Pre-Purchase Inspection Kit for Older Cars & Trucks

Buying an older car or truck? They don't come with a computer that tells you what's wrong, so you find out the old-school way: your eyes, your ears, a flashlight and a few simple tools. The ProjectDaily Pre-Purchase Inspection Kit walks you from research at home to the test drive and the offer, in the order ProjectDaily recommends doing it.

What's inside

• 21 pages, US Letter PDF, with 12 clear illustrations: VIN locations, magnet test, four rust maps, engine bay, belts and hoses, exhaust smoke decoder, vacuum gauge readings, tire date codes and tread, and a leak color chart

• Before You Go research page: price comparables, title and theft history checks, lien check, open recalls, VIN decoding and the five weak spots to check first

• Phone-screen script: 10 questions to ask before you drive out, with good answers and warning signs

• Model weak-spot page with a worked FJ62 Land Cruiser example, plus a blank page and search prompts for your own model

• The scored inspection: 9 sections from Paperwork to Test Drive, 130+ OK / ? / ✗ check items, each section scored 0–5 (out of 45)

• Buyer's photo checklist: 20 shots to take at the car

• Walk Away If red-flag box and a filled-in example inspection so you can see how it works

• Offer worksheet: turn your score and repair estimates into an opening offer and a walk-away number, plus a checklist for before any money changes hands

• ProjectDaily Tips throughout

• Two editions included: a fillable PDF you can type into on your phone, tablet or computer, and a low-ink printable PDF for a pen and clipboard

Print it or fill it in, take your time, and don't let excitement override your checklist. There's always another car.

Instant digital download. All sales are final. Download trouble? Email info@projectdaily.tv. This is a guide to help you inspect a car yourself. It is not a professional inspection.