FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

We are not available every day and do not perform inspections on weekends. Please refer to our availability calendar at the top of this page for days we’re available for inspections. On those days, we conduct inspections from sunrise to approximately 3:00 PM.

• We strongly recommend viewing the vehicle in person before scheduling an inspection, when possible. You are not required to be present for the inspection.

• After payment is received, we contact the seller, typically on the morning of the inspection, to arrange the appointment (within a 30-minute arrival window). Our schedule often fills days in advance, so same-day inspections are rare unless there’s a cancellation or schedule change. There is an additional $40 fee for “same-day” inspections, so please book by 9:00 PM the night before to avoid this charge.

• To check same-day or backup availability, first review our availability calendar to confirm there’s an entry for today’s date. If there is, email us with the vehicle’s year, model, and location to check our availability while we’re in the field. If there is no entry to todays date, a same day inspection is not an option, please refer to the next day as displayed.

1) Availability Calendar

You’ve done your research, found the perfect vehicle, seen it, driven it, and think it’s the one! Follow these steps to schedule an inspection with PDXinspections:

1. Inform the seller that you’d like to have the vehicle inspected by PDXinspections during our business hours (sunrise to approximately 3:00 PM) on our next available day as displayed. We travel to dealerships, private sellers’ homes, or businesses, depending on what works best for them. Let them know we’ll contact them to schedule the inspection.
2. Gather the seller’s contact information and vehicle details, then visit our website to book and pay for your inspection instantly. Once booked, you’re done—we’ll handle the rest.
3. After receiving your payment, we’ll confirm your booking via email, including some vehicle history with ownership details, title/sales information, crash/damage records, and service records (when available).
4. We’ll contact the seller, typically on the morning of the inspection, to introduce ourselves and confirm the time we expect to arrive in their area.
5. Once we’ve confirmed the inspection time with the seller, we’ll email you with the scheduled arrival window and an estimated time for receiving your inspection report.
6. We arrive within the pre-arranged 30-minute window, perform the inspection, and email you a 6-10 page inspection report directly from the site once completed.
7. With the report in hand, you have all the information needed to make an informed decision. We’re available to answer any questions you may have after reviewing the report. You can now move forward with confidence or choose to explore other vehicles.

We operate throughout the Portland and Vancouver metro areas, regularly traveling as far south as Wilsonville, west to Forest Grove, east to Hood River, and north to Battle Ground. We occasionally travel as far south as Salem, but as this is outside our primary area, additional fees apply.

Before booking, please email us the details or ad links for any vehicle you’re considering from dealerships on 82nd Avenue or smaller dealers on SE McLoughlin Blvd. We’ve encountered many lower-quality vehicles and had negative experiences with dealers in these areas. Dealerships with poor online reputations often result in our worst inspections. Check dealer reviews on Google, www.bbb.org, www.yelp.com (including filtered or “not recommended” reviews, as Yelp may hide negative feedback), and www.ripoffreport.com. Be cautious of dealerships with a mix of overly positive reviews (often self-posted by salespeople) and very negative ones.

Locations for Our Platinum Inspections:

• Aloha, OR
• Amity, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Aurora, OR
• Banks, OR
• Barlow, OR
• Battle Ground, WA
• Beavercreek, OR
• Beaverton, OR
• Bethany, OR
• Boring, OR
• Bridal Veil, OR
• Bridgeport, OR
• Brightwood, OR
• Brush Prairie, WA
• Bull Mountain, OR
• Camas, WA
• Canby, OR
• Cascade Locks, OR
• Cedar Mill/Hills, OR
• Champoeg, OR
• Charbonneau, OR
• Clackamas, OR
• Carlton, OR
• Colton, OR
• Corbett, OR
• Cornelius, OR
• Damascus, OR
• Donald, OR
• Downtown Portland, OR
• Dundee, OR
• Durham, OR
• Eagle Creek, OR
• Estacada, OR
• Fairview, OR
• Farmington, OR
• Forest Grove, OR
• Garden Home, OR
• Gladstone, OR
• Glencoe, OR
• Government Camp, OR
• Gresham, OR
• Happy Valley, OR
• Hayden Island, OR
• Hazel Dell, WA
• Hillsboro, OR
• Hood River, OR
• Hubbard, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Jantzen Beach, OR
• La Center, WA
• Lake Oswego, OR
• McMinnville, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Milwaukie, OR
• Molalla, OR
• Mount Hood, OR
• Mulino, OR
• Newberg, OR
• Northwest Portland (Rock Creek, Bethany, Tanasbourne), OR
• North Plains, OR
• Oak Grove, OR
• Orchards, WA
• Oregon City, OR
• Portland, OR
• Rainier, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Raleigh Hills, OR
• Rhododendron, OR
• Ridgefield, WA
• Rock Creek, OR
• Salmon Creek, WA
• Salem, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Sandy, OR
• Scappoose, OR
• Scholls, OR
• Sherwood, OR
• Silverton, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Southeast Portland, OR (surcharge applies for dealerships on 82nd Avenue)
• Springdale, OR
• Stevenson, WA
• St. Helens, OR
• Sunnyside, OR
• Tigard, OR
• Troutdale, OR
• Tualatin, OR
• Vancouver, WA
• Washougal, WA
• Welches, OR
• West Linn, OR
• Wilsonville, OR
• Woodburn, OR (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Woodland, WA (surcharge applies; not in primary area)
• Wood Village, OR
• Zigzag, OR

We contact the seller on the day of the inspection to confirm the vehicle’s availability and arrange a 30-minute arrival window.

Canceling Inspections/Refund Policy:
Please note that our payment processing fees are non-refundable. For this reason, any refund will be issued for the original payment amount minus actual fees (approximately 3%) to cover these fees.

Once you’ve received our confirmation email with research the following terms apply:

We discover information during our research that makes an inspection unnecessary

• You cancel your inspection with sufficient notice before it is scheduled.
• The vehicle is sold before we schedule the inspection.

In these cases, your refund will be processed minus a $50 fee to compensate for our time, payment processing fees, research, and any reports or information already provided.

Seller no show or vehicle sells prior to our arrival after we have confirmed with the seller on the day of the inspection:

• If we attempt contact the seller to schedule on the day of the inspection and are unable to complete the inspection at fault of the seller (unable to reach despite having a heads up of our arrival/travel to location/no show/sold vehicle) or you cancel the inspection on the day of:

  There is a $80 minimum charge to cover the above merchant fees, research provided, loss of inspection slot and to cover some of our travel time/expenses.

We conduct many private party inspections at the seller’s place of business, as sellers are often unavailable at home during the day. This is appreciated by many, as it minimizes the inconvenience of having a stranger visit their home and take time away from their family. Typically, the seller meets us in their business parking lot to provide the keys for the inspection, and we contact them when the inspection is complete and ready for a test drive, if they choose to join us. During summer, we can perform our first inspection at sunrise if the seller prefers to have it done before they leave for work. Alternatively, if the seller is comfortable leaving the vehicle at home with key access instructions or with a neighbor or family member, we can keep them informed and conduct the inspection while they’re away.

We don’t assign a specific point count to our inspections, as our focus is on thoroughness and accuracy. Below are the details of our inspection types:

Platinum Inspection

Our Platinum inspection is the most comprehensive in the industry. We inspect and test every accessible component without disassembly, using specialized tools for activation, scanning, or measurement. This includes lifting the vehicle to examine the frame, steering, and suspension, as well as conducting a test drive. Our unique inspection-specific tools and processes, developed exclusively by PDXinspections, set us apart from dealers, other inspection companies, and independent shops. As inspection specialists, not a repair facility, we provide a completely unbiased evaluation, ensuring the most accurate assessment of your potential purchase. View photos and descriptions of our Platinum inspection process 

Gold Inspection

The Gold inspection is designed for vehicles less than 3 years old and still under factory warranty. It provides peace of mind, ensuring you’re not overpaying for a vehicle with issues or undisclosed cosmetic damage or accident repairs.

Bronze (Basic) Inspection

The Bronze inspection is a mechanical and safety check, covering essential components but excluding finer details, vehicle lifting, or a test drive. It’s ideal for a basic assessment of a vehicle’s condition when you feel comfortable with its driving dynamics.

While we perform hundreds of inspections each year on common vehicles like Honda, Toyota, BMW, Lexus, and Subaru, our expertise extends across the entire automotive spectrum. We have experience inspecting highly valuable and specialized vehicles, including a $250K Bentley, a $150K Ford GT, a $130K Mercedes-Benz, and even the world’s fastest supercar, the Ultima GTR.

Our Specialty: Modern & Tech-Focused Vehicles

We are properly equipped and most comfortable inspecting modern vehicles (1996 and newer), as this is where our specialization lies. Vehicles from 1996 onward utilize the OBD-II diagnostic standard, which we are fully set up to analyze.

Our team is most familiar with the wear patterns, potential failure points, and respective driving characteristics of newer models (typically 1 to 10 years old).

We also specialize in the rapidly evolving technology of:

• Hybrid Vehicles
• Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Vehicles We Do NOT Inspect

To maintain our specialized focus and expertise, we have the following exclusions:

• Large Commercial Vehicles
• Recreational Vehicles (RVs)
• All Land Rover / Range Rover products

Generally speaking our onsite inspections start around $150 for vehicles located in Vancouver, Washington. We have 3 different inspection types in order to provide the best service to our clients. You’ll need to visit the respective inspection  page where you will see our availability and calculator to figure the cost based on inspection type, model and location of vehicle.

Compare and price our 3 different inspection types

PDXinspections was the first company to develop the technology allows us to build your report as we go and instantly emails your inspection report upon completion. For example, if we start an inspection at 10:00 AM and finish by 11:30 AM, you’ll receive the report in your inbox by 11:31 AM. Your 6-10 page PDF report is easy to view or print from your computer, smartphone, or mobile device.

Please visit the Ordering Page – We are typically in the field performing inspections throughout the day and providing our customers our undivided attention. We do not take appointments over the phone and have set up a very easy to use online payment/booking system. Our inspection availability is always up to date on our availability calendar seen throughout the site. Email is the quickest way to reach us if you have questions prior to booking.

At this point we are only operating in the Portland and Vancouver Washington markets. We do have a very wide coverage area from as far South as Wilsonville, North to Longview Washington, East to Hood River and West to about Banks. If it’s on the calculator on the Platinum inspection page we will go there. Otherwise we strongly recommend looking at online reviews for a reputable dealership and/or independent shop of your choosing but please be sure to read through our other inspection comparison page to get an idea on some situations you may see. We do not recommend any of the large franchised inspection companies as we’ve yet to come across a reputable company using real diagnostic tools of any type with their advertised inspections.

We inspect vehicles wherever they are located: dealerships, private seller homes, businesses, or other locations. Before booking an inspection, we strongly recommend researching any dealership you’re considering. Their online reputation reveals critical details about their business practices and vehicle quality.

Please email us the details or ad links for any vehicle from dealerships on 82nd Avenue or smaller dealers on SE McLoughlin Blvd before booking. We’ve encountered many lower-quality vehicles and negative experiences with dealers in these areas. Dealerships with poor online reputations consistently result in our worst inspections. Check reviews on:

• Google dealer reviews
• http://www.bbb.org
• http://www.yelp.com (be sure to check the filtered reviews as well)
• http://www.ripoffreport.com

Be cautious of dealerships with a mix of overly positive reviews (often self-posted by salespeople) and very negative ones.

No, we do not perform official emissions tests. We understand this is a common question, especially for those who have moved from California where the required test is known as a SMOG Check.

In Oregon, the official vehicle emission test is performed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as part of their Vehicle Inspection Program. While our comprehensive pre-purchase inspection may look at the vehicle’s engine and exhaust system, we cannot provide the official Certificate of Compliance required by the Oregon DMV for registration.

You can get your vehicle certified at an official DEQ Clean Air Station.

Our service is strictly a third-party evaluation for your safety and peace of mind before you buy.

We specialize on late-model vehicles with advanced electronics and computer controls. For these modern vehicles, compression tests are typically unnecessary during inspections. Issues like low compression or blow-by are readily detected through drivability symptoms (e.g., rough idling), computer scan data, infrared exhaust temperature analysis, digital engine analyzers, or our 5-gas exhaust analyzer. These tools provide a more comprehensive assessment than traditional compression tests, which were common for older, carbureted engines without sophisticated diagnostics.

Most newer vehicles self-monitor for cylinder misfires or compression issues, often triggering a check engine light with specific trouble codes. Our scanners can also perform cylinder contribution and balance tests to evaluate engine performance. For liability and practicality, reputable mobile inspections, including ours, avoid invasive procedures like compression tests, as they require partial engine disassembly and may concern sellers. If a vehicle shows significant issues warranting a compression test, it would likely fail our inspection outright, ensuring you’re informed of any critical concerns.

Yes, absolutely. We are highly specialized in hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) inspections, making us an ideal choice.

Our expertise is rooted in direct experience. Our owner, Josh, is a dedicated EV enthusiast who currently drives a 2024 Tesla Performance Model 3 and a 2025 GMC Sierra Denali EV, and has personally owned a long list of EV and Hybrid models, including:

• Tesla: Model Y, Model S, Model 3, Model 3 Performance
• Chevrolet: Volt EV (2017 & 2013)
• Hybrid/Truck: GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid, Toyota Prius Hybrid (2010 & 2004)

Our Specialized Diagnostic Approach

Our inspection goes far beyond a visual check by utilizing specialized hardware and software to assess the health of the high-voltage system:

• Comprehensive Module Access: We gain full computer access to the Battery, PCM, and Hybrid modules.
• Advanced Data Reporting: We check for past, current, and pending trouble codes, as well as crucial battery metrics:
  • States of Charge
  • Internal Battery Resistance
  • Cell-to-Cell Voltages
• Tesla-Specific Checks: We access the service menus to check all core vehicle systems and report the current history trouble codes.

Important Checks for Buyers

We use our experience to look for common, vehicle-specific issues and offer buyers key advice:

• Fuel Economy: For hybrids, the reported fuel economy can indicate a decline in battery performance.
• Known Issues: We specifically check for issues common in certain models (e.g., battery degradation on the Nissan Leaf, and battery/transmission issues in older Civic Hybrids). We even use specific scan tools for Toyota Hybrid and Nissan Leaf products.

We offer our service on these vehicles to give you the most information possible, and all salvage vehicles 8 years old or newer must use our Platinum inspection process.

With that being said, we are not fans of these vehicles and don’t like recommending them for many reasons listed on Our Tips to finding a Quality Used Car page.

We always recommend starting by asking the seller for receipts for items such as the airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners and other safety related parts to ensure they were actually replaced and hopefully replaced with factory new parts rather than used parts. Every so often we inspect one that was properly repaired and it’s difficult to spot the previous damage. Ideally this is how you’d want to find them but these situations are rare. Please don’t get caught up in the pricing… Unless this is a vehicle you will drive into the ground, when you go to sell it you will take the hit on the other side as well. These aren’t the easiest vehicles to sell and skeptical of a buyer you are now, the future buyer will be as well. We would almost always recommend a higher mileage, properly maintained vehicle over a salvaged title vehicle. It’s usually not a just a “minor” accident you will often see advertised. Vehicles don’t typically get salvaged out for flood damage with water only to the wheels. In most cases an insurance company pays off an accident vehicle (salvage vehicle) when the cost of damage repair approaches 80% of the vehicles market value. Think safety, would you willingly fly in an airplane or helicopter that has been crashed? How about a house that has been flooded, mold problems, or has a soft foundation? We often find major issues or shotty repairs (remember they are typically being rebuilt as cheaply as possible with the intent to maximize profits even at a reduced market value) so these vehicles MUST be inspected however we strongly recommend sticking to clean title vehicles.

Yes, we do inspect diesel engines on non-commercial, lower-mileage vehicles.

Our standard comprehensive inspection applies, but we use specialized tools to account for the differences in diesel diagnostics:

Our Diesel Inspection Capabilities (Value-Added Tests)

Since traditional exhaust gas analyzers cannot be used on diesel vehicles, we rely on enhanced, dealer-level diagnostic equipment to assess engine health:

• Dealer-Level Scan Tools: We check the vehicle’s computer for history, current, and pending diagnostic issues.
• Digital Engine Analysis: We perform two critical, non-invasive health checks:
  • Comparative Running Compression Test
  • Internal Engine Blow-By Test

Limitations & When to See a Specialist

We have the following limitations for diesel inspections:

No, unfortunately, we are not a suitable fit for inspecting classic or pre-1996 vehicles.

Our business is intentionally structured, tooled, and specialized for late-model, high-tech, computerized vehicles—approximately 90% of the vehicles we inspect are 2010 or newer.

Why We Stick to Modern Vehicles

The year 1996 is the crucial dividing line for our business, as it marks the general cutoff for the OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics II) standard.

• Technology Gap: Our most valuable tool is the enhanced scan tool, which grants full computer access to modern systems. Vehicles older than 1996 lack this capability, meaning our core diagnostic advantage is eliminated.
• Inspection Difference: Older engines rely on basic mechanical integrity, which often requires highly invasive tests (like compression or leakdown tests) to assess engine health. A mobile service cannot perform these tear-down procedures due to time and liability constraints.

Our Recommendation for Classic Cars

You will be best served by finding a shop that specializes in the mechanics and restoration of classic cars.

We strongly recommend having the seller drop the vehicle off at a reputable classic car shop or specialty dealer in the area. They have the necessary equipment and expertise for the hands-on, invasive checks that a proper classic car inspection requires.

(For example, in the Portland area, you might search for shops specializing in vintage car evaluations or restoration.)

No, we are not specialized RV or commercial vehicle inspectors, as these vehicles are often inconsistent in construction, making full mechanical and electronic powertrain access difficult.

We can offer a limited inspection on later-model RVs Adventure Cabs and light/medium commercial vehicles that utilize powertrains we are familiar with (e.g., modern Ford, Chevy, or Dodge diesel/gas chassis).

Inspection Scope & Limitations

Our inspection focuses primarily on the vehicle’s motive functions, and we do not inspect the residential or aftermarket aspects of an RV’s or adventure vans.

• Pricing: Our inspection fee for these vehicles is based on the equivalent heavy-duty truck category (e.g., our 3500/F350 pricing).
• Test Drive: If a test drive is required, please email us prior to booking to ensure it can be arranged.

Our Recommendation

For a comprehensive evaluation of the RV’s living systems (the interior functions, appliances, and structural integrity), you will be better assisted by a professional RV Inspector certified by an organization like the NRVIA (National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association), or by contacting a mobile RV repair specialist in the area.

If you’re local, we recommend viewing the vehicle in person before hiring us. Online listings often misrepresent vehicles, and you may quickly spot issues that make an inspection unnecessary. If you’re not local and plan to visit for the initial viewing and inspection, we suggest sending us first. Our inspection can reveal misrepresentations or issues, potentially saving you a trip or allowing you to negotiate fixes or pricing before arriving. This gives you time to review our report and make informed decisions.

About 95% of our clients view the vehicle in person before booking, then schedule the inspection online and send us out. After receiving our report, they negotiate, revisit the vehicle with the report, or decide to pass. The report is emailed directly from the inspection site for immediate delivery. After payment, we contact the seller to arrange a 30-minute arrival window and notify you of the time if you wish to be present; otherwise, we provide an estimated time for receiving your report via email.

Many of our inspections involve certified pre-owned (CPO) or vehicles only one to two years old with warranties. Even reputable dealers may misrepresent CPO vehicles. About 80% of the vehicles we inspect have had cosmetic paintwork or accident repairs, which can lead to overpaying. Additionally, costly maintenance issues, such as tires or brakes, often arise between 20,000–40,000 miles, and many dealers don’t address these before selling.

An unbiased inspection helps you assess the vehicle’s true value by identifying maintenance needs. We frequently find issues like burnt-out bulbs, missing or damaged spare tires, and neglected brake or tire maintenance that dealers overlook. For example, we inspected a three-year-old MINI Cooper with a blown head gasket at a dealership. Without an inspection, you could face costly repairs, deductibles, or disputes with the dealer. Oregon is not a “right of return” state, meaning you’re responsible for the vehicle after purchase, even if issues arise.

Our inspections, starting at around $150-200, can save you thousands by identifying issues for the dealer to fix before purchase or for use in negotiations. If no issues are found, you gain peace of mind knowing you’re getting a reliable vehicle.

No, we cannot definitively verify a timing belt replacement during a standard pre-purchase inspection.

The timing belt is an internal engine component, and accessing it requires significant disassembly that is not included in any non-invasive vehicle inspection (whether ours, a dealer’s, or any independent shop’s). A visual check alone is often useless anyway, as a new belt can look virtually the same as one nearing the end of its lifespan.

Our inspection focuses on identifying indirect evidence of a replacement service:

• Service Records: We always search for documentation of the replacement, such as receipts or stickers/stamps left by the previous service facility. This is the only way to confirm the service was performed.
• Physical Clues: We look for signs that the surrounding components have been disturbed, including:
  • Scratches or tool marks on the timing belt cover(s).
  • Signs of recent motor mount removal (which is often necessary for access).
  • Condition of the accessory belts (which are typically replaced along with the timing belt).
• Oil Leaks: We check for active oil leaks from the cam/crank seals or water pump. Leaks in these areas can saturate and rapidly degrade a timing belt, leading to premature failure.

Our Recommendation:

If official service records are not available and the vehicle is near or past its manufacturer-recommended replacement interval (typically between 60,000 to 100,000 miles), OR 7-10 years, we strongly recommend budgeting for its replacement immediately after purchase for complete peace of mind. A broken timing belt is one of the most common causes of catastrophic engine damage in older vehicles. 

Unfortunately we can’t as there are not many inspection specific companies in the northwest. PDXinspections will always remain completely independent and we do not refer or associate with any other automotive related company. We strongly suggest staying away from the large franchised companies claiming to perform on site inspections or other companies claiming to have technicians or specialists who are trained to inspect used cars. Spend a little time looking at the small print (disclaimers, lack of tooling, who they hire for inspectors and what they actually do), 24-48hr turn around (not helpful when the vehicle sells prior to their arrival), inspector qualifications/requirements and several other issues and you’ll quickly see why. Again the best advice we can give to our clients is to research, research, research… Look at online reviews for a reputable dealership and/or independent shop of your choosing. Simply put the only person that should be inspecting cars would be an ASE certified (preferably Master certified) technician. Our belief is if people take the time to refer them and speak highly of them they’ll probably take good care of you!

No, we do not offer post-purchase inspections, mechanical failure diagnostics after ownership, diminished value assessments, expert witness reports, or any services related to litigation, insurance claims, disputes, or legal proceedings.

Our inspections are strictly pre-purchase only—designed to help buyers evaluate a used vehicle before purchase. They are performed onsite in a limited timeframe (typically 1–2 hours) and cover visible/accessible components with tools like OBD scanning, paint meter measurements, infrared checks, and a short test drive (see our inspection details for full scope).

We lack the capacity, time, and specialized setup required for post-purchase or litigation-related work, which often involves deeper disassembly, extended testing, court-admissible documentation, or testimony—none of which align with our mobile pre-purchase service model.

For those needs, we recommend consulting a qualified automotive expert witness or forensic mechanic specializing in litigation support (search for “vehicle expert witness Oregon” or similar for local options).

Thank you for understanding, this helps us focus on delivering the best pre-purchase experience for our customers.

Our schedule typically fills days in advance, so same-day inspections are rare. However, cancellations or schedule changes may allow us to fit your inspection in. A $30 fee applies for “same-day” inspections, so please book by 9:00 PM the night before to avoid this charge.

To check same-day or backup availability, first review our availability calendar to confirm today’s date is listed. If today’s date isn’t shown, we’re not available for inspections. If it is listed, email us with the vehicle’s year, model, and location to check our availability while we’re in the field.If there is no entry to todays date, a same day inspection is not an option; please refer to the next available day on the calendar.

In order to maintain complete objectivity, we do not recommend or endorse any dealerships.

Before you commit to inspecting a vehicle, we strongly suggest thoroughly researching the potential dealership you are interested in working with. Their online reputation will tell you everything you need to know about their business practices and the general quality of vehicles they handle.

This research is particularly important for some of the dealerships located off 82nd Avenue or the smaller independent lots on SE McLoughlin Boulevard, as our inspectors have historically encountered a higher number of low-quality vehicles and challenging experiences in these specific areas.

Without fail, dealers with a poor online reputation typically result in our worst inspection findings.

Where to Research a Dealership:

We suggest starting your research on the following sites:

• Google dealer reviews
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• http://www.yelp.com (be sure to check the filtered reviews as well)
• http://www.ripoffreport.com

Be wary of any dealership that displays an equal mix of highly positive, glowing reviews (often self-posted or solicited by salespeople) directly followed by a significant number of very negative, detailed complaints.