CarExamer Vs RAC Car Inspections
Compare RAC car inspections against CarExamer to see which will be the best fit for your needs when you’re buying. Vehicle inspections are an incredibly useful service when it comes to purchasing used cars, and there are a few different providers out there that you can use to get them. Some industry all-rounders like the AA and the RAC are providers of vehicle inspections, for example, but there are also unique specialists if the service too, like CarExamer. CarExamer is already leading UK vehicle inspection service platform in such short time since operation began and operating across the whole of England, Scotland, Wales and the British Isles too. Offers comprehensive used car inspections at industry leading prices no matter what customers are looking from Motorhomes, classic cars to luxury and supercars, and with different levels of inspections to suit all customers, it’s easy to find one that suits customer best. Each of them has their benefits as a service, and they can bring a whole new light to the potential of vehicle inspections. Customer reviews already placing CarExamer’s used car inspection service in the leading position in the UK.
Extra features from CarExamer is as follows. Biggest difference in the market currently not only in UK, but worldwide there is no vehicle inspection standard. CarExamer platform have created a inspection standard so inspectors can follow blueprint on what and how inspections needs to be conducted to avoid complaints. Inspectors inspect vehicles as they would be buying one for themselves. It does also need to be noted when focussing on the value of the inspections on offer that CarExamer has many service bonuses that are included in these figures. They aren’t always well known, and aren’t definitely not common among other services. This includes features such as an online portal to view your inspection updates in real-time, regular notification updates on every step of the booking progress, communication with inspector internally, potential repair costs, unlimited vehicle images as required, *free cancellations simply available from personal account, same day vehicle inspection options and loyalty discounts, multi-buy discounts all work together to give the best possible value for money from one of the only specialist inspection services that are on the market. If you are unsure about what you need and are looking to multiple inspections, that can make the prices even more favourable to you.
Here, we’re looking at the RAC in particular as vehicle inspection providers, weighing up what it is that they offer in each of their packages and as a business, and looking at how that differs from the specialist services of CarExamer. This is the best way to help you make a complete and informed decision about which you choose to take up, and, as a business based around transparency, we’re here to narrow it down.
The Inspection Packages
The first stop for most vehicle inspection consumers comes from the inspection packages that are available to purchase in the first place. Each service has multiple packages that can be used to get the most out of your personal situation, but they differ from business to business.
RAC
Being such a largely recognised brand, we’ll start by looking at the services that RAC have available. There’s a total of 3 packages on display here, ranging from simple to complex and all scaling up in price and detail as you’d expect. They are:
- Basic – no diagnostic scan available, vehicle raised, no pictures, no potential repair costs
- Comprehensive – no diagnostic scan available, vehicle raised, no pictures, no potential repair costs
- Advanced – diagnostic scan available, vehicle raised, pictures, no potential repair costs
The 3 don’t leave much to the imagination and allow you to choose the most appropriate level for what it is you’re looking to achieve.
CarExamer
Just like the RAC, CarExamer has multiple packages as well, but this time, there are 4 to choose from. This is done to help you customise your decision as much as physically possible and get the best fit that you can no matter what your purchase is.
- Engineers report
- Basic
- Standard
- Premium
The price window is much the same as the RAC too, but we will get onto this in more depth below.
- All inspections are Guaranteed*
- Potential repair costs provided
- Have extended warranty packages available to protect you from future breakdowns
- Have a very high reputation in the trade and we are highly respected; all inspectors are fully insured. We’re not just an online market place our passion is transparency in used vehicle purchasing
- CarExamer works with handpicked individuals only who are the best at what they do with high ethical standards and extreme professionalism. Fully qualified professional technicians are our minimum standard
- Offer a personal approach to every vehicle inspection carried out by inspectors. We have developed a blueprint and internal set standards so every inspection carried out by inspectors has the same completion process according to the selected inspection package
- CarExamer inspector’s priority is to protect you and made you aware of potential issues with the vehicle and provide you an understanding of the overall vehicle condition and potential repair costs so you can make the best decision
- CarExamer booking process is simple, clear and transparent
- Full Control of your booking from your account for any updates on the inspection and have a communications dashboard with the inspector
- Find out inspection early results while the inspector is filling out the report it’s a Sneak-peak of the inspection process while the inspector is capturing the vehicle’s condition get a sense of the condition of the vehicle before the inspection is fully complete
- Report available in 3-5 hours from starting inspection depending on the inspection type selected. All reports are available securely in your account
- Choose the level of inspection that suits you – basic, standard or premium
- No age limit on vehicles inspected
- Save 20% when you book multiple car inspections at the same address
- Free cancellations, before 4 hours of appointment time after 2 hours full amount
- Enjoy customer loyalty discounts- After the first completed inspection- 1st Inspection 5% discount, 2nd Inspection 7% discount, 3rd Inspection 10% discount, 4th Inspection 12% discount, 5th Inspection 15% discount, 6th Inspection 17% discount, 7th Inspection 20% discount
- Fully qualified professional inspectors for a comprehensive report on your vehicle
- No risk – pay only when the inspection is completed. We reserve your payment when you make a booking
- Find out inspection early results while the inspector is filling out the report it’s a Sneak-peak of the inspection process while the inspector is capturing the vehicle’s condition get a sense of the condition of the vehicle before the inspection is fully complete
- Resolution centre to quickly resolve any queries
The Points
After the initial view of the packages that are on offer, scratching slightly below the surface shows another point still, and that is is what is actually included in each one. The differences between each inspection carry a lot of weight after all, and understanding them is the best way to understand their value.
RAC
The number of points in the RAC tests is generally higher than those of CarExamer, but they don’t actually go into too much depth about what is included in each. It does too need to be noted that the number doesn’t increase in the comprehensive and the advanced packages, but the additional features do.
- Basic – 218
- Comprehensive – 307
- Advanced – 307
Carexamer
The number of checks in the CarExamer inspections appears to be drastically lower than those of the RAC, but again, the specificity of the CarExamer checks against those of the RAC is much clearer and likely more broad in categorising what a point is. This again goes hand in hand with the other features that go alongside an inspection, as well as the prerequisite for what a vehicle needs to be eligible for the lower cost RAC checks.
- Engineers report – situation based
- Basic – 100+
- Standard – 200+
- Premium – 300+
The Road Tests
It goes without saying that the majority of a vehicle inspection is done statically. The vehicle is standing and checked over comprehensively to ensure that all parts that can be looked into with each service are done. As well as all of these checks, vehicle inspections also include a road test in which the car is taken out and driven like it will be after purchase to find the finer points that can only be seen in transit. This is a vital part of getting the most accurate information possible in your inspection. Don’t underestimate their value!
Here’s how the two compare:
RAC
With the RAC, the road test changes with each tier of inspection. The basic inspection has a 3-mile road test included which is significantly lower than most inspections on the market, and this is one of the largest reasons for the lower price even despite the higher number of points said to be checked (in addition again to the eligibility requirements). The following inspection has a road test of 10 miles, and finally, the advanced test has 20 miles, which is the highest in the comparison.
CarExamer
The CarExamer road tests are generally much longer than those of RAC, with even the most basic inspection on offer having a 10-minute test area to ensure that everything is checked no matter which selection you go for. The higher class inspections have a 15-minute inspection as a means to minimise costs while still ensuring that everything that could possibly need to be tested will be to the highest quality. With all of this, no matter where your test is or what roads will be required, there’s no limit to how much an inspector can find out.
Other services tend to test on a mileage basis instead of time, however, this often limits the maximum speeds or road types that the vehicle can use.
The Prices
Another huge factor in determining which service is going to be the best for you and your purchase is the price. It’s also a smart idea to learn the pricing that comes alongside each inspection. One of the largest reasons behind getting a vehicle inspection done after all is to maximise value for money and ensure you’re saving money in the long run.
RAC
The pricing for the RAC is quite different from most of the other services that are offering vehicle inspections in the sense that the price quotes on the site appear subjective. The price ranges advertised are the minimums, with a * leading to more information stating that the price depends on the age, make, model, and even mileage of the car. That includes eligibility issues such as the lower cost package not being available to a vehicle over 10 years old.
The prices can go up for certain types of vehicles like 4x4s and prestige cars, and for anything with over 120,000 miles on the clock too.
The prices advertised on the inspections page are
- Basic – from £99
- Comprehensive – from £187
- Advanced – from £239
Carexamer
CarExamer is priced at industry standard cost for all of the inspections offered aside from the top tier, which max out at around the same figure. This can be really useful for people on the fence about who to go with, as well as the fact that the feature involved in the test is also a lot more comprehensive. The prices again can change depending on the type of vehicle, but the extent is much lower.
CarExamer also offers unlimited free photographs of the vehicle in relation to the inspection, which is something that RAC charge for, to ensure that all points are crystal clear in line with the inspection report you receive both via email and through our login portal with live updates on your inspection.
The prices are:
The Weigh Up
Ultimately, CarExamer inspections are on another level priced according fairly to industry leader, more efficient, and more exclusive than the same services compared against the RAC. The transparency and trust offered as well as the level of support is unparalleled with CarExamer, and that is hard to find in current market.
As a business transparency and customer service are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re always looking for new ways to bring more value to our customers in every way we can.
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