Inspection Terms

1Who provides the service

Carcy runs carcy.me. We take your booking, match you with an inspection partner, provide the checklist and publish the report.

The inspection itself is carried out by an independent inspection partner: an experienced mechanic, garage or showroom that works with Carcy but is not our employee. The partner's name is given to you before the visit and appears on the report. The partner records and signs the findings and is responsible for their accuracy.

2What is checked

The partner inspects the car visually, by touch and by ear, reads the fault codes with an OBD diagnostic scanner, and takes a short test drive where the seller allows it and the car is insured and safe to drive. A visit usually takes 45 to 75 minutes. The checklist covers:

• Body & accident signs — panel gaps and alignment; paint finish and colour match; bolts, seals and welds; glass and lights; visible structural parts.
• Underbody & rust — corrosion on underbody and arches; fluid leaks; exhaust system; impact damage underneath.
• Engine & gearbox — start and idle; engine noise; exhaust smoke; oil and coolant level and condition; gearbox and clutch; belts, hoses and mounts.
• Diagnostic scan (OBD) — stored fault codes; pending codes and readiness; hybrid / ev battery data.
• AC & cooling — ac outlet temperature; compressor and fans; engine temperature on test drive.
• Brakes, tyres & suspension — brake pads and discs; braking on test drive; tyre tread depth; tyre age; suspension and steering.
• Documents & VIN — vin on car matches the registration document; odometer reading; service history seen; mot (roadworthiness) validity; keys.
• Photos — general photos of the car and a photo or reading for every finding.

3What is not included

• Dismantling anything, removing panels or trim, or checking inside the engine, gearbox or hybrid battery beyond what the diagnostic scan shows.
• Lifting the car on a ramp, unless the inspection takes place at a partner's workshop.
• Faults that are intermittent or hidden, or that only show up after longer driving or in specific conditions.
• How long any part will last, or how the car will behave in the future.
• Legal checks of ownership, outstanding finance, import duties or registration status. Check these with the seller's documents and the Road Transport Department.
• The official roadworthiness (MOT) test, which only licensed test centres carry out.
• Whether what the seller or the listing says is true, beyond what the partner can observe at the car.

4The report

For every checklist item the partner records one result: no issue observed, needs attention, defect observed or not checked with the reason. Every “needs attention” or “defect” must have a short description and a photo or measured reading. The partner then signs the findings.

The summary at the top of your report is generated automatically from those recorded results. Neither Carcy nor the partner adds opinions that aren't backed by a recorded result. The report describes the condition of the car as observed; it says nothing about the seller. It is not a recommendation to buy or not to buy — that decision is yours.

If you used the free online check first, the points it flagged are passed to the partner, and the report shows whether each one was confirmed at the car. The online check is an automated analysis of the listing, reviewed by our team; it is not an inspection and its price guidance is set before the visit.

The report is for you. Please don't publish it or give it to the seller to market the car.

5Price, payment and cancellation

The price depends on the car's asking price: €129 for cars up to €15,000, €179 for €15,000–€40,000 and €249 over €40,000. It is confirmed with you before the visit. You pay on site after the inspection; nothing is charged when you book.

• You can cancel or move the booking free of charge up to 12 hours before the agreed time.
• If the inspector travels and the inspection can't take place — you cancel later than 12 hours before, the car or the seller isn't there, or the seller refuses the inspection — a call-out fee of €40 applies to cover travel and time.
• If the partner cancels or is more than 30 minutes late without notice, you pay nothing and we rebook.
• Cars outside the main towns may need a travel charge. If so, we tell you before you confirm.

6If you think a finding is wrong

Tell us within 7 days of receiving the report at [email protected], with your reference and any evidence, such as a garage diagnosis or invoice. We review the recorded results and photos and ask the partner to respond.

If an item that was checked was recorded incorrectly, you can choose a free re-inspection or a refund of the inspection fee. Claims for more than the fee, such as repair costs, are made against the inspection partner who signed the findings and their insurer; Carcy will give you the report, photos and records to support your claim.

Items marked “not checked”, or matters outside the scope in section 3, are not grounds for a complaint.

7Responsibility and liability

• The inspection partner is responsible for carrying out the inspection with reasonable skill and care and for the accuracy of the findings they sign.
• Carcy is responsible for running the booking and report service with reasonable care: passing on your request accurately and publishing the findings as recorded. Carcy's total liability for any booking is limited to the fee you paid for it.
• Neither Carcy nor the partner is liable for faults outside the scope in section 3, faults that could not reasonably be found by a visual, non-invasive inspection, faults that develop after the inspection, or information supplied by the seller. Neither is liable for indirect losses, such as the price you agreed for the car or lost opportunities.
• Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or your statutory rights as a consumer.

8What we need from you

• Correct details of the car and where it is, and the seller's agreement to the inspection. We can help arrange it.
• Tell us about anything you are especially worried about, so the partner can pay attention to it.
• The test drive depends on the seller's permission and the car's insurance.

9Photos and personal data

Photos of the car are stored with your report and shared only through your private report link. Partners are told not to photograph people or personal details on documents. The partner receives only what is needed for the visit. More in our Privacy Policy.

10Law and changes

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Cyprus. You can also contact the Cyprus Consumer Protection Service. We may update these terms; the version you accepted when booking applies to your booking.