond. We put the car on a lift, check it the way we'd check our own, and give you a straight answer the same day.

From $90 · Same-day report · $75 off the repairs we quote if you buy

Pick your inspection

Each level includes everything in the one before it. Not sure which one fits? Call us with the year, make and model and we'll tell you honestly.

Quick check, any car

Basic Look-Over

$90
About 30 to 45 minutes
  • Brakes: pads, rotors, lines
  • Tires: tread, age, uneven wear
  • Suspension and steering parts
  • Engine, transmission and fluid leaks
Book Basic

Most used cars

Standard

$149
About 1 hour
  • VIN and open-recall check
  • Code scan and readiness monitors
  • Rust, frame and exhaust on the lift
  • Signs of accident repair or flood
  • Battery, lights, A/C and every switch
  • 10-minute road test
Book Standard

Best for German cars

European Specialist

$249
About 1.5 hours
  • Full scan of every module, with fault history
  • Service-interval and history check
  • Mileage cross-check across modules
  • Battery coding check
  • Known-failure checks for that exact engine
  • Transmission adaptation and fluid check
Book European

High-dollar or high-mileage

Euro Deep Dive

$399
About 2.5 hours
  • Compression test
  • Borescope look inside the cylinders
  • Cooling system pressure test
  • Smoke test for vacuum leaks
  • 20-minute road test with live data
  • Repair estimate for every finding
Book Deep Dive

Buy the car and have us do a repair we quoted, and you get $75 off that repair. Used-car dealers: ask about monthly lot pricing.

A straight answer, not a pile of paperwork

Every report starts with one of three verdicts, then lists what we found and what it will cost to fix.

Good buy

No major concerns. Normal maintenance only.

Buy with repairs

Worth buying if the price reflects what it needs. Use our estimate to negotiate.

Walk away

Problems that cost more than the car is worth, or safety issues.

How it works

  1. Book

    Online or by phone. Morning drop-off, Monday to Friday.

  2. Bring the car

    You or the seller drops it off. A seller who won't allow an inspection is a warning sign.

  3. We inspect

    On a lift, with our scan tools, by techs who work on these cars every day.

  4. Same-day report

    Your written report by text and email, and a quick call to walk you through it.

Why a German-car specialist

A generic inspection catches worn tires. We also check for the expensive problems these cars are known for: oil filter housing and valve cover leaks, timing chains, air suspension, carbon buildup and transmission faults, model by model.

Working for you, not the seller

We don't sell cars and we don't take referral fees. Our only job is to tell you the truth about the car.

More than a code reader

A cheap code reader only talks to the engine. Our scan reads every module and its fault history, including codes someone cleared right before the sale.

On a lift, in a real shop

Mobile inspectors work in a driveway. On the lift we see the subframe, brake lines and rust you can't see from the ground.

Book an inspection

Send this and we'll call you to set a drop-off time. In a hurry? Call (219) 718-6322.

By sending this, you agree that Klarer Automotive may call or text you about this request, including with our automated phone assistant.

Questions

Do I have to be there?

No. You or the seller can drop the car off. We send the report to your phone and call you to go over it.

What if the seller won't bring the car in?

Most honest sellers will. If one refuses, take that seriously. Many buyers walk away at that point.

Do you inspect cars that aren't German?

Yes. The Basic and Standard inspections cover any make.

Is the report a warranty?

No. It's an honest look at the car's condition on the day we inspect it, so you can decide with real information.

When do I pay?

At drop-off, or by card over the phone.

Visit the shop

6949 Calumet Ave
Hammond, IN 46324

Get directions

Hours

Monday to Friday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday and SundayClosed

Call to book

(219) 718-6322

Serving Hammond, Munster, Highland, Whiting and East Chicago, plus Calumet City, Lansing and the rest of Chicago's south suburbs. Plenty of our customers drive in from Illinois.

Call (219) 718-6322