Inspection Disclaimer

Last updated 19 October 2026

1. Purpose of this Disclaimer

This Disclaimer explains what a VAM Checks inspection is, what it is not, and the limits that apply to every report we issue, so that you know exactly what you are buying before you book. It forms part of our Terms & Conditions. VAM Checks is the trading name of V.A.M. Checks Limited, company number 794566.

2. A snapshot in time

Every report describes the vehicle as presented, at the inspection location, on the date of the inspection. A vehicle can be driven, damaged, repaired or modified immediately afterwards, and a fault can develop hours later. We have no knowledge of, and no responsibility for, what happens to a vehicle after our visit. If a long time passes before you buy, we recommend a re-inspection.

3. Non-invasive by nature

We inspect vehicles that do not belong to us, usually on someone else's property and without a workshop or permission to take anything apart. Our inspections are therefore non-invasive and non-destructive. We do not remove engines, gearboxes, cylinder heads, sumps, wheels, undertrays, trim, dashboards, seats or panels, drain fluids or carry out compression tests unless separately agreed. Any defect hidden behind or inside a component we do not remove is outside the inspection. That is a limit of the method, not a failure of the inspection.

4. What an inspection cannot detect

An inspection cannot reliably detect:

• internal engine, gearbox, clutch, differential or transfer case wear;
• faults that appear only under sustained load, at high speed, at full temperature or after long use;
• intermittent electrical faults that are not present on the day;
• faults temporarily masked by fresh oil, sealant, additives, a recent fluid change or a cleared fault memory;
• corrosion hidden under undertrays, trim, sealant or fresh paint, or damage hidden by filler or wrap;
• flood damage that has been professionally cleaned and dried;
• the condition of components inside a sealed high-voltage battery pack;
• the accuracy of an odometer where no supporting record exists;
• the truthfulness of anything a seller tells us;
• legal title or finance status beyond what third-party records show;
• future reliability, running costs or resale value.

The absence of a finding in a report is not a statement that the defect does not exist. It means the defect was not apparent during an inspection carried out within these limits.

5. Diagnostic scans

A diagnostic scan reports only what the vehicle's control units are able and willing to report. Fault memories can be cleared minutes before an inspection; readiness monitors can take a long drive to reset; some manufacturers restrict access to certain modules; many mechanical conditions never create a fault code; and a code identifies a circuit or symptom, not always the failed part. A clear scan is not evidence that a vehicle is fault-free. We report the result in context and say clearly when it should be treated with caution.

6. Hybrid and electric vehicles

Any battery state of health, capacity or degradation figure we report is an indicative reading from the vehicle's own data at one moment, obtained with diagnostic tools and, for some models, third-party applications. It is affected by temperature, state of charge, recent charging and the accuracy of the manufacturer's monitoring, and a reading on another day or with other equipment may differ. It is not a laboratory measurement, a capacity certificate, a warranty assessment or a prediction of remaining life or range. For safety and legal reasons we do not open or interfere with high-voltage batteries, cabling or components.

7. Vehicle history and mileage data

History information such as mileage records, previous registrations, import history, write-off or insurance markers and finance indications comes from third-party databases and official records. We report it as received and cannot verify or warrant it. Databases are not complete: an event that was never recorded, or was recorded abroad, will not appear. The absence of an adverse record is not proof that nothing happened. Any comment on whether mileage is plausible is an opinion based on wear, documents and records, not proof that an odometer has or has not been altered.

8. Imported vehicles

For vehicles from Japan, the UK or elsewhere, the availability and reliability of history data varies by country, and sometimes none exists. Auction sheets, export certificates and grading reports are third-party documents that we can describe but not authenticate. We do not advise on customs duty, VRT, NOx levies, registration, type approval or other import obligations.

9. Not a warranty

Protection against future mechanical failure comes from a warranty or insurance product, not from an inspection. A component working on the day is not a statement that it will keep working.

10. Not a roadworthiness test

An inspection is not an NCT, DOE test, MOT or any statutory test, and our report is not a certificate of compliance. We may comment on items likely to matter at a future test, but that is not a prediction of the result. Keeping a vehicle roadworthy, taxed and insured is always the owner's responsibility.

11. Not a valuation

Comments on price, market value or negotiating position are informal guidance based on our experience of the Irish market, not a professional valuation. Reports must not be used for insurance valuation, lending, tax, probate, dispute resolution or litigation. Repair cost figures are approximate indications at typical Irish rates; real costs vary by garage, parts and what is found once work begins.

12. Not legal or financial advice

Nothing in a report, a conversation, a WhatsApp message, an email or this website is legal, financial or tax advice. Questions about title, finance, contracts or your rights against a seller are legal matters for a solicitor or the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

13. The buying decision is yours

We give you evidence; you make the decision. We do not instruct or pressure you to buy or not to buy, and we do not negotiate for you unless agreed in writing. A report without significant defects is not an instruction to buy, and a report with defects is not an instruction to walk away. Where we recommend further examination by a specialist, arranging it before you commit is your responsibility.

14. Photographs and readings

Photographs are illustrative and may not show the full extent of a defect; the written finding is what counts, and the absence of a photograph of an area says nothing about it. Measurements such as paint thickness, tread depth and battery voltage are taken with calibrated equipment at specific points and are subject to normal instrument tolerance.

15. Website content

Guides, case studies, prices and social media content published by VAM Checks are general information. We keep them accurate, but they are not a substitute for an inspection of a specific vehicle. Prices and turnaround times shown are indicative; the price and scope that apply to you are those confirmed in writing at booking. Case studies describe real inspections with registrations and personal details removed. Links to third-party websites or services are for convenience, and we are not responsible for them.

16. Liability and your rights

Our liability is set out in Section 14 of our Terms & Conditions. Nothing in this Disclaimer limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything that cannot lawfully be limited, and nothing in it affects your statutory rights as a consumer under the Consumer Rights Act 2022. If you believe an inspection fell short of reasonable care and skill, please use the complaints process in our Terms. If anything here is unclear, ask us before you book at info@vamchecks.ie.