Technology Meets Trust: How CARS24 Uses Technology To Improve Inspection Report Transparency 

Team L&M

For decades, purchasing a used car has meant depending on oral promises, quick test drives, and the subjective assessment of a local mechanic. But as the market for used cars evolved, so did the need for strict, uniform evaluation processes. The integration of technology into vehicle inspections is transforming used car buying into a journey based on verifiable data rather than intuition.

With consumer sentiments now shifting from discounts to quality, leading used car platforms like CARS24 are now adopting a systematic approach to quality assurance, utilising a comprehensive 300-point inspection process that blends technological accuracy with human expertise. By leveraging advanced diagnostic tools, detailed databases, and standardised protocols, here is how CARS24 is utilising technology to offer in-depth inspection reports that are both transparent and accurate.

How Technology Drives CARS24’s 300-Point Inspection

A major challenge in assessing modern used cars is the complex nature of their electronic and mechanical systems. Surface-level checks are no longer sufficient to determine the health of a car that relies heavily on sensors and software.

To address this challenge, platforms like CARS24 employ tools like On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) scanners and other specialised equipment to dive deep beneath the hood. This ensures buyers don’t discover expensive engine issues weeks after delivery.

These modern-day tools communicate directly with the car’s Engine Control Unit (ECU), triggering hidden error signals that don’t always show up on the dashboard. This allows trained professionals to identify potential issues with critical components, even before they escalate.

Additionally, the use of precision tools to measure paint thickness and panel alignment proves to be crucial in revealing past bodywork or accident repairs that may have been cosmetically masked. With technology shaping detailed inspection reports, used car platforms like CARS24 ensure buyers can make a confident purchase without an unexpected repair bill ruining their post-purchase experience.

The Three-Pillar Approach to Quality Assurance

The accuracy, rigour and depth of CARS24’s 300-point inspection rely on a structured approach that goes way beyond just the hardware. The inspection process followed by the platform is built upon three core pillars designed to maximise accuracy and reliability for the buyers:

• Modern Technology: The backbone of CARS24’s 300-point inspection is the use of digital systems and diagnostic machines. These ensure that every evaluation, from engine to electronics, is measured against strict quality standards, helping buyers make the right decision.
• Expert Analysis: Data is provided by tools, but interpretation calls for expertise. CARS24’s in-depth inspection reports combine technical readings with sensory evaluation (tactile checks for suspension play, auditory checks for engine knock) in an expert-led approach involving professionals with more than ten years of inspection experience. This allows for the detection of complex details that even machines might overlook, ensuring increased accuracy and a layer of dependability.
• Data-Driven Results: Backed by the experience of over 1 crore inspections conducted pan-India, CARS24’s detailed inspection reports utilise historical data to benchmark vehicle performance. This database helps identify model-specific wear patterns and common failure points.

Beyond the Engine: A Tech-Backed 10-Hour Check

A robust inspection goes well beyond just the engine, covering both major and minor components. Recognising this growing consumer demand for rigorous pre-listing inspections, CARS24 has adopted an exhaustive 10-hour+ inspection process that is carried out by trained experts to ensure the uniform quality for every buyer. This extensive timeline allows for a deep dive into six critical categories, all using advanced diagnostic tools, to ensure maximum accuracy:

1. Engine and Transmission: Rigorous testing of all major and minor engine components, including the battery health, alternator output, and radiator efficiency.
2. Suspension, Steering, and Brakes: Deep check of safety-critical systems like suspension arms, shock absorbers, steering links, brake pads, and fluid levels.
3. Electrical Components: In-depth inspection of the infotainment system, instrument cluster, power windows, central locking, and all other electronic features and sensors.
4. Air Conditioning: Checking of the AC unit for cooling efficiency, airflow, and compressor health.
5. Interiors: Deep checks for wear and tear on seat fabrics, the functionality of storage spaces, and overall fit and finish.
6. Exterior: Checks to ensure overall structural integrity with a complete listing of dents, scratches, and panel gaps, providing a clear picture of the car’s physical condition.

Depth That Offers Complete Peace Of Mind

Issues like pending challans or ownership discrepancies are often discovered only after the purchase, and can be frustrating to resolve. To effectively address this issue, CARS24 has extended the scope of its 300-point inspection to include a thorough background verification, accessing reliable databases to authenticate the car’s history, so that buyers can experience maximum peace of mind with every purchase.

• During the platform’s comprehensive inspection process, vehicle records are cross-referenced with Vahan and RTO databases to verify ownership authenticity.
• The process also includes checking for pending traffic challans, accidental claims and ongoing court cases, safeguarding the new owner from inherited legal liabilities.
• Additionally, loan status is also verified directly with banks to ensure the vehicle is free of financial encumbrances, ensuring that buyers aren’t stuck handling unresolved challans or ownership disputes later.

By aggregating data points from different technical evaluations, CARS24’s inspection report can accurately flag odometer tampering and accidental history, ensuring buyers only get access to quality used cars that offer long-term peace of mind and a memorable post-purchase experience.

Conclusion: How Technology Ensures Data-Backed Information For Every Buyer

Technology has changed how used cars are evaluated. Buyers no longer have to rely on guesswork. By combining modern diagnostic tools with human expertise and rigorous background verification, with platforms like CARS24, buyers now have access to the same level of clarity and confidence that was once missing from used car transactions. This approach ensures that quality is not just a promise, but a verifiable fact, fostering a seamless and confident buying experience for consumers across India.