Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should I read these FAQs?
  These FAQs are here because we want you to understand how we operate and what you can expect from us. Please feel free to call us at 888-231-7965 if you have questions about any of these FAQs. We want to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone and we look forward to working with you!
• When will my report be ready?
  Inspectors are out in the field during the day doing inspections. When they get home, after we are closed, that is when they upload their reports. We start reviewing reports at 8:00 am central time and review them one at a time until they are all out. Keep an eye on your email. You'll receive notification of when you can log in and view it.
• How soon after I place my order will I get my report?
  Inspections are typically completed within two business days, depending on the inspector's schedule, the seller's schedule, and the weather. Inspections that are completed on Friday will have the report reviewed on Saturday morning, starting at 8:00 am. We do our best to complete inspections by the next business day as long as the seller makes the car available for review and the inspection is ordered early enough the day before. Our hours of operation are M-F 8:00 to 5:00 Central time. Occasionally, the seller's schedule, the inspector's schedule, or the weather may cause a delay. Please note we cannot guarantee a date of an inspection due to factors outside our control. Customers are encouraged to plan accordingly and make arrangements to hold a vehicle if necessary. We have a better chance of getting the inspection done faster, the sooner you place your order. We do not schedule inspections on weekends. Reports can not be expedited. We do our very best to get them out as soon as possible.
• When do I pay for the inspection?
  We are a pre-pay service. You pay for the inspection when you place your order. If the vehicle sells before we dispatch an inspector, we will put your order on hold and you can use the amount paid towards inspection of another vehicle.
• What is the cancellation policy?
  Because we strive to get inspectors on site very quickly, we begin working on your order immediately. Once your order has been placed we cannot offer a refund. PLEASE BE SURE OF YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER. If your vehicle sells before we dispatch an inspector, we will put your order on hold and you can use the amount paid towards inspection of another vehicle. If you purchase a vehicle before we can get to it, we will not offer a cancellation for a refund.
• Please explain the ETA
  The ETA is the day that the inspector is planning to do the inspection. If the seller isn't available on the day that the inspector is planning to do the inspection, the ETA will be reset and you will be notified. There may be an instance where an inspector sets an ETA and is able to do it sooner. In that instance, the ETA may not be updated, he will upload the report instead. We always do our best to get inspections done as soon as we can!
• I bought a plane ticket/arranged for transportation. How quickly can you do the inspection?
  Please don't purchase a plane ticket or arrange for transportation until you have your report in your hand. Things can change unexpectedly due to circumstances outside of our control. Be prepared to deal with delays should they arise.
• My registration is expired. Can I hire you to do an inspection?
  No. We do pre-purchase inspections before you buy the vehicle to make sure that the vehicle is in good shape. We do not perform any types of state required inspections. You should contact your Department of Motor Vehicles to see if they can help you.
• How do I view my report?
  You view your report by logging into your account on lemonsquad.com. You will receive an email letting you know when your report is ready for you to log in and view. We do not provide hard copies of reports.
• What should I look for in my report?
  When reading your report, make sure that you are looking at the pictures that were taken of the vehicle as well as the written portion. You can view your pictures by clicking on the main image of the vehicle at the top of the report. That will take you to all the pictures that the inspector has taken of the vehicle. Watch the bottom of the pictures. There may be notes that the inspector left for you on an individual picture. If you use the "download all images" button, those notes will not be there. Downloading the images is just a way for you to save those pictures for your record. If you have questions on how to read your report, please give us a call.
• Can I get a verbal report?
  No. Our inspectors are very busy during the day driving around and doing inspections. There is a chance that he may forget to tell us something about the vehicle when he is in-between inspections. The inspector will upload his report as soon as possible.
• Can I change the vehicle I ordered an inspection on?
  No. Please make sure that the vehicle you hire us to look at is the vehicle you are looking to purchase. If the vehicle sells before the inspector gets to the inspection, as long as the seller hasn't told the inspector to come to the vehicle, your order can be put on hold while you look for a different vehicle.
• My seller called to tell me that nobody has contacted them yet.
  Used car sellers can be sneaky. Sometimes they will have the vehicle warmed up for us, erase any check engine lights and etc. Because of this, we do try to take them by surprise. Note that this may not be possible with private sellers. Our inspector will call to make sure that the vehicle is still available and then he will show up unexpectedly. We find that we get a much more accurate representation of the vehicle that way.
• Can I place my order outside regular business hours?
  Yes. Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST. Our website is open to take orders 24 hours a day. If you place your order after hours or on the weekend, we will assign your order to the inspector right away the next business day.
• How long will I be able to view my report?
  The report is viewable for 60 days. After 60 days our system will delete the inspection report including the pictures.
• Do you charge a mileage fee?
  For some locations we may charge a mileage fee. You will be notified when placing your order if there is a mileage fee and what that fee is. If your order is on hold and the new vehicle is in a location where a mileage fee is assessed, you will be notified by us to let you know what the additional mileage fee is.
• Am I allowed to talk to the inspector?
  No. For logistical reasons, inspectors are not able to place calls from the field. If you have specific concerns that you would like to relay to the inspector, please put those in the Additional Notes section of the order page.
• What happens if they sell the vehicle I ordered an inspection on?
  If the vehicle sells before we get there, as long as your seller hasn't told our inspector to come look at the vehicle, we will put your order on hold while you look for another vehicle. When you find another vehicle you'd like us to inspect, we'll transfer the details and send our inspector right away! If the seller shows us the vehicle and then sells it to somebody else, we are not able to put your order on hold. You will receive a report showing the vehicle that you ordered the inspection on. Please make arrangements with the seller to hold the vehicle for you until you can receive your report.
• What if the seller doesn't show for the inspection?
  If the seller of the vehicle makes an appointment with the inspector and then doesn't show, you will receive a report with a picture of the location of the vehicle to let you know that the inspector was there to do the inspection. The inspector will call before going to the vehicle to verify that the vehicle is still available.
• What if my inspection is delayed due to the vehicle needing repairs?
  Our inspector will work with your seller to find out when the repairs to the vehicle will be completed. When the seller notifies the inspector that the vehicle is ready for inspection, the inspector will schedule the inspection for his next availability.
• Do I need to be at the inspection?
  No, we do not allow customers to be present during this inspection. This is to allow our inspectors to do the best work possible. They need to be able to focus on their work with as few of distractions as possible. Remember, our service is designed to help you save time and not have to worry! We'll do all the work here! Just kick back and relax and we'll get your vehicle inspected and write up your report as soon as we can!
• Which inspection should I order?
  When placing your order through the website, our system will automatically pick the correct inspection for you based on the year, make, and model of the vehicle. Some makes of vehicles can have different types of inspections due to the model. Feel free to reach out to us for clarification of you have questions.
• Will you share the report with the seller?
  No. We do our best to keep any issues from the seller. Unless something major happens during the inspection or the seller is hovering over the inspector during the inspection, our inspectors are trained to make the seller think that everything is going well during the inspection. We do this so that the seller will welcome our inspector to come back and do more inspections.
• What if I ask for something special in the notes?
  Please check our sample reports. If you are asking for something specific that isn't on the sample report please call us beforehand or check our FAQs to see if that is something we can accommodate. We will not be notifying you prior to the inspection to let you know if we can or can't accommodate your special request.
• Do you do inspections for Uber / Lyft?
  No. We do not do inspections for either Uber or Lyft. We recommend that you contact your Department of Motor Vehicles and see if they can help you.
• Can I use your report for obtaining a loan for a vehicle?
  We recommend that you send the appropriate sample report to your lender to see if they will accept that report for lending purposes before placing your order.
• Will you look at a vehicle that is listed on eBay?
  Yes. Call us to make sure that we can have the area covered before the auction ends. Please allow 2 to 3 business day lead time.
• Do you look at vehicles that are at auction houses?
  Yes. We are able to look at auction vehicles. Make sure that you verify first with the auction house that we can come out and look at the vehicle. Some auction houses do not allow inspections. Be aware that some auction houses will not allow a test drive due to the current condition of the vehicle or because the vehicle may be blocked in by other vehicles. Some auction houses do not allow the inspector to bring his camera with him. The best thing to do is to confirm with the auction house what they will allow us to do. Our inspectors will not register to gain entry to an auction.
• Is an inspection guaranteed?
  The used car inspection is not guaranteed because the vehicle is fully assembled for the inspection and the inspector cannot see the internal components of the vehicle, including the transmission or the engine. There is the possibility of impending failures that are not evident at the time of the inspection. In other words, if it is not failing at the time of the inspection, we will not know that it is failing. Therefore any used car inspection cannot be guaranteed. Lemon Squad always recommends to see the vehicle to verify it meets your expectations before purchase.
• Do you check for cigarette smoke?
  Yes. Cigarette smoke odors can be hidden by sneaky sellers, who use special chemicals that can make the vehicle smell like it has never been smoked in. Even if the inspector doesn't smell it during the inspection, the odor will likely return and return with a vengeance. If we say it doesn't smell like smoke and it does when you get the vehicle, this is why.
• Do you look for previous accident damage and flood damage?
  Yes. We do our best to check for these items. It's not always possible to see previous accident or flood damage but we do our best.
• Do you inspect for rust to the frame or a damaged frame?
  Yes. We visually look to see if we see anything wrong with the frame. Just because we do not see any damage does not mean that the frame is not bent. The only way to be sure is to have the vehicle put on a frame machine and measured. This is expensive and will need to be brought to a frame specialist.
• Do you check for factory equipment on the Classic Car Inspection?
  Yes. We try to look the vehicle over for any signs of aftermarket or factory components that have been added or removed. It is not always possible to verify installed or missing equipment. If there is a specific item you would like us to review, we will attempt to do so upon your request. We will notify you if we are unable to report on your item.
• Do you do Emissions Testing?
  No. This is something that cannot be done in the field. Your vehicle will need to be brought to an emissions testing facility to have this done. For vehicles from 1996 and newer, we do hook our computer up to the vehicle which may identify issues. However, it is not a substitute for an emissions test in your state.
• Do you do appraisals?
  We do not offer an appraisal, but rather, we do a True Market Value assessment of the vehicle. The True Market Value Assessment is an "add-on" which can be purchased during the order, or anytime before your report is delivered. Our expert mechanic takes a detailed look at the vehicle and provides a fair market value based on the condition, age, and a multitude of other factors.
• Do you do a Compression Check?
  No, we do not do Compression checks. Most sellers would not allow this and due to a liability issue, this will not be performed.
• Do you hook RVs up to water and power for the inspection?
  No. The seller will need to have the unit hooked up to water, power, propane, and fuel for the generator, if it has one. This is something you will need to ask your seller to do before ordering your inspection. If the unit isn't hooked up for the inspection, then we can't test some items.
• What is a Car Fax®?
  A Car Fax® vehicle history report helps you to understand a vehicle's history, enables you to compare similar vehicles you may be considering and helps you select the vehicle that's right for you. You can add a vehicle history report to your order for an additional $24.99 and it will be available when your report is ready.
• Do you inspect Hybrid and Electric vehicles?
  Yes. On hybrid and electric vehicles, we hook up the OBD 2 computer to the vehicle to monitor for any issues regarding the charging system, as well as everything else that we already are looking for during the inspection. If the vehicle is a hybrid, we check to make sure that the battery is taking a charge, and to make sure that the vehicle is switching between the hybrid and gas engine systems without issue. On electric vehicles, we check to make sure that the vehicle is operating without issue on the road test, and that battery is not losing its charge faster then normal. Older batteries tends to fail more frequently than newer batteries. That being said, these batteries do fail, and are expensive to replace once they do. Buying an older, higher mileage, hybrid or electric vehicle can come with some potential risk.
• Will you test drive the vehicle?
  We will test drive the vehicle as long as it is street legal, safe to drive, and the seller allows us to drive it. Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes. Inspectors do too. In some instances, an inspector may not be able to test drive a vehicle, due to size constraints or liability issues, such as with an RV or commercial vehicle. The vehicle may be test driven by the seller or seller's representative.
• Do you look at Salvage Title Vehicles?
  Yes. We will look at vehicles that are salvaged due to either flood or accident. When looking at purchasing a salvage title vehicle, be aware that some things may not be easily seen due to accident damage and poor repairs. You are taking more risk purchasing a salvage title vehicle than a vehicle that has been in a minor accident. Our 7 day policy does not apply to salvage title vehicles. Buyer beware.
• Do you put the vehicle on a lift?
  We are a mobile service so our inspectors do not have a way to bring a lift with them to do their inspections. Due to this, the inspector will look under the vehicle using their camera and mirrors. The inspectors are able to see everything under the vehicle that they need to see without a lift. If your vehicle is located at a dealership, check with your salesperson to see if a lift may be available. Be aware, even though they tell you that the inspector can use a lift, they still may not allow it.
• Do you check the brakes?
  We check the functionality of the braking system during the inspection. We do not take the wheels off to inspect the brake pads.
• Do you check the Timing Belt?
  Unfortunately, most sellers do not allow us to come out and take apart the vehicle to access the timing belt. Unless you have solid proof that the timing belt has been replaced, you need to assume that it has not been done.
• Do you check for oil leaks?
  Yes. We do check for oil leaks. Unfortunately, sellers can sometimes be sneaky. We have seen instances of sellers power washing evidence of oil leaks off the underside of the vehicle. Due to this, not all oil leaks can be caught.
• Do you check for the engine and transmission numbers on Vintage vehicles?
  We do look for these but without a hoist it can be difficult and not always possible. It is best to have your seller get the vehicle to a hoist for us to check these. It is also possible that the numbers may be under a bracket that needs to be removed. We do not take the vehicle apart to look for these. In certain instances, numbers can not be verified. We will take pictures of numbers that can be seen and accessed to photograph. We do not jack up the vehicle to check for any numbers. We do not do the actual verification or decoding of the VIN numbers.
• Do you do emissions testing?
  No. We do a pre-purchase inspection. This does not include emissions testing that is required by some states. We do hook up the OBD2 computer to the vehicle if it is 1996 or newer and we will report on any codes found. If you require an emissions test, you will need to contact your DMV.
• Do you check the title of the vehicle?
  We do not have a database to run the title through for checking ownership or lien history. This is something that you will need to handle with your seller. We do sell Auto Check History Reports by Experian for an additional fee which may provide additional information.
• Do you check all the lights?
  We will check all the lights during the inspection except for the brake lights. The inspector is out doing the inspection by himself and it is hard to press the brakes and be behind the vehicle to check the brake lights at the same time.
• Do you check for any aftermarket equipment or modifications to the vehicle?
  We will check for any obvious aftermarket equipment or modifications to the vehicle and let you know. Not all aftermarket equipment or modifications can be easily seen. Please make sure you confirm with your seller for the presence of any aftermarket equipment or modifications. This is something that you will need to verify with the seller before you order the inspection. Please put in your notes if you are aware of any modifications so the inspector can double check them for you.
• I had my vehicle inspected and now the A/C doesn't work. What happened?
  If there is a small leak in the A/C system, it is very common for sneaky sellers to top off the freon before we arrive so that the system is working for the inspection. Once we leave, the system continues to leak out and is either not working when it arrives to you, the customer, or is not blowing as cold as it did for us. This is something that is hard to catch because a large A/C machine would be needed to diagnose the leak. This is something that is not feasible to bring to an inspection site. If you are experiencing issues with your A/C system, contact your seller.
• Will you go into Canada or Mexico to do an inspection?
  No. Lemon Squad only operates within the United States. If a vehicle is in a border city, the seller will need to bring the vehicle to the inspector's location in the United States. Call us if you are looking at a vehicle outside of the United States so we can make sure it is coordinated correctly with the inspector.
• Can the inspector just call me to schedule the inspection?
  No. We will be needing the seller's name and phone number to schedule and inspection. If the inspector calls you and then you give him the seller's phone number, that is just making things take longer. Please don't put your name and number in for the vehicle contact unless you have the vehicle in your possession. It makes it so much easier on our end!