Jacking Point Check

Check the jacking points before buying, but keep the first viewing visual and leave lifting to a properly equipped workshop. Ask the seller to show the correct equipment while parked, using the instructions for this vehicle.

I reviewed Vehicle Inspection Manual frame and body section for this November 6, 2026 checklist. The example helps identify the relevant instruction, but your vehicle manual and accessory documentation control the actual fit and procedure. So, keep the inspection within a safe stationary demonstration and stop when damage or an uncertain part makes further testing inappropriate.

Find the manufacturer-approved lifting points

Check the jacking points before buying, but keep the first viewing visual and leave lifting to a properly equipped workshop. The correct location and adapter depend on the vehicle. Ask the seller for the owner manual and have the shop identify approved contact areas. A convenient-looking flat panel underneath the car is not evidence that it can carry the load.

Look for crushed seams and weakened metal

A folded seam, torn pad or heavily corroded reinforcement needs assessment before a jack or lift touches it. Photograph what you can see from outside without crawling underneath an unsupported car. The cited inspection manual distinguishes ordinary surface corrosion from structural deterioration. Ask the technician whether damage affects the intended load path or adjoining structure.

Treat previous patches as unfinished evidence

A welded patch around a lifting area needs a repair assessment rather than a quick paint check. Ask who performed the work and request photographs before underseal was applied. The shop should compare the repair with manufacturer procedures for the vehicle construction. Avoid probing metal or trying a load test in the seller driveway.

Have the shop decide whether lifting is safe

The workshop must choose safe equipment, support points and adapters before raising a suspect car. If the approved point is damaged, the technician should follow the manufacturer alternative procedure or stop. Never get under a car supported only by a jack. An inability to raise the car safely is an inspection limitation to resolve before purchase.

Price a structural assessment before discussing a discount

A damaged jacking point may involve more than a replaceable pad. Ask the workshop whether the adjacent reinforcement and load-bearing structure need repair, and whether a body specialist must inspect hidden layers. Obtain a written scope before negotiating. A guessed allowance can leave you paying for dismantling and corrosion work that the visible mark did not reveal. Keep the offer conditional on a safe inspection and an acceptable repair plan.

Keep the lift-access limitation on the report

Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps specify what the shop should examine and what remains inaccessible. Ask it to record the lifting method and the areas it could not view. NYC used-car guidance recommends an independent mechanic. Look, an attractive seller checklist cannot make a weakened support point safe. If the shop cannot safely examine the underbody, pause the purchase until that limitation is resolved.

Compare physical condition with the history file

Use our VIN verification guide to match the documents to the car, then check what the records actually cover. Our tire-replacement reporting guide explains why maintenance records and installed equipment can differ. NMVTIS concerns U.S. title-history information; it does not certify that a lifting point is sound. A fake PDF can hide an ownership gap, and even a genuine report may omit unreported damage.

Request photographs of the repair before it is hidden

Ask for images showing the exposed reinforcement, the prepared area and the finished repair before paint or underseal covers it. The technician should identify the applicable repair method rather than merely stating that a patch feels solid. Keep the invoice and the workshop assessment with the purchase papers. If the seller says the damage was caused by an incorrectly positioned lift, ask whether nearby components were checked as well.

Set a clear purchase condition

A weakened lifting point can prevent routine service or conceal a larger structural problem. Make the purchase conditional on a specialist establishing the extent of damage and a safe repair route. Ask who will arrange transport if the vehicle cannot safely be driven or lifted. Avoid accepting a promise that your local shop can sort it later without that shop seeing the evidence. If the required access is refused, leave the condition unresolved rather than turning it into an assumed bargain.

Ask the workshop to record both the visible condition and any area it could not safely examine. A limitation in the inspection report should stay visible in your purchase decision.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• Vehicle Inspection Manual frame and body section
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance