Your vehicle’s car care provider takes the safety of your vehicle very seriously, providing skilled vehicle inspections and maintenance. You’ve probably chosen your car care professional because you trust them and look to them as the experts in their chosen industry. These pros know you can get your oil changed in about ten minutes at a local Quik-Lube, but that you’re not going to get the level of service you want. Why?
The difference is the young person working at that sort of facility isn’t a skilled technician. The majority of the employees are working their way through college, and the automotive field is not their chosen major. When you choose a shop with certified technicians and certified master technicians, you get experts. These dedicated professionals are educated in the field of vehicle service and repair. They spend money each year on continuing their education so they are always up to date on the latest in vehicle technology, service, and repair.
Their vehicle inspections reflect this. Inspections usually come in two varieties: the “Courtesy Inspection” and the “Bumper-to-Bumper Inspection.” They may have different titles depending on the shop, but whatever they call it, here is the difference! I think you will get the idea.
The Courtesy Inspection is a “visual” inspection and takes a few minutes to perform. The technician will look for obvious problems, such as tires that look low on air, leaks, frayed wiper blades, corroded battery terminals, a dirty air filter, and other easily-spotted issues. If something is obviously wrong, they will tell you about it so you can make an informed decision on fixing it now or later.
The Bumper-to-Bumper Inspection is “hands on” and takes about an hour to perform. This is a very thorough inspection and delves into the more complex systems of the car. An inspection of this sort every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on your vehicle and your driving habits, keeps your car reliable.
Your car is the “patient” of an automotive shop. It is treated much like your doctor or dentist treats you and your health needs, or the way the vet treats your pet’s needs. A good shop will always let you know what can wait, what should be done soon but isn’t critical to your vehicle’s operation at this time, and which item(s) should be serviced or repaired right now.
Hopefully this helps you understand the difference between courtesy and a bumper-to-bumper vehicle inspections more fully. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection, give us a call!
