The car buyer’s report
Know the car before you see it.
What breaks, which engine to avoid, what to check at the viewing and what to ask the seller. One report for your exact model, in plain English.
- Known faults, with real repair costs in euro
- A good / watch / avoid verdict for every engine
- A viewing checklist and questions for the seller
From €13.99 per report incl. VAT. Instant access.
- 1. Make
- 2. Model
- 3. Year(s)
Loading cars...
- 439
- car models you can look up
- 12
- full reports ready
- 135
- known faults documented
- 85
- sources cited
Why read a model report before you view a car
The expensive mistakes in used-car buying are made before you ever meet the seller: the wrong engine, a known fault you did not know to ask about, a price that ignores what the car will cost to run.
Pick the right engine, not just the right badge
The same model can be a safe buy with one engine and a money pit with another. We tell you which is which, for the year you are looking at.
Know what it will really cost
Typical repair prices for the faults that actually happen, plus fuel, servicing, tyres and tax. Not just the asking price.
Walk into the viewing prepared
A checklist of what to look, listen and feel for on that exact model, and why each thing matters.
Negotiate with facts
Questions to ask the seller, and what a good answer sounds like. Known faults are a fair reason to ask for a lower price.
Compare your shortlist before you drive anywhere
Reports are per model, so you can rule cars out from your sofa instead of burning weekends on bad candidates.
Plain English, no car knowledge needed
DPF, DSG, timing chain - every bit of jargon is explained the first time it appears.
What’s inside every report
Known faults
What breaks, which years and engines, what you will notice, and what the repair typically costs in euro.
Engine and gearbox verdicts
A clear good / watch / avoid for every engine you are likely to see for sale.
Viewing checklist
More than 20 specific checks for the day you see the car.
Questions for the seller
The questions that reveal how the car was really treated.
Running costs
Fuel, servicing, tyres, tax and insurance, so there are no surprises after you buy.
Safety and sources
Safety rating context, and a link to the source behind every fault we list.
How it works
- 1
Pick the model
Make, model and the year, or a few years. Not sure? Choose “Not sure” and one report covers every year and engine.
- 2
We prepare your report
The base report is already written. We top it up with the latest owner and recall news.
- 3
Read it before you view
Unlock the full report, then take the checklist with you to the viewing.
Model report or vehicle history check?
They answer different questions. Most careful buyers use both, in this order.
| PickBestCar model report | VIN history check | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers | What goes wrong with this model and engine, and what it costs | What happened to this one car |
| Needs a registration or VIN? | No, just the model and year | Yes |
| Best used | While choosing which cars to look at | Once you have chosen one car |
| Helps you | Pick the right engine, inspect, negotiate | Check mileage, damage, theft records |
Shortlisting more than one car? Save up to 36%
Reports are per model. Compare two or three candidates and pay less per report. Unused reports stay valid for 6 months.
1 report
€21.99 per report
Total €21.99, incl. VAT
- Most popular
2 reports
€15.99 per report
Total €31.98 instead of
€43.98, incl. VAT 3 reports
€13.99 per report
Total €41.97 instead of
€65.97, incl. VAT
Full reports ready today
You can look up any new car and any car up to about 15 years old. These models already have a full report; we write the most requested next. Not sure about yours? Pick it above and we will tell you.
Questions
Can I look up any car?
You can look up the make, model and year of any car sold new in Ireland, from about 15 years ago to today. Some have a full report now and the rest are written in order of demand. If yours is not ready you can ask for it and we email you when it is.
Is this a history check on one specific car?
No. This is a guide to the model, generation and engine: what typically goes wrong and how to spot it. It does not tell you the history of one particular car. Use it before you shortlist, and a VIN history check once you have chosen a car.
I know nothing about cars. Is it for me?
Yes, it is written for first-time buyers. Every technical term is explained.
What do I get for free?
The verdict, a plain-English overview, the six summary ratings and the first known fault in full. You can preview all of it before you pay.
Where does the information come from?
Owner forums, recalls and service bulletins, safety test results and workshop guides. Every known fault links to the sources behind it.
What if my car is not covered yet?
Tell us the model and we will email you when it is added.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If the report does not cover your car, or you are unhappy within 14 days, we refund you. See the refund policy.
Buy the car, not the problem.
Two minutes now can save you from a repair bill that costs more than the report ever will.
Get my report