How We Inspect a Car Before Buyout: The Inspection Checklist
VIN history, paint gauge, electronics diagnostics, battery check and a test drive: we publish the internal checklist AVTOORDER uses to inspect every car before buyout.
The most common fear when ordering a car from China is "they will send something different from the photos". The only cure is an independent inspection before buyout, while the money has not yet gone to the seller. Here is the checklist our specialists use to inspect every car, with an explanation of why each item matters.
Stage 1. VIN history check
Before even traveling to the car, we run the VIN through Chinese databases:
- insurance cases — all claims with payout amounts;
- service history — dealer maintenance records that reveal the true mileage;
- pledge and restriction status — the car must not be under lease or arrest;
- number of owners and the region of use.
Roughly one car in four is rejected at this stage — it never even reaches a physical inspection.
Stage 2. Body and geometry
At the inspection, a specialist goes over the entire body with a paint thickness gauge: readings for every panel are recorded in the report. A repainted panel is not always a verdict (in China minor chips are often touched up), but hidden repair after a serious accident is an unambiguous rejection. Additionally we check panel gaps, fender and hood mounting bolts, glass (markings must match the year) and the state of the frame rails.
Stage 3. Mechanics and electronics
- Computer diagnostics of all modules with error decoding.
- Engine bay check: leaks, hoses and mounts condition.
- Chassis on a lift: play, bushings, brake discs.
- Every cabin system: climate, cameras, sensors, sunroof, seats.
Stage 4. The battery — for EVs and hybrids
The key item for EVs. We read the battery health (SOH), check the fast-charging history, cell balance and BMS errors. A battery with SOH below the threshold or with traces of opening means refusal to buy, however attractive the price.
Stage 5. Test drive
A short drive reveals what a lift cannot: extraneous noises, vibrations, steering pull, gearbox and regeneration behavior, real energy consumption.
Stage 6. Report to the client
The client receives a report: 100+ photos, videos of startup and driving, diagnostic data, paint gauge readings and the VIN history — and only after their confirmation do we proceed to buyout. If the car fails the check, we select the next option without charging for the inspection again.
Why this saves money rather than being an "extra service"
The inspection costs a fraction of a percent of the car's price. One rejected wreck saves an amount many times larger than the cost of all inspections in a year. That is why the inspection at AVTOORDER is a mandatory stage of the deal, not an option.
Want to see an example of a real report — leave a request, and a manager will send a sample and answer questions about the process.