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MotoPPI blog

Guides, analyses and checklists for people who buy or sell used cars.

Gas, diesel, hybrid or electric: which used car to buy
Blog 6 min read

Gas, diesel, hybrid or electric: which used car to buy

Gas vs diesel vs hybrid vs electric on the used market. How to match the powertrain to your driving, US realities, and what to check on each type before buying.

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What to look for when buying a used car: full checklist
5 min read

What to look for when buying a used car: full checklist

A complete checklist for what to look for when buying a used car: history, paint, engine, test drive, and documents, so you don't overpay for hidden problems.

Best VIN check site: free vs paid options compared
5 min read

Best VIN check site: free vs paid options compared

The best VIN check site depends on what you need. We compare free and paid VIN lookup options in the US, what each one shows, and which gives the best value.

How much do mechanics make and how to earn as a car inspector
5 min read

How much do mechanics make and how to earn as a car inspector

How much do mechanics make in the US, what drives their pay, and how you can earn on the side as a car inspector without a full mechanic career. Real numbers in USD.

Road signs explained: categories, confusing ones, how to learn
4 min read

Road signs explained: categories, confusing ones, how to learn

Road signs are grouped by shape and color for a reason. Learn the categories, the commonly confused signs, and a simple system for learning them fast.

Tire pressure: correct PSI, how to check, TPMS light, chart
4 min read

Tire pressure: correct PSI, how to check, TPMS light, chart

Tire pressure guide: how to find the correct PSI, how to check tire pressure, what the TPMS light means, a quick PSI chart, and checking tires on a used car.

Used Tesla Model 3 / Y (2018-2024): what to check
8 min read

Used Tesla Model 3 / Y (2018-2024): what to check

Used Tesla Model 3 and Model Y buyer's guide: battery state of health, MCU, suspension, panel gaps, warranty transfer, real price ranges and a full VIN checklist.

How to Become a Mobile Car Inspector - 2026 Guide
6 min read

How to Become a Mobile Car Inspector - 2026 Guide

How to start earning from car inspections: gear, pricing, first clients, how much a mobile inspector earns. A practical step-by-step guide for beginners.

Check a Car by VIN and License Plate - Free and Paid Methods (2026)
5 min read

Check a Car by VIN and License Plate - Free and Paid Methods (2026)

How to check a car by VIN and license plate: free databases (NHTSA decoder, NICB) and paid history reports. Step-by-step vehicle verification before you buy.

How Much Does a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) Cost? 2026 Price Guide
6 min read

How Much Does a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) Cost? 2026 Price Guide

A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) costs $100-200 at a mechanic, ~$40 for a history report, or from $9.99 with an app. Here's the full 2026 price breakdown and the cheapest option.

What is a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI)? Cost, options and the cheapest way to do it
3 min read

What is a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI)? Cost, options and the cheapest way to do it

A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is a check of a used car before you buy. Here's what a PPI covers, what it costs, how to pick the best PPI company - and the cheapest way to get one.

Fuel cost and MPG: how to calculate and save gas
5 min read

Fuel cost and MPG: how to calculate and save gas

How to calculate fuel cost and MPG, work out your cost per mile, tips to save gas and improve fuel economy, and what MPG means when buying a used car.

How to transfer a car title and register a used car: steps and fees
5 min read

How to transfer a car title and register a used car: steps and fees

Buying a used car privately? Here is how to transfer the title and register it at the DMV, the steps, the fees in USD, and how to avoid title and lien problems.

Buying a used electric car: how to check battery health and what to watch out for
6 min read

Buying a used electric car: how to check battery health and what to watch out for

How to read battery SOH, how much degradation is normal per mileage, why DC fast charging hurts, the warranty, replacement cost, and the red flags before you buy a used EV.

What it really costs to own a used car: the hidden expenses buyers never count
6 min read

What it really costs to own a used car: the hidden expenses buyers never count

Insurance, servicing, tyres, fuel, taxes, depreciation and out-of-warranty repairs. Real annual cost ranges and the hidden expenses people forget when buying.

How to negotiate the price of a used car: tactics and arguments that actually work
5 min read

How to negotiate the price of a used car: tactics and arguments that actually work

Market price research, faults as leverage, timing, cash and the power of silence. Concrete arguments, real discount figures and when to walk away from the table.

Buying a car from Germany: what to watch out for when importing
5 min read

Buying a car from Germany: what to watch out for when importing

How to buy a used car from Germany without getting burned: odometer fraud, fake service books, cars reimported via DE, dodgy dealers. A practical guide from experience.

How to check a VIN before buying a car: where to find it and what it tells you
3 min read

How to check a VIN before buying a car: where to find it and what it tells you

Where the VIN is located, how to read it, which databases to check (free and paid), and how to spot a tampered or mismatched VIN. A practical step-by-step guide.

How to read a vehicle history report: what the data on mileage, accidents and owners really means
5 min read

How to read a vehicle history report: what the data on mileage, accidents and owners really means

Mileage from inspections, number of owners, legal status, accidents vs total loss. How to read a vehicle history report and avoid getting fooled.

Test driving a used car: what to check and what to watch for (step by step)
5 min read

Test driving a used car: what to check and what to watch for (step by step)

Cold start, exhaust smoke, gearbox behaviour, steering play, braking, suspension noises. A practical step-by-step guide to getting the most out of a test drive.

Accident-damaged car: how to spot bodywork repair in 20 minutes
4 min read

Accident-damaged car: how to spot bodywork repair in 20 minutes

Signs of an accident-damaged car: paint thickness, panel gaps, welding marks, glass dates, bolts. A practical step-by-step inspection guide with real thresholds.

Rolled-back odometer: 9 ways to spot it before you buy
4 min read

Rolled-back odometer: 9 ways to spot it before you buy

How to detect a rolled-back odometer in a used car: wear marks, inspection mileage history, OBD reader, service records. Concrete methods, not generic advice - from experience.

Car maintenance schedule: what to do when, intervals, and cost
4 min read

Car maintenance schedule: what to do when, intervals, and cost

A car maintenance schedule with intervals for oil, brakes, tires, fluids, and belts, plus real yearly cost of ownership in USD and what to check before buying used.

How many miles is too many on a used car?
6 min read

How many miles is too many on a used car?

How many miles is too many on a used car? Why miles per year beats the total, when low mileage is a red flag, and how to verify the odometer is real.