Know what the private seller isn’t telling you before you hand over the money.
Private-party used cars are sold strictly “as-is.” We send an independent, ASE-certified local mobile mechanic to the seller’s driveway or lot to inspect the car inside, outside, underneath, and on the road — then translate every finding into a plain-language report with real repair costs and a word-for-word negotiation script.
2017 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Premium 4WD
Mechanic’s Plain-English Bottom Line: Rust-free Texas frame and healthy 4.0L V6 powertrain, but needs front brakes, rear shocks, and tires.
How TrueWrench Works
Designed for fast-moving private-party sales on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Autotrader, and independent lots.
Share the Vehicle & Seller Info
Tell us the car’s year, make, model, location, and the seller’s phone number (or listing URL). Still comparing 2 or 3 cars? Start with our $29 Remote Listing & VIN Audit (100% credited when you book a mechanic). Worried the seller might sell today? Choose our $49 Risk-Free Scheduling Hold and pay the balance only after the seller confirms the appointment.
We Coordinate & Dispatch Within 1 Hour
Our dispatch desk calls and texts the seller within 60 minutes to confirm the vehicle is still available and lock in a convenient inspection window at their driveway, workplace, or lot. An independent, ASE-certified mobile mechanic arrives with factory-grade OBD-II scanners, fluid testers, paint gauges, and inspection mirrors.
Get Your Plain-Language Verdict & Offer Script
The same day the inspection is completed, you receive a clear, jargon-free report: a Buy / Negotiate / Walk Away verdict, 35+ high-res undercarriage and mechanical photos, OBD-II readiness verification, itemized local repair cost estimates, and a copy-paste message to negotiate the seller’s price down.
Free Instant VIN Checksum & Model Risk Screener
Paste any 17-character VIN from a Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace listing to verify whether the VIN check-digit is authentic, decode the factory build details, and see what our mechanics look for on that make.
Known High-Cost Failure Points (Toyota / Lexus)
Exceptionally durable powertrains overall, which makes private sellers price them aggressively — and makes buyers let their guard down on frame corrosion, deferred timing/water pump service, and neglected suspension wear.
Flaking or perforated steel along boxed frame rails near catalytic converters and rear leaf spring mounts, often sprayed over with fresh black undercoating by flippers.
Pink/red crusty coolant residue behind the drive belt pulleys; wet oil accumulation down the passenger-side front timing cover.
Loud 2-second metallic clatter on dead-cold morning startup; darkened tailpipe and low dipstick level.
Common Private-Seller Tricks We Check For
- Warming the engine up for 15 minutes before you arrive so you cannot hear the 2-second cold-start VVT-i rattle
- Spraying cheap rubberized black paint over crusty frame rust on trucks and SUVs
TrueWrench On-Site Mechanic Checkpoints
- Hammer-tap and borescope frame rails inside and out
- Verify engine block is cold to the touch before first startup
- Inspect pink Super Long Life Coolant crust at water pump and radiator seams
Simple, Transparent Pricing — Built for Real Private-Seller Deals
Whether you are screening three listings tonight or ready to dispatch a mobile mechanic tomorrow morning, every dollar is backed by our 100% refund guarantee if the car sells before we inspect it.
Pre-Purchase Listing & VIN Red-Flag Audit
Screening 1 to 3 cars on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Autotrader before sending a mechanic? We audit the VIN, seller listing, known powertrain failure points, and fair private-party price so you never waste a trip on a bad listing.
Best for: Buyers narrowing down listings today or heading to look at a car themselves in a few hours.
- 17-digit VIN authenticity check, factory spec decode, and recall/investigation screen
- Model-year & engine-specific catastrophic failure analysis (timing chains, CVTs, head gaskets, oil burn)
- Line-by-line review of the seller listing & photos for hidden rebuild/curbstoner signs
- Exact private-party target offer price + 10 targeted questions to ask the seller before meeting
- $29 fee is credited in full toward any On-Site Mobile Mechanic Inspection within 30 days
Risk-Free Mobile Mechanic Scheduling Hold
Buying from a private seller and want us to verify the car is still available and lock in the exact mechanic arrival window before paying the full inspection fee? Put down a refundable $49 scheduling hold.
Best for: Private-seller deals on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist where sellers move fast or flake.
- Our dispatch desk calls/texts the private seller within 1 hour to confirm the car is still unsold
- We match and schedule a vetted local mobile mechanic at the seller’s driveway or workplace
- Remaining $140 balance (for the full $189 Standard 200-Point Inspection) is only due once the appointment is locked in
- 100% automatic cash refund of your $49 within 24 hours if the seller already sold the car or refuses an inspection
Standard 200-Point Mobile Mechanic Inspection
We send an independent, ASE-certified local mobile mechanic to the seller’s location to inspect the car inside, outside, underneath, and on the road — then translate every finding into a plain-language report with repair cost estimates.
Best for: Daily drivers, sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks (1996–2026) from private sellers or lots.
- 200-point physical inspection at the seller’s location (engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, frame/undercarriage, fluids, interior, electrical)
- Full OBD-II computer diagnostic scan + I/M Readiness Monitor check (catches sellers who cleared Check Engine codes right before the visit)
- Road test evaluation (cold start behavior, shift quality, steering track, highway braking, driveline noise)
- 35+ high-resolution photos of undercarriage, tire date codes, brake pad life, fluid condition, and defects
- Plain-Language Buyer’s Report: Clear Buy / Negotiate / Walk Away verdict, itemized repair costs, and seller negotiation script
- 100% Full Refund Guarantee if the vehicle sells before our mechanic inspects it
Comprehensive Deep-Diagnostic, EV, 4x4 & Enthusiast Inspection
Built for European luxury vehicles, 4x4 trucks, EVs & hybrids, older classics, or out-of-state buyers buying sight-unseen who need deep module diagnostics, paint/body checks, and a direct phone debrief with the mechanic.
Best for: Out-of-state sight-unseen purchases, BMW/Mercedes/Audi/Porsche, 4x4 trucks, EVs/Hybrids, and classics.
- Everything in the Standard 200-Point Inspection plus priority dispatch scheduling
- All-module OEM-level scan: ABS, SRS/Airbag, Transmission live temperatures & clutch adaptations, Transfer Case, or EV/Hybrid battery health
- Panel-by-panel paint & body filler check for undisclosed collision repair plus undercarriage rust mapping
- Brake fluid moisture test & cooling system combustion-gas / head-gasket check
- 50+ high-resolution photos + cold-start & idle engine audio/video clip
- Live 15-minute phone consultation after report delivery to walk through every question in plain English
Book Your Inspection or Pre-Purchase Audit
Complete the vehicle and seller details below. As soon as you submit, you’ll receive your personal Booking & Report Portal code (TW-XXXXX) and our dispatch desk is alerted immediately.
Why Car Buyers Switch to TrueWrench
Traditional national inspection brokers have 1.5-star ratings because they take 4–5 days to show up, hand you a sheet of vague checkboxes, and refuse to refund your money when the car sells before they get there.
| What Matters When Buying Used | TrueWrench ($189) | Legacy National Brokers ($195–$220) | Seller’s Local Repair Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| If the private seller sells the car before inspection | 100% full refund back to your card (zero cancellation penalty) | No refunds — keeps your $220 as non-refundable credit | You lose time coordinating drop-off the seller rarely agrees to |
| How the report is written | Plain-English verdict (Buy / Negotiate / Walk Away) + exact repair cost math | Generic Pass/Fail checkboxes that miss real-world repair costs | Verbal call or repair shop invoice full of mechanic shorthand |
| Cleared Check Engine light detection (OBD-II Readiness Monitors) | Included standard on every inspection — catches recently erased codes | Costs extra ($195–$220 tier) or only checks active dash lights | Varies wildly; often skipped unless requested |
| Typical scheduling speed | Seller contacted within 1 hour; on-site inspection in 24–48 hours (7 days/week) | 2 to 5 business days (no weekend scheduling; cars often sell first) | Requires seller to drive car to a shop and leave it half a day |
| Conflict of interest | 100% independent — we do not sell repairs, warranties, or cars | Volume contractors paid low flat rates to rush checkboxes | Repair shops make money by selling you repairs after the inspection |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the private seller sells the car before your mechanic gets there?
You get a 100% full refund back to your original payment method. Private-party cars move fast, and we believe it is completely unfair that legacy inspection companies refuse refunds and lock your $220 into store credit when a seller flakes or sells the car to someone else before the mechanic arrives.
How does scheduling work with a private seller on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist?
As soon as you book (either the $49 Scheduling Hold, $189 Standard, or $249 Comprehensive), our dispatch desk contacts the seller within 1 hour by phone and text. We introduce ourselves politely as your local mobile inspector, confirm the car is still available, and set a convenient 60–75 minute window at their driveway, apartment complex, or workplace. You do not have to be there in person.
What does "explained in plain language" actually mean?
Most inspection companies hand you 200 boxes marked "Fair" or "Marginal" and leave you guessing whether a "weeping timing cover" is a $50 fix or a $2,400 engine-out job. Every TrueWrench report begins with an executive summary in plain English: (1) Our bottom-line verdict (Buy With Confidence, Buy Only If Negotiated, or Walk Away), (2) What is wrong and why it happens on this specific model, (3) What a fair local shop will charge for parts and labor, and (4) A word-for-word negotiation script you can text the seller to knock those repair costs off the price.
How do you catch sellers who clear the Check Engine light right before I see the car?
When a seller uses a cheap $20 scanner or disconnects the battery to turn off a Check Engine light before a test drive, the car’s computer resets its internal self-test flags ("I/M Readiness Monitors") to Incomplete and logs "Distance Traveled Since Codes Cleared: 0–15 miles." Our mechanics check Readiness Monitor status, Pending/Shadow codes, and Miles Since Clear on every single vehicle.
Can I start with the $29 Remote Listing & VIN Audit and upgrade to an on-site mechanic later?
Yes. Many buyers comparing 2 or 3 cars on Facebook Marketplace or Autotrader start with our $29 Pre-Purchase Listing & VIN Audit to weed out bad engines, title/recall red flags, or overpriced listings. When you pick the car you want inspected in person, your $29 is credited 100% toward the on-site mobile mechanic inspection.
Where do you operate?
We dispatch independent, ASE-certified mobile mechanics across major US metropolitan areas in all 50 states, 7 days a week (including Saturday and Sunday when private sellers are actually home). Our $29 Remote VIN & Listing Audit is available nationwide within 60 minutes.
Have a Question About a Specific Car Before You Book?
Not sure whether a listing on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is even worth inspecting, or want to check mechanic availability in your ZIP code first? Send our dispatch desk a quick note or call +1 (914) 361-3070.