Mobile Car Inspection Suffolk
Buying a used car in Suffolk? From the Ransomes Europark dealers in Ipswich and Holden and Hammond in Bury St Edmunds to Thurlow Nunn in Lowestoft and the independents of Woodbridge, Stowmarket and Sudbury, we come to the car and inspect it before you commit: full diagnostics, a road test, a history check and a video report the same day.
Covering the whole county, from Lowestoft to Haverhill, at one price with no mileage charge
Pre-purchase car inspections in Suffolk
Ipswich has the franchised cluster on Ransomes Europark and The Havens, Group 1 BMW on Norwich Road and Hammond Cars on Bury Road, covered on our Ipswich page. Bury St Edmunds has Holden on Dettingen Way, the former Cecil and Larter business that Holden bought in 2023, and Hammond's Nissan dealership on Lamdin Road. Lowestoft has Thurlow Nunn Vauxhall on Waveney Drive and Thurlow Nunn's first BYD showroom. Hammond's home base is Halesworth, Mint Cars trades from the old Kerridge site at Needham Market, and Woodbridge, Eye, Saxmundham and Aldeburgh have small independents. Motorpoint closed its Ipswich store on 18 October 2026, so Suffolk's used cars now come from franchised dealers, independents and private sellers.
Much of the trade stock arrives from outside the county. Lacy Scott and Knight in Bury St Edmunds holds occasional classic sales, but Suffolk dealers buy at Manheim Colchester and Aston Barclay Chelmsford in Essex, East Anglian Motor Auctions at Wymondham or Anglia Car Auctions at King's Lynn, so a forecourt car here is often only days out of an auction lane. Nowhere in Suffolk charges a Clean Air Zone fee, so an older diesel costs nothing extra to run here. We inspect the car before you pay, so you decide with the findings and negotiate from them.
Every part of Suffolk costs the same as everywhere else we cover, coast included, with no mileage or call-out charge. Book online, tell us where the car is and we arrange the time with the seller or dealer. You get the video, photos and written report the same day.
Postcodes IP1 to IP33, NR32 to NR35, CB8, CB9 and CO10.
Every inspection includes
Where we inspect in Suffolk
Any dealer forecourt, car supermarket, auction collection or private seller's driveway. These are the main places people in Suffolk buy from.
Ipswich: Ransomes Europark, Norwich Road and Bury Road
Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Peugeot, Citroen and DS at Ransomes Europark, Group 1 BMW on Norwich Road and Hammond Cars on Bury Road. See our Ipswich page.
Bury St Edmunds: Dettingen Way and Lamdin Road
Holden's Volvo, SEAT and CUPRA site and Hammond Nissan, both off the A14. Reserve the car and we inspect on the forecourt before you sign.
Lowestoft and the north coast
Thurlow Nunn Vauxhall and BYD on Waveney Drive, and the independents of Lowestoft, Beccles and Southwold. Reserve the car and we inspect it on site.
Felixstowe, Woodbridge and the Deben
Private sellers and small forecourts along the coast and the A12. We inspect on driveways as well as forecourts.
Stowmarket, Needham Market, Sudbury and Hadleigh
Mint Cars at Needham Market and the independents of mid and south Suffolk. Give 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 Suffolk, 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 Suffolk?
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 Suffolk, 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 Suffolk buyers
Do you cover Lowestoft and the Suffolk coast, or just Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds?
The whole county, at the same price, with no mileage or call-out charge: Standard £199.99, Premium £249.99, and the EV battery check £149.99.
Can you inspect a car at a Newmarket or Haverhill dealer on the same day as one in Bury St Edmunds?
Yes. Book both and give us the two addresses. Both cars can be inspected and reported on the same day, so you compare them side by side.
Can you inspect a car at Holden on Dettingen Way in Bury St Edmunds before I sign?
Yes. Reserve the car, tell the sales team an independent inspector is coming and we inspect on their forecourt, with a road test where they allow it. You get the video, photos and report the same day, before you sign anything.
Can you check a car I am buying through a trader who bought it at Manheim Colchester?
Once the trader has bought it and it is on their premises or yours, yes, and the Premium inspection traces its auction history. A full inspection inside the auction before the sale is rarely possible: Manheim Colchester is trade only, viewing time is short and the cars are sold as seen.
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.
Nearby areas we cover
Inspect it before you buy it.
Independent pre-purchase vehicle inspections in Suffolk from £199.99.
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