Routine car maintenance is essential to the longevity and health of your vehicle. Basic duties like regularly changing your oil, rotating your tires, and topping off fluids can add thousands of miles to the lifespan on your car. The same can be said for getting your automobile inspected regularly by a professional mechanic

Most auto mechanics offer two main types of vehicle inspections. One is often a brief visual inspection that is offered for free during an oil change. Your mechanic would check the tires, engine, and safety features looking for anything that seems off. And while that is always helpful and may uncover a problem, sometimes a more thorough inspection is needed. 

A step above a visual inspection is a multi-point inspection. These inspections are comparable to getting a physical done on your automobile. Multi-point inspections cover a wide range of components and areas of your vehicle. Inspections may consist of a 20-point checklist, all the way up to 150-point inspection. Just because the inspection covers more points, doesn’t necessarily make it better or necessary. Be sure to ask your mechanic what is included in your inspection. Typically, you can expect your mechanic to inspect the following… 

  • Brakes & Tires – You can’t really ensure safety while driving if your brakes or tires aren’t in good working condition. Mechanics will check the tire pressure, tread, and look for any significant damage to your tires. Then your mechanic will move to the brakes by checking both the front and rear brake pads, hoses, and rotors, looking for wear and tear.  
  • Interior & Exterior – This includes things like wiper blades, front lights, rear lights, signal lights, air filters, and emergency brake. 
  • The Underside of the Vehicle – A thorough examination of the underside of the car is an essential part of any multi-point inspection. This includes fuel lines, shock absorbers, suspension, steering column and components, and the exhaust system. A licensed mechanic will check for any leaks coming from the oil pan or transmission at this time. 
  • Under the Hood – Popping open the hood of your car reveals a lot about an automobile. Typically a mechanic will check for fluid levels, test the battery, inspect air conditioning hoses and water hoses, drive belts, and engine filters. 

4 Benefits of a Multi-Point Inspection

It is recommended that you always conduct a multi-point inspection by a licensed mechanic before you buy a used car. A visual inspection and test drive won’t be able to find anomalies like transmission or engine issues. Most mechanics also suggest that you get a thorough inspection every 10-15k miles as part of your routine car maintenance. There are many benefits to getting a multi-point inspection, but here are our top 4. 

  • Improved Safety & Emissions – It is important to point out that most states require a safety and emissions check prior to driving your vehicle. California is one of those states and asks that car buyers and drivers complete an emissions test every two years. For new residents, a smog check is required before you can register your vehicle in the state of California. One surefire way to know that your vehicle will pass the safety and emissions check is to get a multi-point inspection. That way you can make any repairs prior to getting your car tested by your state government. 
  • More Knowledge – Knowledge is power. Getting a professional multi-point inspection can be a real eye-opener for car owners. Not only will you receive all you need to know about your existing vehicle or the used car you’re about to buy, but you’ll be able to budget out and plan for future maintenance services. Your technician will be able to tell you what parts may wear out and how much it will cost to fix them in the coming months. This is all very helpful for those that don’t go beyond checking their oil and wiper fluid once in a blue moon.
  • Peace of Mind – Living a stress-free existence whenever possible is the key to a healthier life. You surely will be able to rest a little easier after getting a multi-point inspection. Without these services you could be riding on bare brake pads and not even know it. Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you continue to drive your car with parts of it in disrepair, you could cause even more costly damage to your automobile. Find out about issues before they become more serious with a multi-point inspection. 
  • Clean Bill of Health From a Licensed Mechanic – We can’t stress this enough. Always, always get an extensive, multi-point inspection before purchasing a used car. If you are getting an inspection done to be sure that the used car you are buying is in good working condition, or you simply are trying to get the most out of your existing vehicle, inspections can reassure you that you’ll be safe before hitting the road. Getting a clean bill of health from a licensed mechanic can be the deciding factor on whether you purchase the car you’ve selected. 

Hawthorne Auto Square Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) Policies

As part of our goal to keep our environment clear of COVID-19, we have implemented enhanced sanitizing and social distancing procedures as recommended by the CDC. We have hand sanitizer throughout the dealership for customer and employee use. All of our sales team and staff are required to wear masks, per Los Angeles County’s new order. 

Hawthorne Auto Square offers a large inventory of used cars, minivans, trucks, and SUVs, as well as a premium inventory of high-end vehicles. Visit our “buy here, pay here” dealership for help finding the vehicle you want and need. 

To learn more about our wide selection of used vehicles, trade-in your vehicle, schedule a test drive, and view our latest inventory, call 866-707-7664 or visit our dealership at 11646 Prairie Ave. in Hawthorne.