Question: Can Walmart do a safety inspection on my car? I usually take my car to Walmart for repairs, as I find their prices some of the best in town. However, I’m buying a used car from a private seller and I need to get a safety inspection.
Answer: Walmart’s auto services page does not list car safety inspections. However, Walmart does offer various services including oil changes, tire maintenance and other general maintenance.
The general maintenance services listed include fuel and oil system services, wiper blades, air filters, headlights, batteries, and recharge and exchange services.
For oil change services, Walmart has several options, including synthetic oil, high-mileage oil, standard, and diesel options. There is also a list of courtesy services their certified technicians perform as part of the oil change service. These include:
- Battery performance check
- Air filter check
- Wiper blade check
- Lights check
- Transmission fluid check
- Washer fluid check & fill
- Power steering fluid check
- Differential fluid check
- Tire pressure check & fill
- Windshield wash exterior
Considering you are trying to buy a used car from a private seller and want to pre-purchase a safety inspection, Walmart is likely not a good answer to your problem. Alternatively, you should locate a trusted mechanic in your area who specifically offers this service. You will likely need to call the repair shop ahead of time to confirm the service, get a price quote, and schedule a time for the car to be inspected.
Pre-purchase inspection items
When you do have the safety inspection done, get a detailed list of the results, including items that must be repaired immediately and any potential longer-term issues that could arise from the inspection findings. A pre-purchase inspection should cover things such as:
- The fuel system
- Heating system
- Air conditioning
- Any onboard electronics
- Brakes
- Fluid levels
- Hoses
- Belts
- Suspension systems
- Tires
- Steering
- Exterior and interior
- Safety features (can vary depending on vehicle)
- Mileage versus age of car
- Motor vehicle record
According to Consumer Reports, a thorough inspection should cost around $100 to $150. To begin your search, you can use the Jerry app to help locate vetted and trusted mechanics in your area.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle’s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University.
