Pre-Purchase Car Inspection Peterborough
Buying a used car in Peterborough? Motorpoint and Big Motoring World hold around a thousand cars between them within a mile of each other at Fengate, and buyers from all over the east of England collect from there. We inspect the car on site before you drive it away: full diagnostics, a road test, a history check and a video report the same day.
Covering Peterborough and the surrounding towns at one price with no mileage charge
Pre-purchase car inspections in Peterborough
Peterborough is a car-supermarket city. Motorpoint's site on Edgerley Drain Road lists around 600 cars and Big Motoring World's Fengate supersite holds up to 450, and both sell on volume: the cars are prepared to a standard, priced keenly and collected by buyers who have often only seen them online. The Fengate and Boongate strip around them has the franchised dealers for Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, Volkswagen, Honda, Kia, Fiat and Suzuki, plus independents such as Car Nation and AMG Autos.
A supermarket car comes with the supermarket's own check and a warranty that covers some things and not others. What it does not come with is someone on your side reading the fault memory, measuring the paint, driving it and telling you whether this particular car at this price is a good one. That is what we do, on their forecourt, before you sign the finance.
An inspection in Peterborough costs the same as everywhere else we cover, with no mileage or call-out charge. Book online, tell us which site or address the car is at, and we fix the time with the seller or dealer. You get the video, the photos and the written report the same day, so even a collection-day inspection leaves you time to decide.
Postcodes PE1 to PE8.
Every inspection includes
Where we inspect in Peterborough
Any dealer forecourt, car supermarket, auction collection or private seller's driveway. These are the main places people in Peterborough buy from.
Motorpoint Peterborough, Edgerley Drain Road
Around 600 cars in stock off the Frank Perkins Parkway. Reserve the car, tell them an independent inspector is coming and we inspect on site, usually with a road test.
Big Motoring World, Padholme Road East, Fengate
A 450-car supersite on the former SW Car Supermarket plot. The same process: book the car, we come to it.
The Fengate and Boongate franchised dealers
Marshall Land Rover, Jaguar and Volvo on Mallory Road, Group 1 Volkswagen and Marshall Honda on Storeys Bar Road, Boongate Kia and Stoneacre on Newark Road and Forty Acre Road. Approved-used stock, prepared by the dealer, checked by us.
City Auction Group, Orton Southgate
Peterborough's auction centre on Bakewell Road, with weekly sales and hundreds of cars indoors. If you are buying a car that has just been through an auction, the Premium inspection's auction and salvage searches show its history.
Private sellers across the city
Werrington, Bretton, Hampton, Stanground, Whittlesey, Yaxley and the villages. Tell us the postcode when you book.
Included in Standard and Premium
What your mechanical report covers
An in-depth mechanical inspection brings the physical checks, diagnostic results and driving behaviour together. Your report explains the condition we found, the concerns and their significance for your purchase.
Engine & cooling system
Oil and coolant condition and levels, visible leaks, belts and hoses, engine mounts, timing-drive noise and engine performance under load where applicable.
Gearbox & drivetrain
Gearbox and clutch operation where fitted, gear changes, mounts, driveshafts and CV joints, with findings on unusual noise, vibration and driving behaviour.
Brakes, steering & suspension
Accessible pads, discs, calipers and brake lines; parking brake, steering, suspension components, dampers, joints and bushes; wheel and tyre condition.
Diagnostics & electrical systems
Full-system scan for available fault codes and warnings, plus 12V battery and charging checks. EV and hybrid inspections include relevant powertrain, charging and battery-management checks where supported.
Road-test findings
How the car accelerates, changes gear, brakes, steers and handles, including unusual noises and vibration. Premium includes an extended road test. Road tests depend on safety and permission.
Evidence, priorities & buying advice
Written findings, photos and a clear video review explain the issues observed and what needs attention. A personal call helps you understand the concerns and decide what to ask before buying.
Checks are adapted to the vehicle and accessible components. The report records any checks that could not be completed. Both packages also include bodywork, interior and vehicle history checks. Keep the video, photos and report as evidence of the issues observed at the time.
Choose the inspection that suits the car
Clear pricing, the same anywhere in Peterborough, with no quote to request first.
Standard Inspection
£199.99
160-point pre-purchase inspection
An in-depth mechanical inspection of the relevant engine and drivetrain, brakes, steering, suspension and diagnostics. Includes road test, vehicle history, a clear video review, photo evidence and personal buying guidance.
Book StandardPremium Inspection
£249.99
260-point pre-purchase inspection
Everything in Standard, including the video review, plus deeper condition checks, paint-depth readings, an extended road test, available auction, salvage and previous advert searches, and checks for indicators of undisclosed motor trading. Subject to available records, seller cooperation and road-test permission.
Book PremiumBuying an electric or plug-in hybrid car in Peterborough?
Add a CARA Approved® Autel EV Battery State of Health report to either inspection for £49.99, or book the battery check on its own for £149.99. It isn't included in Standard or Premium.
+£49.99
EV battery detailsCompare what's included
Standard
£199.99
160-point inspection
Premium
£249.99
260-point inspection
In both inspections
- We come to the carAt the dealer, the seller's home or yours, across London, Essex, East Anglia and the Midlands
- History checkOutstanding finance, insurance write-off, stolen and mileage records
- Full diagnostic scan
- Engine, gearbox, brakes, steering, suspension and tyres
- Electric and hybrid fault checksHigh-voltage, charging and battery-management systems, where supported
- Road testExtended in Premium
- Video review, photos and a same-day report
- Personal call and buying advice
Premium also adds
- Paint-depth readings on suitable panels
- Deeper bodywork and condition assessment
- Repair-cost guidance and an action planWhat to fix now, within three months and later
- Seller and logbook (V5C) checksWhere documents and permission are available
- Auction, salvage and previous advert searchesIncluding Copart, where records are available
- Checks for signs of undisclosed motor trading
Optional EV battery State of Health report
+£49.99
The battery's health as a percentage, with its own report. Not included in either inspection. For compatible electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
Standard + report£249.98
Premium + report£299.98
Only need the battery checked? The battery health check on its own is £149.99.
Searches depend on the records available, and electric checks on what the car supports.
What happens after you book?
Choose a package and appointment
Book online, pick your time and tell us where the car is being sold.
We drive to the car
We come to the seller or dealer anywhere in Peterborough, at the same price with no mileage or call-out charge.
We inspect and test
We carry out the physical, diagnostic, history and road-test checks, and film the video review at the car.
Understand before you decide
You get the video review, photos and digital report the same day, then we talk through the findings and the buying decision with you. Keep the evidence for future reference.
See a sample inspection report
See the level of detail, findings and checklist before you book.
View sample reportEV battery health checks
What the State of Health assessment checks on compatible electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
EV battery healthQuestions from Peterborough buyers
Can you inspect a car at Motorpoint Peterborough before I collect it?
Yes. Reserve the car, let the sales team know an independent inspector is coming, and we arrange a time with them. We inspect on their site, road test where they allow it, and send you the video, photos and report the same day so you can decide before you sign.
Will Big Motoring World in Fengate let you inspect on site?
Supermarket sites are used to independent inspectors once a car is reserved. We confirm access with them when we book the time. If a seller refuses an independent inspection on a reserved car, that is worth knowing before you buy.
Can you check a car I am bidding on at City Auction Group?
Auction cars are sold as seen and viewing time is short, so a full inspection before the sale is rarely possible. If you have bought one and have it at home, or if you are buying it from a dealer who has just had it through the sale, we inspect it in full and the Premium package traces its auction history.
Do you charge extra for Peterborough, Whittlesey or the villages?
No. The price is the same anywhere in and around Peterborough, with no mileage or call-out charge: Standard £199.99, Premium £249.99, and the EV battery check £149.99.
Do I need to be there?
No. We can inspect the car directly with the seller or dealer and send you the video review, photos and report afterwards, then talk it through with you on the phone.
Will you tell me whether to buy the car?
We give you the findings, point out what matters and what it is likely to cost, and talk it through so you can make your own decision. We have no commission from the sale, so the advice is straight.
Page last checked 20 October 2026 by Henry, Pro Vehicle Inspections.
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Inspect it before you buy it.
Independent pre-purchase vehicle inspections in Peterborough from £199.99.
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