How the Vehicle Inspection Process Works

Vehicle inspection is an essential part of vehicle insurance. A car needs to be inspected for several reasons: it might have been in an accident and the insurer needs to assess the damage, it might be nearly totaled and a decision needs to be made about salvaging it, or it might be inspected before leasing to expose any hidden damages and establish the car's actual condition. Whatever the reason, the vehicle inspection process can become a prolonged affair if all parties involved do not have a clear understanding of what it entails.

In this blog, we explain the stages involved in the vehicle inspection process and compare two primary methods of inspecting cars: the manual way and the AI-assisted way.

Steps of the Vehicle Inspection Process

A vehicle inspection seeks to determine if the car is roadworthy, safe for the driver, and whether it needs repairs and maintenance. In some cases, inspectors will also consider the car's environmental impact, checking for emissions due to internal damage or neglect. Here are the steps involved:

1. Verifying Identification Details

Before inspecting the vehicle, the inspector needs to verify some details of both the vehicle and the car owner. The insurance carrier or broker records these details when the customer approaches them for inspection. The vehicle details that need to be considered include the make and model, year of manufacture, and the VIN number (stamped under the windshield).

2. Preliminary Tasks

Before analyzing the vehicle part by part, an inspector completes a couple of initial steps: ensuring the car starts and the engine runs, and recording the odometer reading. This information is well-documented for later reference and as proof for the car owner.

3. Physical Inspection of the Vehicle

Damage to the visible parts of a car is obvious to the eye. Vehicle inspectors tackle this first, ensuring a thorough inspection using checklists that cover mirrors, windshields, tail-lights, fenders, doors, tires (for tread-depth or grip), and interior components like the steering wheel, gear stick, windows, and even under the hood for leaks or out-of-place tiny components.

Inspectors may use a binary broken/not broken checklist or a graded percentage rating. They check for cracks, scratches, dents, fitting issues, and durability problems. Throughout the inspection, inspectors meticulously note details and take pictures from different angles for visual evidence.

4. Identifying Hidden Damages

After a manual inspection, some damages might remain hidden, such as rusting, loose wires, moisture damage, and aging parts. Inspecting these would typically require disassembling the car, which is impractical for most inspections.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

This is where artificial intelligence (AI) steps in. AI can scan for hidden damage that is too obscured for even the trained vehicle inspector using image recognition and computer vision.

How Does It Work?

AI-assisted tools use snapshots of a vehicle to assess damage. The carrier takes photos of the vehicle from different angles and uploads them via a mobile AI app. The AI then performs a complete damage assessment that is both faster and more accurate. The AI provides detailed reports of the damage analysis, enabling informed decisions for the customer.

Conclusion

The vehicle inspection process is crucial for determining a car’s roadworthiness and uncovering any hidden damages. While manual inspections cover visible damage, AI-assisted inspections provide a more thorough assessment by identifying hidden issues. For the best vehicle inspection service, combining human expertise with AI technology ensures a comprehensive and accurate evaluation.

If you want to speed up the vehicle inspection process and serve your customers more efficiently, connect with us at Nspectacar, and we’ll help you take it further.