Our team of experts and researchers had one mission: find the best car inspection centres in Montreal. And if there’s one thing we realised, it’s the fact that it’s actually… hard.

Not only are the options pretty limited, but those we come across are either sloppy or have a strong tendency to overcharge. Thankfully, we had a couple of months on our hands to test the services ourselves and make city-wide comparisons across various factors.

After many many deliberations, we finally were able to round up this list. Don’t worry, we only include those that meet our standards with flying colours. Check it out! 

How we chose

1. Car Inspected

Contact: +1 514-746-9557
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Website

We really have to give it to Car Inspected when it comes to accessibility. Unlike other shops where you have to drag your vehicle to the garage, this company offers mobile vehicle inspection.

While mobile inspection isn’t new or rare, we appreciate how fast and flexible they are. In fact, they can even inspect on your behalf even if you’re out of town. 

Communication is constant during this process, so we’re happy that updates come in time, regardless of where you are.

Knowing that they’re not affiliated with any dealership was also a reassuring thing for us. This suggests that there are no conflicts of interest when it comes to assessing vehicle issues.

However, this location doesn’t seem to have lift access, which means carrying out an undercarriage evaluation is a challenge. They do a visual check, but we think it can be limiting at times.

Knowledgeable and passionate

“Great service, Sinan was very thorough in his inspection and very knowledgeable and passionate about his work. He was patient, and answered all my questions and gave detailed recommendations. I would definitely recommend this service to anyone looking to buy a used car.”

Ali Chraim | Google Reviews 

Explains every detail 

“I was impressed by the thoroughness and knowledge displayed during the inspection of the car I wanted to buy. Sinan is very open and passionate, he explains every detail of his inspection and flags the good, the less good and the risk related to the inspected car. Very professional work, helpful to anybody interested to evaluate the condition of a car. I warmly recommend his services.”

Vlad Iliescu | Google Reviews

2. CarInspect (Formerly Kiwiz)

Contact: +1 833-415-3373
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Website

When we first tried reaching out to CarInspect, the first thing we noticed was how fast the process is. The booking took an average of 2 minutes for our team, landing them among the fastest when it comes to scheduling.

As for the actual turnaround for the inspection, they can push through within the day, depending on availability. However, we would also like to note that their standard arrival time is usually within 48 hours.

We can also comment on their 170-point inspection. However, other shops actually have a standard offering of 200 points. Their advantage, on the other hand, lies in their solid communication, with a follow-up phone call once done.

Another major plus is the transparency of their pricing, which is based on the package. Plus, they have a 90-day warranty on all their services. Although, according to a few of the clients, claiming can be a bit of a trouble.

Highly recommended services 

“This service was invaluable. I was shopping for a new car so they came within 24 hours, did a thorough inspection of the vehicle and added photos to support what they found. My inspector Aaron called me and gave me suggestions and clear explanations about his inspection. I highly recommend this service.”

Jacquie Pinard | Google Reviews 

Comprehensive inspections 

“The inspection is comprehensive and gave me extra peace of mind during my car purchase process. The inspection happened within the expected time and Dennis called me while at the car dealer to provide me his thoughts on the car. I recommend them.”

Jonathan Oliveira | Google Reviews 

3. Greasemonkey Inspectors

Contact: +1 437-446-4142
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Website

Greasemonkey’s office is located in Toronto, but we’re pleased to know that they provide services across Canada via their mobile vehicle inspection. 

Flexibility is their strong suit, considering that they offer three different pre-purchase inspection packages. What’s nice is that their most basic package already includes 200 points of assessment (for most, it’s only 170 points).

When our team booked for test inspections, we found that their average booking ranges from 24 to 48 hours. They’re not the fastest in the market per se, but the fact that they have zero reports of delays is a reassuring factor.

Furthermore, we loved how detailed their reports are. And unlike other shops, they actually include repair estimates and experience recommendations. This eliminates the back and forth of verifying issues and asking quotes from multiple providers,

Satisfactory process 

“Very happy with the report. I was purchasing the car in Squamish and the inspector (John) had no issue driving there. Other companies wanted to charge a surcharge for driving there. I purchased the basic package and was very happy with the report. The car was leased and being returned to the leasing company from whom I purchased it. They had no issues accepting the report. Overall very satisfied with the process.”

Norman Schwartzman | Google Reviews 

Exceptional and prompt service 

“GreaseMonkey provides exceptional service with highly knowledgeable inspectors whose recommendations are truly life-saving. Their detailed reports are incredibly helpful and promptly delivered within just a few hours after the inspection. The team is extremely cooperative and efficient.”

Kishan Khatri | Google Reviews

4. iNeedaPPi Mobile Car Inspectors

Contact: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM | Friday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Website

When contacting various car inspectors, iNeedaPPi stood out to us with how easy it is to connect with them. Booking online is fast, with most inspections happening the same day, which makes them one of the fastest on our list in terms of turnaround times.

The reports surprised us with how quickly they came too. It took about 2 hours to receive ours via email, though there were some clients who said they got theirs in just 1 hour.

The document is comprehensive, and we loved that it comes with photos and videos.

Another feature we find valuable is that they can actually help clients get a market price appraisal to negotiate better deals. Although it’s not free, the $25 fee isn’t a lot.

To make things more seamless, we appreciate that they also offer warranty options after the sale. The cheapest they have starts at $249, which is quite affordable, but it may go higher depending on which option is most suitable based on the car’s mileage and condition. 

Well-detailed report

“The inspection report was great! It detailed everything that I needed to know. I would like to thank you and your inspector for taking care of this so quickly. This will help me negotiate a lower price to make sure this car is up to speed on the maintenance and future repairs.”

Tony Hersey | Google Reviews

Quick turnaround time 

“They provided an incredibly thorough report that gave us a lot of confidence in making our decision to buy a car. A professional service was provided and the report was delivered with a quick turn around”

Cindy Smart | Google Reviews 

5. Tireland Auto Centre 

Location: 8910, Boul. St-Laurent
Contact: +1 514-381-1846
Website

Tireland Auto Centre actually focuses more on tire repair and replacements, but they do have a few offerings that we find compelling. 

Out of the shops we’ve evaluated, they’re the only one in Montreal that offers an out-of-province vehicle inspection. The process is relatively fast too, taking an average of 2 hours to complete. 

And while others only focus on private vehicles, they gain an edge for servicing commercial fleets too. They offer annual inspections for everything, including trucks and trailers. 

For business people, we find this a convenient choice, as there’s no need to scour a different provider each time for maintenance. 

We were just a bit iffy about a report that revealed to us that the price was inflated for an emergency inspection. But weighing it against the positive testimonies we heard, it’s a relatively minor issue that has not occurred in the past 2 years.

Very professional service 

“Great service shop for any of your automotive needs!! Been coming here for years and have never had an issue. Honest and trustworthy. Great prices and selection of new and used tires. Have brought 5 vehicles for an out-of-province inspection here and bringing another one tomorrow. Very professional service, much satisfied!”

S B | Google Reviews 

Goes above and beyond 

“I was recommended to bring my JDM accord wagon here for provincial inspection, tire install and wheel alignment. Prior mechanic that was going to install daytime running lights left me high and dry the day before my booked appointment with ABC. AK went above and beyond to arrange for the lights to be installed at a nearby mechanic the same day so that I could finish my inspection and be on my way back out of town. Highly recommended! Thank you ABC!”

Joe R | Google Reviews