Jim is absolutely the guy you want in your corner on a vehicle inspection. I spoke and texted with Jim many times on our car seeking journey. He was always very responsive, even on evenings and weekends (including one holiday weekend). He was very flexible and accommodating with scheduling (even though I had to ask him to juggle schedules several times to try to meet our needs), Jim is very knowledgeable, having done this work for decades - answering numerous technical questions and willing to provide his honest opinion and actionable advice. Jim is 100% honest and focused on his customers' needs. His pricing is very fair and the convenience of having him go to the car rather than having to take it to a shop is awesome. I will definitely call Jim the next time we are looking for a used car. Full disclosure, due to logistical issues on my end, I had to use another shop for our pre-purchase inspection service. We also had several false calls, where we were trying to jump on a car and lost it. (Jim was ready, nevertheless.). Absolutely not Jim's issue. (Ultimately, I needed a very particular set of tests for the car we bought and, as I learned from Jim, those tests cannot be performed in the field.) However, I experienced all the above excellent customer service, expertise, and above-and-beyond care. I highly recommend his service. And, he seems like just a great guy. read more

Jim did an incredibly thorough inspection. He did exactly what he said he was going to do (actually more) and I didn't have to follow up once. I wouldn't hesitate to use him again. read more

Jim was flexible as to the timing I had to arrange with the dealership, thorough in his inspection of the car, and helpful in his explanations. read more

One of the problems with car maintenance is that shops will gladly recommend thousands is dollars of needless repairs to create work for themselves. KarChek tells you exactly what is and isn't wrong with the car because they're not conflicted. read more

Great Reply, Great Service, Fast Response Time, Good Communication, did inspection the very next morning. Jim did a fantastic job. Very Detailed Pictures of used car we were purchasing. Did a very detailed inspection of all mechanical, electronic, exterior, interior, paint and body. Used paint meter to verify no paint or bodywork. He verified all components of car were in very good working order. Called to follow up and also sent very High Definition pictures. I am very particular and educated about cars. Highly Reccommend KarChek!! read more

KarChek - BMW 650i Convertible - Car Inspectors Near Me

Bought a car 2+ years ago and had it inspected by KarChek, happy until now without any issue with the car. I think price is worth it if you are in doubt with the car or the dealer. read more

Jim was great, it always seemed that he was looking out for me and making sure that he had a thorough review. It was easy to schedule an appointment and it makes it easy that he goes to the car which makes the sellers life easier also. After the inspection he told me everything he found personally on the phone. Then he sent me a written review as well. Next time I want a car inspected in the Seattle area I am going back to Jim. read more

This company was in competition with me for years, before I retired. Owner Jim Shive is an excellent Inspector and a stellar guy.

Top-notch service by Jim as he delivered a very thorough pre-purchase inspection that included a highly-detailed inspection document, a thorough phone call detailing his findings and a couple dozen detailed photos of all parts of the car inside & out. My inspection cost was a little higher than that advertised on his website since I was an out-of-town buyer who was unable to attend the inspection in-person (and he therefore had to take more photos and put more into his report) but it was worth every penny as it gave me the peace of mind to proceed with the trip to go ahead and make the purchase. Jim is an expert & a man of integrity, and I give him the highest possible recommendation. read more

I had Jim do a PPI on an Audi in Lynnwood. He said that it would cost more than the advertised price because I had not seen the car. We agreed that he would stick to the advertised price unless he saw concerning damage, at which point I would pay for the full report. Jim said that he did not see any concerning damage, just dings and light scratches. mechanically, the car was great. I drove from Boise to buy the car. When I arrived I found a car in very poor condition. The pics don't show how poor the condition is but you can see that the rear bumper has holes punched in it so to fix it would require a new bumper. This is not minor damage and he didn't even see it, or see that it was worth mentioning. The transmission may have been shifting slow. Most likely the mechanical inspection was done well but I drove 7 hours each way to be disappointed by a very misrepresented car. I did not buy it. I text Jim about my disappointment and did not receive a reply. read more

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Jim was very knowledgeable and helpful. He tested a Camry Hybrid for me. Was easy to schedule a time, arrived promptly and gave me a detailed written report. Also distinguished what repairs were necessary and what weren't read more

I called Karchek to inspect a work van before I bought it. Jim was super thorough looking at the exterior, interior, engine bay, under the rig... He found a leak in the rear differential that was bad enough that I got the dealer to fix it before my purchase. Well worth the price of inspection! Don't buy a used car without having Karcheck to an inspection. read more

Working with Jim was fantastic! He responded quickly and was able to inspect a pick up truck the next day at the dealership. He was very detailed and provided a report of his findings. I recommend KarChek and will use Jim again for my next car purchase! read more

Look no further if you want to be absolutely sure you aren't wasting your money on a lemon. You simply can't go wrong buying a used car if KarChek is involved! Jim was available same-day when we needed help urgently, and he took his time going over every inch of the vehicle that we were interested in. We stayed on the lot during the inspection, and he patiently explained every potential issue as he worked and answered all of our questions. Jim is an honest, straightforward professional who really cares about making sure his clients don't get worked over on a bad car deal. He has decades of experience in his field and is an expert at what he does in every sense of the word. Thanks to Jim, we were able to make our purchase confident that our new car will last us for years to come. The peace of mind that comes from working with KarChek is worth every penny and more! I will be recommending KarChek's services to everyone I know. Jim deserves 10 stars for outstanding customer service and being an all-around stand-up guy! read more

Other ++ reviews say it all. Jim is experienced and clearly likes what he's doing. Friendly, *very* thorough, reliable, great communication, doesn't hesitate to answer questions. Bring a notebook and practice writing fast because you'll want to remember everything he says! read more

I called KarCheck about a car that I was considering purchasing. Unfortunately they were not available, so I left a message. The company does not work weekends - a gentlemen called me Sunday to let me know and to acknowledge my request. Why the 5 stars? They could have waited until one day during the week to return my call, but instead took the time to acknowledge the request, and I think that is a kind of customer service that we don't often see. I'll keep them in mind for future use. read more

I highly recommend KarChek! Jim is very thorough and saved me thousands of dollars as he found major issues with a car that I was going to purchase. He responded very quickly to my request and provided a detailed report and high resolution pictures. He even discussed his findings and explained everything perfectly. read more

I called KarChek to check out a used VW I was considering purchasing from a dealer and they were able to schedule an inspection the same day few hours later. I had checked out the car the day before but I'm about 45 minutes from the dealer so I didn't want to drive all the way up and take it to a mechanic. This is a very convenient option for anyone wanting piece of mind before purchasing a used vehicle. All I had to do on my end was call the dealership to let them know I had someone stopping by and KarChek took care of all the rest. Once the inspection was done I got a phone call and the technician detailed every single aspect of the car and what he found during the inspection. He found a couple of things I didn't notice on my test drive the day before and let me know what he thought might be an issue in the future. I also got an email detailing everything that was done on the inspection. I will use again, very satisfied. read more

I recently purchased a 2017 Subaru Forester after getting a PPI from Jim. He was available to go to the dealership the next day after I inquired with him which was amazing. He was very thorough in his overview of the car. I felt very comfortable buying this car after he inspected it. A few things he found was that although the dealership was claiming to have added brand new tires to the car, he noticed that they were in good condition but definitely not new. He also noticed that the battery level was low since it was still the original so I managed to negotiate with them to get me a new battery. I think for the price you are definitely getting a fair deal with KarChek especially with him being able to go down to the seller without you having to take off work. His pdf of the inspection is a lot less detailed than his overview on the phone so I would definitely write/type all of what he says during that conversation to make sure you have a better understanding of your cars condition. Thanks Jim!! read more

I asked Jim to look at a 2003 Acura TL - the carfax listed a minor accident (and the seller said the bumper had been replaced) but I wanted to make sure it was ok. Jim was easy to contact, friendly, and we setup a time to inspect (I wasn't there -- he drove to the seller in Renton). I confirmed with him the day prior, and just an hour ago he gave me the report, halfway through the inspection: the car had probably been totalled. There was a lot of damage in the frame (beyond a simple bumper repair) and without the check I would have never known! He even gave me a discounted rate (since I didn't need the inspection finished) and was very communicative. Definitely recommended! read more

Wow, Jim was fabulous. In addition to being prompt (he comes to you) and personable, he was incredibly detail oriented. He documented every ding, and even where a door had been repainted. He looked for frame damage and for belt wear. He was meticulous. I love that he isn't a repair person but is independent. So, there is no upselling. It may be just because my car was in great shape, but this was so worth the $99. read more

Disagree with previous reviewer. This is an inspection service, not a warranty service. Found a used car I was interested in at a smaller lot, so just had a feeling I should have it checked out. Jumped on Google to find a mechanic that would do a pre-inspection and came across www.karchek.com and Jim, who I talked to over the phone and found to be a very experienced and certified mechanic. Just as advertised, he drove out to the lot (I didnt even need to take time off work to be there) and did a very thorough inspection for a competitive rate, testing stem to stern on this car, and reviewed them over the phone with me, patiently answering my questions and sending me a report with pictures. Found several issues that would have really been bad news to discover post-purchase, which the lot has agreed to take care of before I buy. Will definitely be calling Jim for my future auto purchases. Can't recommend karchek enough. read more

I hired KarChek to do an on-site inspection on a car I was buying from a dealer in March 2009. He was prompt and came onsite and did a fairly complete inspection. The problem was, that the purpose of getting an inspection was to make sure I didn't get a lemon, and I still did! I bought a 2000 VW Jetta and that car was in the shop about once a month after I bought it. After a year I finally had to sell it at a several thousand dollar loss. I wish I had known that that car was a huge risk. Unfortunately I thought that he was helping to minimize my risk. Sorry, but in the future I think I will take my car into a repair shop for a more complete inspection. read more

We had the pleasure of working this morning with Jim from KarChek. He came out to inspect a Dodge Sprinter van we were considering (and ultimately purchased). Jim was easy to schedule, came prepared, and was completely professional. He worked through a comprehensive checklist for the vehicle, inside and out, and did a full road test. After his inspection was complete, he walked us through every item on the list, providing explanations and further insight into the vehicle's condition, and gave us a copy of his report. This was exactly the kind of peace-of-mind service I was hoping for. Jim is a real professional. Absolutely recommended! read more

My wife and I recently purchased a 2005 Lincoln Navigator from Good Chevrolet in Renton, contingent upon a satisfactory report from our mechanic. After searching for a pre-inspection specialist in Seattle, I eventually called Jim Shive at KarChek. As someone with a fair amount of home mechanic experience, I had lots of questions for Jim relating to exactly which items are inspected and how. He provided a pretty detailed explanation of how they check for unusual engine wear (one of my main concerns) and all of the other vehicle systems. He also informed me that he was the owner of the company, an ASE certified mechanic with 20+ years of experience, and that he'd be doing the inspection himself, so I felt pretty good about hiring him. Also, we needed the inspection done quickly, and Jim was able to come out to our location within two days, so that was a plus. On the morning of the appointment, Jim arrived on time, was clean and appropriately dressed (sorry, but that's important) and presented himself professionally. He said the inspection would take about an hour, possibly up to 90 minutes, then moved the vehicle to a level area and got to work. He finished up about an hour later, and when we went over the results, I was impressed with everything he'd checked. He'd done an "accelerator blowby test," where the oil dipstick is removed and the engine is accelerated to detect gas blowby, a sign of engine wear. He identified a minor, intermittent issue with one of the window regulators. He tested every accessory, including bringing a CD to check the 6-disc changer operation (which I hadn't had a chance to test myself yet). He road tested the vehicle, of course, and checked for engine power, braking, body roll and other issues. And he had inspected the frame, underbody and paint to determine whether the vehicle had ever been wrecked or re-painted (it hadn't). It was just a really thorough inspection, and most importantly, he was clear and unhurried as we talked about each item on his checklist. So from start to finish, my personal experience with Jim was really good. He was prompt and professional, and I could tell from my own experience working on vehicles that he knew his stuff. No one can read the future with any vehicle new or used, but that wasn't my expectation. I just wanted to be confident that any issues of current concern, especially major ones, had been identified and evaluated by an experienced mechanic, and Jim's work provided that for me. Very highly recommended. read more

I highly recommend KarChek!! Jim helped me so much, and had little hints and clues to finding problems with the car I am about to buy... He took my request same-day, although he had other appointments, and he was friendly, incredibly thorough, and even answered a couple other "advice type " phone calls after our appointment to help me decide another option that the dealer was throwing out at me - I really felt like Jim was a person "on my team" , to warn me about a whole list (like about 50 items) that he reviewed, and then we took a pretty long test drive, like 8 miles or so, all speeds,etc.... He found a couple problems that otherwise I wouldn't have known about , and so I was able to tell the dealer to fix it, or the deal is over. I had more leverage knowing what the issues were and the dealer listened and fixed it. This is well worth paying someone to SAVE ME a HEADACHE or avoid a bad car, and in my case, to see how to weigh my options... I will be referring others to him again, for sure! read more

I worked with Jim prior to the purchase of an Infiniti FX35 with 85000 miles on it. I've always had my dad check out cars for me in the past, but since I moved away from Chicago that's no longer an option. Jim gave me that same peace of mind that I used to get from my dad. He offers a candid and unbiased opinion during his inspection review. Jim's down to earth demeanor and willingness to spend 45 minutes on the phone with me during the inspection review, answering all of my questions helped me make an informed decision. His service allowed me to negotiate my price down based on some imperfections and offered peace of mind that there weren't any expensive mechanical issues (engine, transmission) lurking in the shadows. I felt that Karchek was worth every penny and would recommend it to anyone who isn't certain about the condition of a used vehicle. read more

Jim was nothing but a pleasure to deal with. He went out and looked at a car within a couple of days of me emailing him. Jim was thorough and to the point on his diagnostics. I love when people shoot it straight to me and dont dance around issues. I just wish we had more people like Jim and Karcheck, you can tell he is a busy guy but his customer service is still fantastic. I would highly recommend. best $99 ever spent read more

Jim looked at a 2006 Ford Focus for me. He was super thorough. He even let me know when I may need to do future routine maintenance. Jim answered all of my questions. He even answered questions about known issues with other cars I was thinking of buying so I could weight the risks. I would definitely recommend Jim if you are buying a used car. read more

I really cannot stress how great the quality of Jim's work is. I was not able to make it to Everett to look at the car so I made an appointment with Jim at Karchek. He really did a great job inspecting a car that I was considering buying. First, Jim was really timely. He made time to check it out the next day, so I didn't have to worry about the car being sold before I could look at it. Second, he called me as soon as he finished the inspection and gave me a very detailed description of the condition of all of the mechanical, cosmetic and electric components of the car. Third, his service is a great value. If the car is in good shape, then Jim reassures you that your purchase will last as long as you maintain it well. If the car is in terrible shape, then Jim will be your guardian angel against you being the one stuck with paying for the future maintenance for that lemon. read more

I have used Jim at KarChek several times in the past. He is super knowledgeable and completely straightforward. The $99 I spent to have him inspect a 99 Ford Escort I was considering buying was the best $99 I have ever spent on a car - he found enough wrong with it, quickly, to prevent me from making the expensive mistake of buying the car. Time will tell if the 97 Subaru Legacy he inspected prior to my purchase, will do as well as the 93 Ford Escort he inspected for me over 11 years ago. It finally died after 279,000 miles of service. I am confident it doesn't get any better than him. read more