YourMechanic Lifts the Hood on Used Car Shopping with Pre-purchase Inspection Offering

Mountain View, CA (PRWEB) October 07, 2013

YourMechanic (http://www.yourmechanic.com), a convenient mobile mechanic service that comes to you, today announced its "Pre-Purchase Inspection" offering, a service that gives car buyers the confidence that the used vehicle they are buying is in good working condition. The introduction of this offering coincides with the advent of ‘Used Car Buying Season’ in October when experts recommend buying a used car because dealers aren’t incentivized with bonuses and pre-holiday inventory is low.

Research has shown that people often feel powerless and vulnerable when they bring their car in for service. YourMechanic is redefining this experience by connecting consumers with trusted, certified and community-reviewed mechanics while cutting out the time and hassle of traveling to and from a repair shop. Unlike traditional auto shops, YourMechanic service providers conduct work in full view of the customer, and costs are determined by a fair price calculator and communicated up front. To view a video showcasing how YourMechanic works, click here.

“It has been five years since the U.S. auto bailout, and automakers are now starting to experience a resurgence. The tech industry is also responding, and YourMechanic is part of the innovation around transportation,” said Art Agrawal, CEO of YourMechanic. “With today's announcement, we're supporting mechanics and transforming how consumers shop for a used car to make the process easier and level the playing field for everyone. Thanks to new services like this, the auto industry is getting a much needed tune-up.”

YourMechanic harnesses the power of a web-based platform to help car owners find available mechanics in their neighborhood, request quotes and schedule service times, and process the transaction upon service completion. As part of the service, car owners have access to the latest information and cost for parts and services, regardless of whether YourMechanic performs the maintenance or repair. The service also tracks the personal maintenance schedule and repair history for their cars, thereby giving owners the confidence that their car is getting what it needs to remain reliable and run well.

“I recently relocated to California from New York City and was in the market for a used car. I know very little about cars and wanted to ensure that the car wasn’t going to need a few thousand dollars worth of work after buying it,” says Rikin Shah, a student at Stanford University. “I bought the car from a dealer, who assured me it was in great working condition. However, after hiring a mechanic from YourMechanic.com to inspect it, the car turned out to need a new transmission almost immediately. Thankfully, California has a ‘cooling off period’ law, which enabled me to return the car before losing thousands of dollars on repairs. I am definitely taking a YourMechanic certified mechanic with me to check out the next potential car before I buy it!”

The Pre-Purchase Inspection offering averages around $75 and includes a full report on the condition of the car – the brake pads, tires, engine, transmission and more. A YourMechanic certified mechanic meets customers wherever the car is located and performs the inspection on site, in full view of the customer and the car owner.

The automotive experts at YourMechanic compiled some tips for avoiding some of the common pitfalls when purchasing a used car:

   •      Smog Check -The seller of the car is required to get the car smogged before selling it. The car must pass the smog check within 90 days of the intended sale date. Ensure the seller provides you with the smog certificate or you may be in for a surprise when registering the car.
   •     Keys, locks, remote controls and other accessories - Make sure the seller is providing you with all necessary keys, key fobs and remotes that go with the vehicle. For instance, if the car has wheel locks, make sure the seller provides you with the proper wheel lock key/socket. In addition, be sure to ask the seller for the owner’s manual, any extended warranty documents and service records, as well as a spare tire, jack and tools.
   •     Verify that the pink slip gives you clear title - Ensure that there are no liens against the car (i.e., no bank or other party holds an interest in the vehicle) and that all owners have signed off on the car before going through with the purchase. The pink slip will have the owner’s name and any lien holders listed. ‘Lien holders’ should either be blank or any holders will have signed off as ‘lien-satisfied’.
   •     Salvage title - A vehicle pink slip may list a vehicle as having a salvage title, meaning that at one time in the car’s history, an insurance company has totaled this vehicle. This indicates that the car has been in a major accident, whereby repair costs have been higher than the vehicle’s value. Buyer beware, some of these salvage vehicles may have extensive problems, have voided warranties and are therefore not eligible for comprehensive auto insurance.

About YourMechanic
YourMechanic is a convenient mobile mechanic service that comes to you. Our number one priority is ensuring the job goes smoothly with full transparency as the guiding principle. YourMechanic service providers conduct work in full view of the customer, and costs are determined by a fair price calculator and communicated up front. Our approach eliminates overhead costs that drive up prices at traditional repair shops, enabling us to pass on the savings to customers. YourMechanic is redefining the car repair experience by connecting consumers with trusted, certified and community-reviewed mechanics while cutting out the time and hassle of traveling to and from a repair shop. http://www.yourmechanic.com.

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