Auction vehicle inspection checklist
This is a 60-point checklist for inspecting an auction vehicle: photos, documents, exterior, interior, under the hood, underside, road-ready items and handover paperwork, plus add-ons for boats, RVs and equipment. Work through it at the yard, or use it against listing photos when you cannot attend in person.
This list comes out of years walking auction lanes with a flashlight and a clipboard. It assumes you have already read the seller's own condition report and run the VIN through NMVTIS and a recall search at NHTSA. Most lots sell as-is, so this checklist is your real recourse before the hammer falls, not after.
Before you look
- Confirm the VIN on the listing matches the dash plate and the door jamb sticker
- Run the VIN through NMVTIS before you bid, not after you win
- Note the title status: clean, salvage, rebuilt, flood or true mileage unknown
- Check for an open lien on the title record
- Search the VIN for open safety recalls
- Read the platform's condition report or light-system grade as a summary, not a substitute
Photos: 12 must-have angles
- Front three-quarter view
- Rear three-quarter view
- Driver's side profile, full length
- Passenger's side profile, full length
- Odometer reading, clearly legible
- VIN plate or sticker, clearly legible
- Engine bay, full width
- Undercarriage, front to rear
- Each wheel and tire, close up
- Dashboard warning lights, key on
- Interior, front seats and dash
- Interior, rear seats and cargo area
Exterior
- Panel gaps at every door, hood and trunk seam
- Paint texture and overspray on trim and rubber seals
- Mismatched panel color under bright light
- Rust bubbling at wheel wells, rockers and the trunk floor
- Bumper alignment and clip condition
- Hail or door-ding damage across the roof and hood
Glass and lights
- Windshield chips, cracks or a replacement seam
- Headlight and taillight lens clouding or moisture inside the housing
- Working turn signals, brake lights and reverse lights
- Wiper blade condition and washer function
- Side mirror glass and housing cracks
- Sunroof or moonroof seal condition
Tires and brakes
- Tread depth and even wear across all four tires
- Matching tire brand and size, front to rear
- Manufacture date on the sidewall, not just tread depth
- Rotor scoring or a lip at the outer edge
- Brake pad thickness visible through the wheel spokes
- Spare tire condition and jack or tool kit presence
Under the hood
- Fluid color and level: oil, coolant, brake, power steering
- Belt cracking or glazing
- Battery terminal corrosion and hold-down bracket
- Aftermarket wiring, splices or relocated fuse boxes
- Oil residue at valve cover gaskets and the oil pan
- Coolant residue at the radiator, hoses and water pump
Underside and frame
- Frame rail rust-through, bends or weld repairs
- Fresh undercoating that could be hiding damage
- Exhaust hanger and muffler condition
- CV boot tears and driveshaft play
- Fuel and brake line corrosion
- Subframe bolt condition and aftermarket reinforcement
Interior and electronics
- Seat wear against the indicated mileage
- Airbag warning light behavior at key-on
- Infotainment screen function and backup camera image
- Power window, lock and mirror function on every door
- Climate control blowing hot and cold on demand
- Odor: mildew, smoke or a masking air freshener
Fluids and leaks
- Fresh drip marks on the ground under the lot
- Oil residue on the ground versus in the engine bay
- Coolant sweetness or a green or orange residue trail
- Transmission fluid color and smell through the dipstick or fill plug
- Power steering fluid level and hose condition
- Differential or transfer case fluid weep at seals
Start and run, if allowed
- Cold start behavior and exhaust smoke color
- Idle stability once warm
- Transmission engagement into drive and reverse
- Unusual noise under load: knocking, whining or grinding
- Steering wheel play and pull under braking
- Dashboard warning lights that clear after startup
Boats add-on
Boat-specific checks. The Coast Guard's own boating safety guidance at uscgboating.org covers documentation requirements this list does not repeat.
- Hull identification number matches the title and is not re-stamped
- Transom wood core softness, tested by hand pressure
- Outdrive bellows for cracking or dry rot
- Lower unit oil color; a milky color signals water intrusion
- Hull gelcoat blistering or spider cracking below the waterline
- Bilge pump function and float switch operation
RV add-on
- Roof membrane seams and vent seals for cracking
- Sidewall delamination: feel for a soft or spongy panel
- Slide-out seal condition and full extension and retraction
- Water heater, furnace and appliance function
- Black and gray tank valve operation
- Chassis and axle rust versus coach-body rust
Equipment add-on
- Product identification number matches the listing and title
- Hour meter reading against wear on pedals and grab handles
- Undercarriage track or tire wear pattern
- Hydraulic cylinder rod scoring or seal weeping
- Bucket, blade or attachment pin and bushing play
- Cab glass, seat and control function
Paperwork at handover
- Title in hand, or a clear release date if title-absent
- Bill of sale with the correct VIN and sale price
- Lien release letter if the title showed a lienholder
- Odometer disclosure statement, signed
- Any warranty or as-is language matching what was advertised
- Payment receipt and, at a physical yard, the gate pass