Everything you need to know about booking a pre-purchase inspection with Houston PPI. Don't see your question? Text us at (713) 659-9543.
Prices shown are current as of the time this page was last updated. The price at checkout governs your transaction.
For an extra $75, we break down the deal numbers — not just the sticker price. We look at the out-the-door cost, factor in the vehicle's condition from the inspection, and tell you whether you're paying a fair price or leaving money on the table.
If the car has issues we found during the inspection, we'll factor those into the value discussion so you know exactly what to negotiate. It's the inspection and the deal analysis in one shot.
Important: Deal Review must be selected before the inspection — it cannot be added after the inspector has left the vehicle. Let us know when you book or before your inspection date.
Go Standard if you're buying a regular used car — a non-luxury sedan, a common pickup, an everyday crossover. Standard covers everything that matters for those vehicles.
Go Pro if you're buying a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Lexus, Genesis, Cadillac, or any other luxury or premium brand. The Pro Inspection includes a paint thickness scan to detect hidden body damage and prior repairs, and brand-specific diagnostic tools that go deeper than generic OBD-II equipment. Standard tools miss things on these vehicles.
For Teslas, EVs, and hybrids, book the EV/Hybrid package. See "Do you inspect Teslas?" below.
Yes — subject to availability. Same-Day Priority ($299) is for situations where you need an inspection done today, not tomorrow. It's requested separately and has a cutoff time.
If you need same-day, text us directly at (713) 659-9543 to confirm we can make it happen before you submit your inquiry.
Every inspection includes a full mechanical evaluation of the vehicle's visible and accessible systems, an OBD-II diagnostic scan for fault codes, and a written report with photos. You also get a Buy / Negotiate / Walk Away verdict.
Depending on the package, we also check:
Pro adds paint thickness measurements across all panels. EV/Hybrid adds battery health data and EV-specific diagnostics. Tesla adds Tesla Service Mode data. See "Do you inspect Teslas?" for more.
Yes — we run a Tesla-specific inspection process that goes beyond a standard OBD-II scan. For Teslas we check:
Book the EV / Hybrid ($179) package for a Tesla, or the Pro ($199) if you also want a paint thickness scan.
Yes. The EV / Hybrid package ($179) covers all electric and hybrid vehicles. We access available battery health data and EV-specific diagnostics through the vehicle's onboard systems.
The depth of battery information available varies by vehicle make, model, and year — some expose much more data than others. We document what the vehicle's systems report and note any limitations.
The on-site inspection typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. The time at the dealership covers the full mechanical walkthrough, diagnostic scan, photos, and road test (when permitted).
Your written report is then prepared and sent to your email — usually within 1 to 2 hours of the inspection finishing.
We currently do not inspect:
Not sure if your vehicle qualifies? Text us the year, make, and model at (713) 659-9543 and we'll tell you right away.
No — and you don't need to be. Our inspector works directly with the dealership. We are there to inspect the vehicle, not to meet with you. All we need from you is the vehicle location and we'll handle everything from there.
Many of our clients are buying cars remotely or from out of state. You get the full report delivered to your email same day with photos, findings, and a clear verdict.
Same day — typically within 1 to 2 hours after the inspection is complete. Your report is delivered to the email address you provide at booking.
If you don't see it, check your spam folder first. If it's not there, text us and we'll resend it.
Yes — this is one of our most common situations. You don't need to be in Houston. We inspect the vehicle in person, document every issue with photos and a full written report, and give you a clear verdict: Buy it, Negotiate the price, or Don't make the trip.
We are your eyes on the ground in Houston.
We inspect at dealerships throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area, including:
Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, Pasadena, Humble, Cypress, Spring, Friendswood, League City, Baytown, Conroe, Missouri City, Stafford, and Richmond.
Not sure if we reach your location? Text us the dealership address at (713) 659-9543.
That's a serious red flag. Any reputable dealer should welcome an independent third-party inspection. If they're blocking it, that tells you something important about the car — or about the dealer.
Walk away from that deal.
Houston PPI confirms your appointment but cannot hold the vehicle at the dealership — that's on you. We strongly recommend calling the dealer after you book to let them know an inspector is coming and to ask them to hold the car.
If the vehicle sells or is otherwise unavailable, our cancellation policy applies — see "What's the cancellation policy?" below.
No. Houston PPI is fully independent. We are not affiliated with, employed by, or working for any dealership, manufacturer, or repair shop. We are paid by you, and we report only to you.
Our inspector has no incentive to approve a bad car. Our job is to give you the truth about the vehicle.
Yes, and that's exactly what the inspection is for. Finding problems is the point. A report that says "here's what's wrong" is doing its job.
If the car has issues, you can use the report to negotiate the price down, ask the dealer to fix specific items before you buy, or walk away knowing exactly what you're dodging. That's information you can't put a price on.
No refund is issued because the car has problems — the report is the deliverable, and you received it.
Houston PPI uses an inquiry-first process — we confirm your slot before any payment is collected.
We do not accept cash or payment at the inspection site.
Cancel 24+ hours before your confirmed appointment — full refund, no questions asked.
Cancel within 24 hours of your appointment — non-refundable and non-transferable. No automatic credits or transfers to another vehicle or appointment.
Once an inspector has been dispatched — non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of circumstances.
No-show — non-refundable.
Vehicle unavailability — if the car becomes unavailable, the same 24-hour window applies. Notify us 24+ hours in advance for a full refund.
Houston PPI scheduling does not hold or reserve the vehicle at the dealership. We strongly recommend contacting the dealer after your appointment is confirmed to let them know an inspector is coming.
After we confirm your inspection slot, we send you a secure payment link by text or email. Accepted: credit card, debit card, Apple Pay — processed through Stripe. We do not accept cash or payment at the inspection site.
Houston PPI is primarily text-based. Texting lets our team review your vehicle details, confirm pricing and availability, and coordinate your inspection without putting you on hold. Send us the vehicle listing link or the year, make, and model — we'll take it from there.
If you have a quick question, texting is the fastest path to an answer. We're at (713) 659-9543.
Your appointment is confirmed once payment is received. When we reach out to coordinate your slot and send the payment link, that time is being held for you — but it is not locked in until payment is complete.
If availability changes before payment is received, we will contact you. Pay promptly after receiving your payment link to secure your time.
No — appointment times are not self-selected online. After you submit your inquiry, our team confirms availability directly and coordinates a time that works. This lets us make sure the inspector and vehicle location are lined up before anything is scheduled.
Once payment is received, your booking is confirmed and the inspection is scheduled. You will receive a confirmation with your inspection details.
We recommend calling the dealership after you book to let them know an inspector is coming and to confirm the vehicle is still available. Houston PPI cannot hold vehicles at the dealership — that step is on you.
Your report will be delivered to your email same day, typically within 1 to 2 hours of the inspection finishing.
Your slot is not secured until payment is complete. If availability changes before you pay, we may need to offer you a different time.
Payment links expire — if yours has expired when you're ready to pay, text us and we'll send a new one. Don't wait if you've found the car you want to inspect.
Your report is a detailed digital document — delivered by email and viewable on any device. It includes a plain-English buy, negotiate, or walk-away verdict, a written summary of every finding, photos and videos from every section of the car, tire tread data, OBD2 diagnostics, and (on Pro) a panel-by-panel paint thickness scan.
Pro inspections typically include 80–120+ photos and videos. The report is structured so you can scroll straight to what matters — major issues are listed first, followed by section-by-section detail.
Text us directly — we typically respond within minutes.
💬 Text (713) 659-9543