Q: Do you go to where the car is located?
A: Yes, we always travel to where the vehicle is located to perform the evaluation and photographs. That is beneficial to the owner because it minimizes risk associated with moving the vehicle and in many cases these older vehicles are not roadworthy.
Q: How long will this take and when do I receive the final report?
A: We have a fast turnaround time, in most cases we can schedule the evaluation in 1 to 3 business days depending on the day of the week and how busy the schedule is. While the on-site evaluation takes approximately 90 minutes to perform, our total time invested for the entire service is 6 to 9 hours on average for one vehicle when you factor in the communication, scheduling, invoicing, traveling, evaluation, research, and processing the final documents. In most cases the customer receives the completed documents within 72 hours of the evaluation.
Q: What is a Specialty Vehicle or Late Model Vehicle?
A: The term “specialty vehicle” refers to a broad range of special interest vehicles of any age including but not limited to a kit car, exotic, sports car, custom, project car, hot rod, late model muscle car, high-end luxury, etc. The term “late model vehicle” is defined by most states as being within six years old.
Q: Can your appraisal be used for legal purposes?
A: Yes, our appraisals are professional, legitimate, and held to the highest standards. Pittsburgh Vehicle PPI is certified by and in good standing with Pennsylvania Antique Auto Appraisals (PA3) and follows the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) as declared by the Appraisal Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation, which is accepted by institutions for insurance, loans, estates, tax purposes, etc.
Q: Why does it cost so much?
A: Actually our prices are on the low side. The national average for a properly prepared vintage auto appraisal or inspection by a specialist is $500 and up. Our goal as an independent operation is to provide a higher quality service than the national companies at a lower price. Additionally, while you might find somebody that charges less its often a piece of paper without industry standards or credentials, and that is not a legitimate appraisal and not accepted by major institutions.
Q: This is my first time dealing with an old car and don’t know what to do, can you help?
A: Absolutely, we offer consultation services and we’ll try to assist you any way we can.
Q: How are your services different or better than CarFax or AutoCheck?
A: Those services are essentially a background check for 1981 and newer automobiles using its 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number. It can inform you how many owners, accidents reported, odometer issues, flood damage, fleet use, or other adverse events. While we recommend obtaining a vehicle history report on a 1981 or newer automobile because it can provide important information about its history, it cannot be relied upon 100% because it doesn’t inform you of the current condition and the reports often have errors because accidents are not always reported.
Q: Do you offer PA State Inspection or repair services?
A: Sorry, we are an appraisal and mobile inspection service only. You will have to take your vehicle to an auto repair facility near you that offers annual PA State Safety Inspection and repair capabilities.
Q: I need other items checked on a vehicle, can you do that?
A: Sometimes. While we provide a thorough inspection procedure for every vehicle we understand there are circumstances that require other needs. Special requests are welcome and we will try to accommodate you as best as possible. If you need assistance that the inspection or appraisal cannot provide we also offer consultation services.
Q: Does your service offer a warranty or guarantee?
A: No, our service is not a warranty or guarantee. While we make every effort to find all defects and details of the vehicle using a thorough systematic standard operating procedure, we cannot possibly see or catch everything 100% of the time. We cannot visually inspect internal components within the drive-train and other hidden areas, therefore we cannot see some potential or impending failures. The vehicle could also have intermittent issues that were not revealed at the time of the evaluation and any vehicle can malfunction at any time. The purpose of our service is to provide you with an honest and unbiased report based on what we observe, and with that information you are able to make a more informed decision and/or have proper documentation.