Three options, side by side
| What matters | Standard PPI | Dealer report | EV inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery state of health measured | Rarely | Sometimes, unverified | Always |
| Cell balance / module health | No | No | Yes |
| High-voltage isolation test | No | Workshop dependent | Yes |
| Live AC & DC charge test | No | No | Complete package |
| Body, tyres, brakes, suspension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Independent of the seller | Yes | No | Yes |
| Comes to the car | Sometimes | In-house only | Always |
| Typical cost | Varies by provider | Free with the car | $349–$479 |
Our own inclusions are set out line by line on the packages page, and the cost side is broken down in the pricing guide.
What a standard inspection genuinely does well
Panel gaps, paint depth, crash repair, rust, tyre and brake wear, suspension play, steering, glass, interior electronics, a proper road test. A good workshop will find all of it on an EV just as well as on a Corolla, because none of it is electric-specific. We do the same checks ourselves — an EV inspection is that work plus the battery and high-voltage side, not instead of it.
Where it runs out of road
The part it can't price
The pack is the most valuable single component in the car. Without a capacity reading, the most expensive component in the vehicle is being taken on trust.
Faults that hide behind a reset
Charging and thermal faults are often intermittent and cleared before a viewing. Stored history shows the pattern; a visual check can't.
Safety you can't see
Isolation resistance and connector integrity are pass/fail safety items on a high-voltage vehicle, and they need the right tester and training.
When the cheaper option is fine
We'd rather tell you this than sell you the wrong thing. A standard inspection is reasonable on a near-new EV still inside a transferable battery warranty, with full manufacturer service history, low kilometres and a price that already sits below market. In that case the battery risk is largely carried by the warranty and the paperwork.
Get the EV-specific version when the car is out of warranty or close to it, has done big kilometres, has been fast-charged heavily, is ex-fleet or ex-rideshare, comes with gaps in its history, or is simply expensive enough that being wrong hurts. And if you're not sure which of those you're looking at, ask us — the phone call is free.
One inspection, both halves of the car.
Conventional checks and the battery, high-voltage and charging systems — in a single visit, at the seller's address.