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Pre-purchase inspection · Nantes, France

Buying a car in France from abroad? We inspect it for you.

Before you travel or transfer any money, we go and see the car in Nantes, inspect it with the seller and send you a detailed report translated into English, with a clear opinion to help you decide.

Get a free quote → Chat on WhatsApp

Reply within 24h · Fixed prices from €129 · No commission on the car

Technician carrying out a pre-purchase inspection on a used car's engine bay
Your eyes on siteWe check the car where it is,
so you don't have to make the trip.

Why an inspection

Buying remotely, with your eyes open

Photos and a phone call never show the whole picture. A check on site tells you what can be seen before you commit.

Hidden defects

Leaks, corrosion, worn parts or repaired damage are easy to miss in an ad. We look at the car itself, not its photos.

Mileage and history

We compare the odometer with the service book, invoices and the car's condition, to spot anything that does not add up.

A wasted trip

A flight and a hotel cost more than an inspection. Find out first whether the car deserves the journey.

How it works

Four simple steps, from wherever you are

Send your request

Tell us about the car and where it is, through the form or on WhatsApp. A link to the listing helps. We reply within 24 hours with a quote.

Confirm and pay

Sign the quote and pay by bank transfer in euros. SEPA transfers from the EU cost no more than a domestic one.

We inspect the car

We arrange a date with the seller and inspect the car on site. You do not need to be there.

You decide

You receive a detailed report by e-mail with a clear recommendation, and you can ask us any question in writing, on WhatsApp or by e-mail.

What we check

A thorough look at the whole car

  • Bodywork, paint, panel gaps and signs of previous repairs
  • Underbody, corrosion, exhaust and suspension
  • Engine bay: leaks, fluids, belts and visible wear
  • Interior, equipment, warning lights and electrics
  • Electronic diagnostic, on cars with a diagnostic port
  • Mileage consistency with the documents and service history
  • Tyres, brakes (discs and pads) and battery test
  • Test drive, with the owner's agreement

Classic and older cars: models built before the 2000s often have no electronic diagnostic port. The inspection then focuses on the visual and mechanical check, and on the car's paperwork and history.

Prices

Fixed prices, no surprises

All-inclusive prices (VAT not applicable, French small-business exemption, art. 293 B CGI), including travel within 50 km by road of Indre, near Nantes. We take no commission on the price of the car.

Discovery

€129

You have found the car and want an independent opinion before buying.

  • Full inspection of the car on site
  • Detailed report by e-mail
  • Clear opinion: favourable, favourable with reservations, or unfavourable
Choose Discovery →
Our pick

Serenity

€199

You know what you want and need help finding the right car.

  • Written exchange to define your needs and budget
  • Selection of 3 to 5 matching cars
  • Comparison with our advice
  • Full inspection of the car you choose
  • Detailed report and decision comparison
Choose Serenity →

Prestige

€299

The most complete support, from search to negotiation.

  • In-depth search: 5 to 8 relevant listings
  • Analysis of history, comparison with similar listings, pros and cons
  • Full inspection with a report and photos
  • Assisted negotiation, within the price limit you set
Choose Prestige →

Beyond 50 km by road from Indre (44610), a mileage fee is added; it is always stated in your quote before you order. The inspection is a technical opinion on the visible condition of the car on the day, without dismantling. It is not a French motor-vehicle expert appraisal (expertise automobile, art. L326-1 Code de la route) nor a roadworthiness test (contrôle technique).

Good to know

Documents to ask the seller for

We do not handle registration, export or transport, but here is what a seller in France must provide. Ask for it before you pay for the car.

Registration certificate (carte grise)

In the seller's name, crossed out and signed with the words “vendu le” and the date of sale.

Roadworthiness test (contrôle technique)

Required for cars over 4 years old, and less than 6 months old on the day of the sale.

Certificate of transfer (certificat de cession)

The official form, filled in and signed by both seller and buyer.

Administrative status certificate

Less than 15 days old, it shows the car is not pledged as collateral and can be sold.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

Do you speak English?+
We are a French business. We communicate with you in English in writing — on WhatsApp or by e-mail — with the help of translation tools, and your report is translated into English. Written exchanges keep everything clear and give you a record of every answer.
Where do you carry out inspections?+
Travel is included within 50 km of Indre (44610), which covers Nantes and its surrounding towns. Further away, a mileage fee may apply and is stated in the quote.
Do I need to be there?+
No. We meet the seller, inspect the car and send you the report by e-mail. You only need the seller's agreement and contact details.
How do I pay from abroad?+
By bank transfer in euros before the inspection. SEPA transfers from any EU country cost the same as a domestic transfer. Prices are fixed and there is no commission on the price of the car.
Do you handle the paperwork, export or transport?+
No. Registration, export and transport remain your responsibility. Our role is to help you decide whether the car is worth buying before you commit.
How quickly can you inspect the car?+
We reply to every request within 24 hours. The inspection date is then arranged with you and the seller, once the quote is signed and paid.

Free quote

Tell us about the car

Free and with no obligation. We reply within 24 hours.

Your details
The car
Links are accepted to car listing websites only (Leboncoin, La Centrale, AutoScout24, mobile.de…).

Apex Auto (Mathieu RINCE, sole trader) uses your details only to answer your quote request. They are hosted by IONOS in the EU and kept for 3 years if no contract follows. WhatsApp messages are handled by Meta and may be processed outside the EU. You can access, correct or delete your data, or object, at contact@apexautoservices.fr, and complain to the French regulator (CNIL). Key terms and privacy (English) · Full terms of sale (French).

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Request sent

Thank you. We will reply within 24 hours. A confirmation e-mail is on its way — please check your spam folder.