Terms and Conditions for Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection Services

Effective Date: 04/05/2026

IMPORTANT: Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection service is an informational, scan-based, visible-condition, and limited-access inspection service intended to help a prospective buyer gather information about a used vehicle before purchase. By booking, paying for, or receiving Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection service from LockNCal, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms below.

This page works together with LockNCal’s Return & Refund Policy, Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Acknowledgments, Disclaimers & Legal Consents. If any conflict arises, these service-specific disclosures control for Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection Services.

1) Scope of Service – Dispatch, Scan, Visible Inspection, Limited Access, and Reporting

I understand the amount paid for this service covers LockNCal’s professional time, technician dispatch, on-site visit, vehicle scanning where possible, visible-condition inspection, limited access inspection where permitted, and preparation/delivery of a findings report.

• I understand I am paying for time, travel, inspection effort, scanning effort, limited-access inspection effort, and reporting, not for a guaranteed mechanical diagnosis, guaranteed discovery of all defects, or guaranteed confirmation that the vehicle is good or bad to purchase.
• LockNCal does not guarantee that all issues, defects, prior damage, hidden problems, intermittent faults, mechanical failures, electrical issues, or future breakdowns will be identified during this service.
• I understand this service is limited to the vehicle’s condition, access, seller cooperation, and the information available for retrieval at the time of inspection.

2) Informational Service Only – No Buy / No Do-Not-Buy Recommendation

I understand that LockNCal’s role is to report findings, not to make the purchase decision for me.

• LockNCal will not tell me whether I should buy the vehicle.
• LockNCal will share objective findings such as visible concerns, scan results, diagnostic trouble codes, warning lights, and similar observations where available.
• I remain solely responsible for deciding whether to proceed with, delay, renegotiate, or decline the vehicle purchase.

3) Limited-Access / Non-Destructive Inspection Only

I understand this service is a limited-access, non-destructive pre-purchase inspection. It may include visible inspection, scanning where possible, and limited non-destructive access to certain areas/components where reasonably necessary and with written authorization obtained in advance.

• LockNCal’s findings are based on what is visible, accessible, and retrievable at the time of service.
• Where permitted, LockNCal may perform limited removal of panels, trim pieces, covers, accessories, or similar components if reasonably necessary to inspect visible condition or access systems related to the inspection.
• This service does not include full teardown, invasive mechanical disassembly, internal engine/transmission teardown, destructive testing, fluid analysis, or full body-shop/dealership-level dismantling.
• Components, systems, structural areas, prior repairs, hidden damage, frame issues, wiring issues, flood damage, and other defects may exist even if not visible or retrievable during the inspection.
• I understand the inspection is not equivalent to a full dealership inspection, full body shop teardown, OEM certification, or comprehensive mechanical guarantee.

4) Scan Data and Diagnostic Trouble Code Limitations

I understand that scan results and diagnostic trouble codes are only one part of the overall picture and may not reveal every issue with the vehicle.

• Some faults may be stored, pending, cleared, intermittent, hidden, inactive, or not detectable during the inspection.
• Some modules or systems may not communicate properly due to prior damage, aftermarket parts, battery condition, programming issues, or other pre-existing vehicle conditions.
• LockNCal does not guarantee that scan results alone can confirm the vehicle’s full condition, reliability, or history.

5) No Guarantee of Mechanical Condition, Safety, or Roadworthiness

I understand that a Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection does not certify that the vehicle is mechanically sound, roadworthy, collision-free, properly repaired, safe for operation, or free of hidden defects.

• Additional issues may still exist even if they are not identified during the inspection.
• I understand that visible cleanliness, the absence of warning lights, or limited scan findings do not guarantee that the vehicle is free of prior damage, improper repairs, deferred maintenance, or future failures.
• LockNCal does not provide any warranty, guarantee, certification, or promise regarding the vehicle’s condition or future performance.

6) Seller Written Authorization, Vehicle Access, and Property Access

I understand that it is my responsibility as the person booking the service to obtain a signed written authorization from the seller, dealership, lot operator, or any person/entity controlling the property and vehicle before the scheduled inspection date/time.

That written authorization must grant LockNCal permission to:

• Enter the property where the vehicle is located
• Access the vehicle itself
• Connect diagnostic/scanning equipment where possible
• Perform the inspection in a reasonably safe manner
• Perform limited non-destructive removal of panels, trim, covers, accessories, or similar components where reasonably necessary to complete the inspection.

• Authorization required before service: If I fail to obtain this signed authorization before the scheduled booked service date/time, LockNCal may refuse to perform the inspection.
• No authorization = no service: If seller authorization is missing, incomplete, denied, withdrawn, or disputed, LockNCal may stop or refuse service immediately.
• No refund / forfeited fee: If the required authorization is not obtained before the appointment, the inspection will not be performed, and the amount paid is forfeited, final, and non-refundable.

7) Seller Cooperation, Vehicle Access, and Site Conditions

I understand this service depends on the vehicle being available, accessible, and presented in a reasonably safe environment for the technician to inspect.

• Access required: The vehicle must be physically present at the scheduled location and accessible for scanning and inspection.
• Seller cooperation required: If the dealership, private seller, lot operator, or other person in control of the vehicle limits access, restricts scanning, refuses to perform inspection steps, refuses limited authorized component removal, interrupts service, or denies permission, LockNCal may be unable to complete the inspection.
• Unsafe or unsuitable conditions: If site conditions are unsafe, hostile, obstructed, excessively rushed, poorly lit, weather-affected, or otherwise unsuitable, LockNCal may stop or limit the service.
• If service is limited, interrupted, or stopped due to access restrictions, seller interference, missing authorization, or site conditions outside LockNCal’s control, all payments remain final and non-refundable.

8) No Repairs, No Negotiation Role, and Separate Services

I understand that Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection is a separate informational service and does not automatically include repairs, programming, calibration, disassembly beyond limited authorized access, part replacement, negotiation support, or follow-up correction work.

• If LockNCal identifies concerns that may require further diagnosis, repair, programming, calibration, replacement, or more invasive inspection, those would be separate services and may require a separate appointment and additional charges.
• LockNCal is not acting as my purchasing agent, negotiator, legal advisor, insurance advisor, or vehicle-history guarantor.
• I understand that any quote, recommendation for further service, or comment regarding possible next steps does not change the limited scope of this inspection service.

9) Report Delivery and Use of Findings

I understand that LockNCal may provide findings by email, text message, digital report, photos, notes, or other written summary after the inspection.

• The report reflects LockNCal’s observations and scan findings only at the time of inspection.
• I understand conditions may change after the inspection, and the report is not a continuing warranty, guarantee, or future monitoring service.
• I agree not to misrepresent LockNCal’s report as a guarantee, certification, appraisal, title opinion, resale warranty, or blanket approval of the vehicle.

10) No Cancellations / No Refunds / Final Sale Policy

• All bookings are final: Once Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection service is booked and paid, all sales are final.
• No refunds due to outcome: No refund will be issued because I dislike the findings, disagree with the findings, expected a different result, decide not to buy the vehicle, buy the vehicle anyway, or later discover additional issues not found during the inspection.
• No refunds due to access limitations: No refund will be issued if the service is limited or cannot be fully completed due to seller refusal, lack of cooperation, missing signed authorization, inaccessible vehicle, missing keys, locked vehicle, rushed conditions, poor site conditions, unsafe conditions, weather, communication failures, battery/voltage issues, scan limitations, aftermarket modifications, prior repairs, or any other condition outside LockNCal’s control.
• Chargeback acknowledgment: I agree not to dispute or charge back the payment because LockNCal reserves capacity, dispatches a technician, performs professional labor, and provides service in good faith.

11) Customer Responsibility and Hold Harmless

I understand that I am solely responsible for my own due diligence, for obtaining the seller’s signed authorization, and for my final purchase decision.

• I release and hold harmless LockNCal, its owners, technicians, partners, contractors, and affiliates from claims, losses, damages, expenses, or disputes arising out of my decision to buy, not buy, finance, transport, register, repair, or use the vehicle.
• This includes, without limitation, claims arising from hidden defects, undiscovered problems, future failures, seller misrepresentations, title issues, prior collision history, flood history, odometer concerns, mechanical failures, electronic faults, emissions issues, property-access disputes, or any other matter not fully known at the time of inspection.

12) Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, LockNCal is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to lost deals, lost deposits, towing costs, transportation costs, storage fees, financing losses, missed work, lost wages, inconvenience, or related losses.

If LockNCal is found liable for any reason, LockNCal’s total liability is limited to the amount paid for the specific Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection service at issue.

13) Customer Authorization

• I authorize LockNCal to access the vehicle as permitted on-site, connect diagnostic equipment where possible, scan available systems, inspect visible vehicle conditions, perform limited authorized non-destructive access/removal as permitted, document findings, and deliver the findings report to me.
• I confirm that I am either the prospective buyer, vehicle owner, or an authorized agent with permission to request this inspection.
• I understand it is my responsibility to ensure that the seller or person in control of the vehicle/property has provided the signed written authorization required for LockNCal to access the property and the vehicle, and to perform the reasonably necessary inspection steps.
• I authorize LockNCal to communicate with me by text message, phone, and email regarding service status, scheduling, findings, additional charges if applicable, and service updates.

By booking, paying for, or receiving Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection service from LockNCal, I electronically sign and agree to these Terms and Conditions for Pre-Purchase Vehicle Inspection Services.