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MotoPPI blog

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

How to Become a Mobile Car Inspector - 2026 Guide
Blog 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.

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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.

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.

How to inspect a used car before buying: full 2026 checklist
9 min read

How to inspect a used car before buying: full 2026 checklist

What to actually check in a used car, paint, engine, undercarriage, documents, VIN. A practical step-by-step checklist from my experience with 100+ inspections.

OBD2 scanner: which to choose for car inspections (2026)
8 min read

OBD2 scanner: which to choose for car inspections (2026)

What to actually buy: ELM327, Vgate, Launch X431. Which apps (Car Scanner, Torque) and how to read error codes. From my experience, what's really needed vs marketing.

Paint thickness gauge: which to buy in 2026, how to use it
8 min read

Paint thickness gauge: which to buy in 2026, how to use it

Practical guide to paint thickness gauges: specific models €50-400, how to spot fakes, how to read results, what they don't detect. From my experience with 100+ inspections.

Buying a US salvage auction car: how to spot one and is it worth it
7 min read

Buying a US salvage auction car: how to spot one and is it worth it

60% of cars 'imported from the USA' come from Copart and IAAI salvage auctions. How to spot them before purchase, what to watch out for, when it makes sense, and when to walk away.

First 10 clients as a car inspector: where to find them
6 min read

First 10 clients as a car inspector: where to find them

How to get your first inspection clients with zero ad budget. Facebook groups, classifieds, Google Business, dealer partnerships, a practical plan.

How to start earning €700-1,200/month as a car inspector: starter guide
6 min read

How to start earning €700-1,200/month as a car inspector: starter guide

Pre-purchase car inspections are a real side income niche. Here's a step-by-step plan: what to do in week 1, month 1, month 3. Real numbers, no passive income BS.

Car inspection pricing: what to charge and how to handle payments
5 min read

Car inspection pricing: what to charge and how to handle payments

What rate can you charge for a car inspection? When to raise prices? Cash, instant transfer, invoice, or self-employed business? A concrete guide to pricing and billing.

Car inspector tool kit under €120: what to buy at the start
6 min read

Car inspector tool kit under €120: what to buy at the start

Concrete list of tools for car inspections: paint thickness gauge, OBD scanner, flashlight, neodymium magnet. What to buy, where to buy, what it costs. Plus: what NOT to buy.