Computer scan
Stored and pending codes where the vehicle allows a scan.
Buying a used car somewhere else? Inspect it here first.
A $199 shop inspection of the vehicle you are considering from a private seller, another dealer, an auction, or an online listing — before you buy. About 1.5–2 hours. Written Green / Yellow / Red report you can print or open on your phone.
Service · Frederick shop only
$199 · typical passenger vehicle · ~1.5–2 hours
- Third-party vehicles only
- ASE-certified shop on Buckeystown Pike
- Scan · road test · photos
- Printable + digital report
Know what you are buying before you wire the money
Private-party listings, auctions, and out-of-town dealers rarely tell you the whole story. Renn Kirby Frederick Auto inspects that vehicle in our shop so you can decide with facts — not a driveway handshake.
The standard package is $199 for a typical passenger car or light truck. You get a computer scan, a visual and functional inspection, a road test when safe, photo documentation, and a written Green / Yellow / Red report. Repair estimates are optional and only if you ask us to do the work.
This program is for vehicles you are buying somewhere else. We do not sell a paid PPI on cars already on the Renn Kirby lot — those units follow Maryland Inspected, Ally Certified, or Value Vehicle rules on the vehicle page, and you are welcome to bring your own independent mechanic to inspect our inventory through the sales desk.
Pre-purchase inspection vs Maryland State Inspection
| Topic | PPI $199 | MD inspection $95 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | A buying decision on a car you found somewhere else | Legal safety certification to title and register in Maryland |
| Price | $199 standard passenger vehicle (special vehicles quoted first) | $95 on our service menu |
| What you receive | Informational Green / Yellow / Red report + photos | State inspection certificate if the vehicle passes |
| Warranty? | No — findings are a snapshot of that visit | No — passing inspection is not a warranty |
What the $199 inspection covers
A visual and functional inspection in the shop. Hidden damage, intermittent faults, and future failures can still appear after you buy.
Exterior & glass
Body, lights, glass, and obvious collision clues we can see without tearing panels apart.
Interior & electronics
HVAC, visible electronics, and obvious interior wear or warning lights.
Engine & fluids
Leaks, belts, fluid condition, and running condition we can observe on the lift and at idle.
Drivetrain & brakes
Transmission/drivetrain operation we can test, plus brake condition we can inspect.
Tires, steering, suspension
Tread, uneven wear, and steering/suspension play we can see or feel.
Undercarriage
Rust, impact, exhaust, and leaks visible on the lift.
Road test
When the vehicle is safe to drive, we road-test for noises, shifts, and warning lights.
Photos + written report
Green / Yellow / Red scoring with notes you can keep, print, or share.
How booking works
1
1. Request online
Tell us year, make, model, VIN if you have it, where the car is coming from, and a preferred window. Check the scope box so we know you understand this is not a state inspection or a warranty.
2
2. We confirm the slot
Service calls or texts to lock the appointment. European, diesel, EV, or heavily modified vehicles are quoted before we start — no surprise add-on on the drive.
3
3. Sign at the desk, then we inspect
When you arrive, you sign the work authorization before the technician starts. The website checkbox is only a booking acknowledgement.
4
4. Walk the report
You get a shop printout and a branded digital report you can open on your phone. Ask us to quote repairs only if you want Renn Kirby to do the work.
A report you can actually use at the negotiating table
Each area is scored Green (no significant concern found), Yellow (review before you buy), or Red (significant concern). You leave with a printed copy and a private link to the same branded report.
Green
No significant concerns found in that area
Nothing in that check rose to a buying warning on this visit.
Yellow
Review before you buy
Wear, a code, a leak, or a noise worth pricing — or walking away from.
Red
Significant concern
A finding that should pause the purchase until you understand the cost and risk.
European, diesel, EV, and modified vehicles
Those inspections often need extra diagnostic time or equipment. We quote that fee before the technician starts. We do not invent a menu of add-on prices on the website — you will know the number before work begins.
Two different signatures — on purpose
On this page you check a box that you understand the scope: third-party vehicle, informational report, not a Maryland State Inspection, not a warranty.
At the service desk you sign the work authorization before the inspection starts. We will not publish your digital report until that desk authorization is on file.
Pre-purchase inspection questions
- How much is a pre-purchase inspection in Frederick, MD?
- The standard passenger-vehicle PPI at Renn Kirby Frederick Auto is $199 and takes about 1.5–2 hours. European, diesel, EV, or modified vehicles are quoted before the inspection starts.
- Is a pre-purchase inspection the same as a Maryland State Inspection?
- No. A Maryland State Inspection is $95 and is the safety certificate Maryland uses to title and register a used vehicle. A PPI is an informational buying report on a car you found somewhere else. Passing or failing a PPI does not title the car.
- Can you inspect a car I am buying from a private seller or another dealer?
- Yes — that is exactly this program. Bring the vehicle to 5712 Buckeystown Pike. We inspect third-party vehicles only; we do not sell this $199 PPI on units already on our lot.
- Will you inspect a car you are selling?
- For vehicles on our lot, ask the sales desk to schedule an independent mechanic. Maryland Inspected, Ally Certified, and Value Vehicle rules are listed on that vehicle’s page. Do not use this PPI form for our inventory.
- Does the inspection come with a warranty?
- No. The report is a snapshot of what we could see, scan, and road-test on that visit. Hidden damage and future failures can still appear. Repair estimates are optional and only if you ask us to do the work.
- Can you do a PPI as Mobile Service at my house?
- No. A proper PPI needs a lift, a scan, and a road test in the Frederick shop. Mobile Service is for on-site maintenance such as oil, tires, and light repair.
- How do I get the report?
- You receive a shop printout and a branded digital report link after the technician finishes and the desk has your signed work authorization. You can print the digital page from any browser.
- What if the vehicle is a diesel, European, EV, or heavily modified?
- Tell us on the form. We quote extra diagnostic time before we start. We will not begin until you accept that quote.
- Do I need the VIN?
- It helps us prepare, but year, make, and model are enough to request a slot. Bring the VIN with the vehicle if you have it.
- Se habla español?
- Sí. Puede reservar en español en esta misma página y nuestro equipo de servicio atiende en español.
Book a $199 pre-purchase inspection
We confirm appointments by phone or text. Plan on about 1.5–2 hours in the shop. Bring the vehicle — we cannot inspect from photos alone.
Mon–Fri 8am–7pm · Sat sales 8am–5pm, service 8am–2pm · Se habla español
Renn Kirby Frederick Auto · 5712 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704
You can also call service or use the main service page. Service
Important limitations
This inspection is informational only. It is not a warranty, service contract, guarantee of future performance, or Maryland State Safety Inspection certificate.
We inspect what we can see, scan, and road-test without disassembly unless you authorize additional work in writing. Corrosion inside panels, prior repairs that were refinished, intermittent electrical faults, and OEM battery or module tests are included only when we actually perform them.
Standard pricing is $199 for a typical passenger vehicle. Other vehicles are quoted before inspection. Repair estimates are provided only if you ask Renn Kirby to perform the repairs.
Renn Kirby Frederick Auto — 5712 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704. Service: (301) 835-1283.
Service
Service & maintenance on Buckeystown Pike
ASE-certified technicians for gas, hybrid, and EV vehicles — oil changes, tires, brakes, alignments, and Maryland state inspections. Come to the shop, request Mobile Service, or use pickup & delivery.
Don’t buy the surprise. Inspect it first.
Request a slot online or call service. Same-day depends on the shop schedule.