4.913,260 reviews on GooglePre-purchase inspection in Arjan
An independent check of a used car before you pay for it.
- Up to 24 monthswarranty
- 20 to 35 minarrival in Arjan
- Open 24/7every day
CardCashThe short answer
A pre-purchase inspection in Arjan is booked through Arjan Battery on WhatsApp or by phone. Before you pay for a used car in Dubai, we check the body for accident repairs, scan the control units for faults, test the battery and charging system, and inspect the engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes and AC. You get the findings in plain language.
The used car market in Dubai moves fast and includes everything from carefully kept GCC cars to repaired imports with a fresh coat of paint. A seller's description and a passed RTA test tell you little about either. An inspection is a short time spent finding out what the car needs, so you can negotiate with facts, ask for repairs or walk away.
Signs you need it
- You are about to pay for a used car from a private seller or a showroom
- The car is an import and its history before the UAE is unclear
- The deal looks better than similar cars on the market
- Paint looks newer on some panels than on others
- The seller has no service record, or only a recent one
- The car is in another emirate and you cannot see it yourself
What the job covers
- Body and paint check for repainted panels, filler and uneven gaps
- Fault-code scan of engine, gearbox, airbag, ABS and other control units
- Battery and charging test: resting voltage, cranking health, alternator output
- Engine, gearbox and cooling system check for leaks, noises and smoke
- Suspension, steering, brakes and tyres, including tyre age
- AC performance, electrics and a road test where the seller allows it
What we look at
- Paint and panels: colour differences, overspray on rubber seals, tool marks on wing and bonnet bolts, and uneven gaps.
- Structure: chassis legs, boot floor and radiator support checked for creases, fresh sealer or welds.
- Engine: cold start, idle, oil and coolant condition, leaks, smoke and noises once warm.
- Electronics: stored and pending fault codes, plus signs that codes were cleared shortly before the viewing.
- Battery: tested the same way we test before selling one, with the readings shown to you.
- Underneath and around: suspension play, brake wear, tyre dates, AC vent temperature, windows, locks and lights.
How the inspection is arranged
- 1
Send the details
The listing, the make, model and year, and the VIN or a photo of the registration card if the seller will share it.
- 2
Agree the place
The inspection happens where the car is or at a workshop. We confirm on WhatsApp which is possible and when.
- 3
Inspection and road test
The car is checked cold if possible, scanned, looked at underneath where there is access, and driven.
- 4
Findings
You hear what is fine, what needs attention soon and what would make us walk away, in plain words.
Words you will hear when buying used
- GCC specs
- Built for Gulf markets, with cooling and AC specified for the climate, and usually a local service history. Simpler to insure and resell.
- Import
- A car first sold elsewhere, often North America or Japan. Some are clean; some were written off abroad and repaired. The VIN history shows which.
- Paint meter
- A gauge that reads paint thickness. Readings well above the rest of the car point to filler or a repaint.
- Chassis damage
- Damage to the car's structure, not only its outer panels. It affects safety and resale even when repaired.
- Cleared codes
- Fault memory erased with a scan tool. The car's self-test monitors then show as not complete, which a scan reveals.
- Mulkiya
- The vehicle registration card. It shows the model year, the registration and expiry dates and the owner's details.
What to ask the seller for
- Registration card
- Check the VIN on the card against the car, on the dashboard and the door jamb.
- Service record
- Stamps or invoices with dates and mileage. Gaps are a question to ask, not proof of a problem.
- VIN
- Needed for a history report on an imported car before you travel to see it.
- Keys
- Both keys. A replacement for a modern car is not a small item.
- Accident history
- Ask directly, then let the paint readings confirm or contradict the answer.
Fines and finance on a car are dealt with through the RTA at transfer. An inspection does not cover them.
A passed RTA test is not an inspection
The RTA passing test confirms the car meets the minimum for registration on the day: brakes, lights, tyres, steering, emissions and general condition. It does not open the fault memory, measure paint, judge a slipping gearbox or tell you a head gasket is on its way out. Treat it as a requirement, not a recommendation.
How Pre-purchase inspection works at your door
No app, no account. One message is enough.
- 1
Send your pin and your car
WhatsApp your live location with the make, model and year, or call. In a basement, add the tower name and bay number.
- 2
Get the price and arrival time
We reply with the battery options that fit, the full price and how long the van will take. Nothing moves until you say yes.
- 3
We test before we fit
The technician checks the old battery and the alternator first. If a jump start or a clean terminal fixes it, that is what you get.
- 4
Pay and drive
Cash, card, Tabby or Tamara at the car. Your warranty of up to 24 months arrives on WhatsApp before the van leaves.
Typical time at the car: 15 to 25 minutes.
Where we fit Pre-purchase inspection
Our vans wait inside Arjan, between Umm Suqeim Street and Hessa Street. Everything inside the circle is a short drive without touching a highway.
Al Barsha SouthDubai Science ParkMotor CityStudio CityJumeirah Village Circle (JVC)Sports CityThe SpringsArabian Ranches 1Al Barsha 3MudonTilal Al GhafJumeirah Village Triangle (JVT)Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
5 km fast-response zone
- Fast-response zone
- 5 km around Arjan
- Also covered
- All Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
- Hours
- 24 hours, 7 days
Related services
- Car battery testingVoltage, cranking amps and alternator output measured at your parking bay
- Car maintenanceScheduled servicing for Dubai conditions: oil, filters, fluids, brakes and battery.
- Engine repairFault scan, overheating, misfires, oil leaks and timing work.
- Body and paintDent removal, panel repair, bumper work and full resprays.
More than batteries
While we are at your car, or any other day, the same number books these.
- 24/7 car roadside assistanceBattery, tyre, fuel or a flatbed, from one WhatsApp message at any hour
- Car recoveryFlatbed for breakdowns, accident damage and cars too low to tow
- Flat tyre fixSpare fitted, tyre inflated or a nail hole plugged where you are stuck
- Car AC repairThe fault found with gauges before any part or gas is sold
- Oil changeThe right grade and a new filter, on the schedule UAE heat calls for
- Brake pad replacementNew brake pads fitted, discs measured, sensors and slides sorted.
What drivers around Arjan say
4.913,260 reviews on Google
HassanArjan, Nissan Patrol2 weeks agoThe Patrol would not start in the tower basement before work. The technician found the bay from the pin and level number I sent, tested the old battery and showed me the reading before changing it. He took the old one away with him.
Battery replacement
JamesMotor City, Volkswagen Tiguan1 month agoMy Tiguan has start-stop, so I asked if it needed an AGM battery. He checked the one fitted, confirmed it was AGM and fitted the same type, then coded it with a scan tool. Clear explanation of what he was doing at each step.
Battery replacement
LaylaJVC, Kia Sportage3 weeks agoI thought the battery was finished because the car was slow to start. He tested the battery and the alternator and said the battery still had life in it and only needed a proper charge. He did not try to sell me a new one.
Battery testing
MuhammadAl Barsha South, Toyota Corolla5 days agoI left the interior light on overnight. I sent my location on WhatsApp early in the morning and the car was running again before I had to leave for work. He told me to drive it for a while so the battery could recharge.
Jump start
NouraDubai Hills, Lexus ES 3502 months agoThe price was confirmed on WhatsApp before he set off and the invoice showed the same amount. The battery was changed in our driveway, and the radio and clock settings were still there afterwards.
Battery replacement
OmarArjan, Mitsubishi Pajero1 week agoThe battery gave up late on a Friday night after dinner. I did not expect anyone to answer, but they replied on WhatsApp and a technician came to the building car park. I paid with Tabby.
Battery replacement
SarahStudio City, Mazda CX-54 days agoMy car had been parked for three weeks while I was travelling and it was completely flat. The technician jump-started it, then checked the charging voltage with the engine running to make sure the alternator was doing its job.
Jump start
AaravDubai Science Park, Hyundai Tucson3 months agoThe car would not start in the office car park at lunchtime. He replaced the battery while I went back to my desk and sent me a photo of the charging reading when he was done. The invoice has the warranty period written on it.
Battery replacement
MaricelSports City, Nissan Sunny 10 days agoMy car did not start after my night shift. The technician jump-started it and tested the battery. He said it was weak and would probably need changing soon, but he left the decision to me.
Jump start
The reviews shown here are a selection from our Google reviews.
Pre-purchase inspection: common questions
Not answered here? Ask on WhatsApp. A person replies, at any hour.
Can you inspect a car at the seller's location in Dubai?
In many cases, yes. Tell us the area and the kind of parking. Close to Arjan we can usually arrange it quickly; further out in Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi we confirm the time on WhatsApp. A check on a lift at a workshop sees more, if the seller agrees.
How can I tell if a used car has been in an accident?
Look for a colour mismatch between panels, overspray on rubber seals, uneven gaps and bolts with spanner marks. A paint meter gives numbers: thick readings on one panel mean filler or repaint. An airbag fault code or a non-original windscreen are further clues. We check all of these.
What can an inspection not tell me?
It cannot see inside an engine or gearbox without dismantling, and it cannot predict a part that works today and fails next month. It reports condition, evidence of repairs, stored faults and wear. That removes most of the unknowns, not all of them.
Does it matter if the car is GCC spec or an import?
It can. GCC cars are specified with this climate in mind and are simpler to insure and resell. Imports vary: some are sound, others were damaged abroad. Run the VIN through a history service before viewing, and have the structure and airbag system checked closely.
Should the battery be checked on a used car, hybrid or EV?
Yes. A weak 12V battery is easy to miss on a car that has sat in a showroom, and battery testing takes minutes. Hybrids and EVs also have a low-voltage battery that runs the locks, screens and contactors. High-voltage pack health is a separate check that needs the maker's diagnostic data.
Battery trouble right now?
Message your location. You will have a price and an arrival time within minutes, and a technician on the way from Arjan.
Open 24 hours. Free delivery and fitting. Up to 24 months warranty.