The Chelmsford Carriage Company Limited, ESS Dealer Used Cars

RAC Inspected

RAC Inspected Vehicles
What RAC Inspectors look at

The details of what we inspect can, and do, change. However, to give you an idea of the types of checks that we carry out, we’ve outlined some of the typical points.

RAC Engineer - Jim Kivlehan

All cars at The Chelmsford Carriage Company are independently inspected by the RAC – Free of charge

In a survey by Dovercourt a Ford main dealer, 80% of customers rated RAC inspections as 'most important' in influencing their choice of dealership and car (source RAC website)

Peace of mind when buying a car is very important. At The Carriage Company we recognise this and have teamed up with the RAC to become an RAC Inspected vehicle provider. Each vehicle inspection is carried out independently by the RAC against a 60 point RAC checklist.

RAC Inspection - delivering you peace of mind

An RAC Inspection is a comprehensive visual check of a used car's condition by a qualified and experienced RAC Engineer. Once the RAC engineer has examined the vehicle, he compiles a detailed report, which includes any faults he may have discovered.

By visually checking everything from the bodywork to the jacking points and physically checking everything from seatbelts to the clutch, he can identify any problems and even potential problems. He can even spot problems that have been repaired, but not necessarily to the standard they should have been.

Each inspection takes around an hour and includes an examination of the underside, via ramped inspection AND a road test inspection with a route designed to allow various speed and road conditions.

This is what the RAC check so you don’t have to:

	Bodywork Damage, panel alignment, paint defects (excludes minor damage, routine wear and tear). Condition, operation of door catches, hinges, window regulators.			Engine Mountings for security, Visual evidence of lubricant loss. Power unit for undue noise. Excessive exhaust smoke.
	Interior/Trim Operation of seat belts. Abnormal damage, wear and tear.			Cooling System Radiator, water pump, hoses, external coolant loss, Coolant level. Water pump for undue noise.
	Driveshafts Universal joints and/or constant velocity joints.			Brakes Pipes and flexible hoses: external damage, corrosion, visible evidence of hydraulic fluid loss.
	Suspension Inspection of mountings and body fixings. Examine struts/shock absorbers for leaks. Coil/leaf springs/torsion bars for weakness, damage or breakage.			Clutch Check for slip, drag, judder. Release mechanism for operation and undue noise.
	Gearbox Transmission mountings, external linkage, visual evidence of lubricant loss.			Electrical Operation of lights, windscreen wipers, instruments, heater blower, courtesy lights, radio/cassette player, accessories. Battery: cracks, damage, corrosion. Ignition leads, coil, distributor security.
	Wheels/Tyres/Windscreen Visual evidence of damage to wheels and tyres. Check for cracks and chips to the windscreen and other glass.			Security Operation of doors, steering column locks.
	Steering Mechanism, tie bars, track rods and joints.			Underbody Excessive external corrosion, damage. Exhaust system, damage to mountings, excessive corrosion, leakage. Body jacking points; external damage corrosion.