Terms & Conditions of Service

Last updated 19 October 2026

1. Who we are

1.1 These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern the supply of vehicle inspection services by V.A.M. Checks Limited, trading as VAM Checks, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Ireland under company number 794566 ("VAM Checks", "we", "us", "our").

1.2 You can contact us by email at info@vamchecks.ie, by telephone or WhatsApp on +353 85 887 4159, or through vamchecks.ie.

2. Definitions

In these Terms: Client or you means the person or business who books the Services. Inspection means the pre-purchase vehicle inspection described in Section 6. Report means the written inspection report, normally a PDF, with any photographs, videos or diagnostic data. Services means the Inspection, the Report and any additional service you book. Vehicle means the vehicle identified in your booking. Seller means the private seller, dealer, auction, importer or other party offering the Vehicle. Inspection Location means the place where the Vehicle is presented. Consumer means an individual acting wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession, as defined in the Consumer Rights Act 2022. Working Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in Ireland.

3. Application of these Terms

3.1 These Terms apply to every booking and form a legally binding contract between you and VAM Checks. They are read together with our Inspection Disclaimer, our Bookings & Refunds policy and our Privacy Policy, each of which forms part of these Terms.

3.2 By confirming a booking, paying a deposit or otherwise instructing us to carry out an Inspection, you confirm that you have read and accepted these Terms.

3.3 These Terms are the entire agreement between us about the Services. No other terms apply unless we agree to them in writing.

3.4 Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts any right you have that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted. See Section 15.

4. Booking and formation of the contract

4.1 You can book through our website, by email, by telephone or on WhatsApp. A booking is a request until we accept it.

4.2 A contract is formed when we confirm your booking in writing (by email or WhatsApp) with a date, an approximate time and an Inspection Location, and we have received the deposit described in Section 10.

4.3 We may decline any booking, including where the Vehicle, the location or the circumstances fall outside the scope of our service, our insurance or our availability. If we decline, any payment already made is refunded in full.

4.4 Appointment times are indicative. Traffic, weather, earlier inspections and the Seller's availability can affect timing. We keep you informed of any material delay.

4.5 You must give us complete and accurate information when booking, including the make, model, year, registration, approximate mileage, fuel or drivetrain type, the Inspection Location and the Seller's contact details. If the Vehicle materially differs from the one described (for example, an electric or hybrid vehicle booked as petrol), the price may change and we will tell you before proceeding.

5. The Services we provide

5.1 We provide independent mobile pre-purchase vehicle inspections at the location of the Vehicle, in Dublin and throughout the Republic of Ireland.

5.2 A standard Inspection comprises a structured examination of more than 130 check points; an electronic diagnostic scan with professional OBD equipment where the Vehicle's systems allow; a photographic record of the Vehicle and of any defects; a written Report, normally delivered as a PDF within 24 hours of completion; and, if you ask, a follow-up conversation about the findings.

5.3 The exact check points and any additional services depend on the vehicle category and the package confirmed at booking.

5.4 Delivery times for the Report are targets, not guarantees. If a Report is delayed, for example because diagnostic data needs further analysis, we tell you and give you a revised time.

6. Scope of the Inspection

6.1 The Inspection is a visual, functional and electronic examination carried out without dismantling the Vehicle. Depending on the package and on what is safely and lawfully accessible on the day, it may include:

• bodywork, panels, panel gaps and paintwork, including paint thickness readings;
• evidence of previous accident damage, repair or repainting;
• chassis, underbody and visible structural components, inspected from ground level;
• glass, lights, mirrors, wipers and external trim;
• tyres, including tread depth, age, brand matching and visible condition;
• wheels and visible brake and suspension components;
• engine bay condition, visible fluid levels, leaks and corrosion;
• battery condition and charging system indications;
• interior condition, seats, trim, seatbelts and wear consistent or inconsistent with the stated mileage;
• electrical equipment, infotainment, air conditioning and driver controls that can be tested statically;
• an electronic diagnostic scan for stored and pending fault codes, where the Vehicle allows;
• an indicative high-voltage battery state of health for hybrid and electric vehicles, where the Vehicle allows;
• documentation presented on the day, including service records, keys and identification numbers;
• a short road test, where agreed, permitted by the Seller and legally and safely possible.

6.2 The Inspection is carried out with reasonable care and skill by a competent inspector, using the equipment and time reasonably available at the Inspection Location.

6.3 The Inspection reflects the condition of the Vehicle as presented, at the Inspection Location, on the date of the Inspection, and at that time only.

7. Limits of the Inspection: what is not included

7.1 No dismantling or invasive work. We do not remove engines, gearboxes, wheels, undertrays, interior trim, dashboards, body panels or any other component, and we do not lift the Vehicle on a ramp unless one is available and its use has been agreed. Anything concealed by a component we do not remove is outside the Inspection.

7.2 No prediction of future faults. The Inspection identifies conditions observable on the day. It cannot predict when a component will fail, and no inspection can rule out a sudden or latent failure afterwards.

7.3 Intermittent and hidden faults. Faults that are intermittent, that appear only at temperatures, loads, speeds or durations not reached during the Inspection, or that have been temporarily masked, cleared or concealed, may not be detected.

7.4 Diagnostic scans. An OBD scan reports what the Vehicle's control units are able and willing to report. Fault memories can be cleared shortly before an inspection, some manufacturers restrict access, and some faults never store a code. A clear scan is not evidence that a Vehicle is fault-free.

7.5 Hybrid and electric vehicles. Any battery state of health figure is an indicative reading from the Vehicle's own data at one moment. It is affected by temperature, state of charge, recent use and the accuracy of the Vehicle's monitoring. It is not a laboratory measurement, a capacity certificate or a prediction of remaining battery life. We do not open or interfere with high-voltage battery packs.

7.6 History, mileage and provenance data. Information about history, mileage records, registration, finance, write-off markers or import history comes from third-party databases and public records. We report it as received and do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. The absence of an adverse record is not proof that no adverse event occurred.

7.7 Not a roadworthiness test. The Inspection is not an NCT, DOE, MOT or any statutory test, and the Report is not a certificate of roadworthiness.

7.8 Not a valuation. Any comment on price or market value is an informal opinion. We are not registered valuers and the Report is not a valuation for insurance, finance, tax, probate or litigation.

7.9 Not an expert witness report. The Report is for your private use in deciding whether to buy the Vehicle. It may not be used as an expert report in legal or insurance proceedings unless we agree separately in writing.

7.10 Not legal, financial or mechanical advice. Nothing in the Report or in any conversation with us is legal or financial advice or an instruction to buy or not to buy.

7.11 Areas we cannot reach. Where part of the Vehicle cannot be examined because of weather, light, space, dirt, snow, water, ride height, accessories, location or the Seller's refusal, the Report records it as not inspected, and it is excluded from the Services.

7.12 Presentation of the Vehicle. A heavily soiled, wet or freshly washed Vehicle can hide paint defects, corrosion, leaks and repairs. Where this materially limits the Inspection, the Report says so.

7.13 Road testing. A road test happens only where agreed, permitted by the Seller, insured, taxed and safe and lawful. Without it, dynamic faults such as gearbox behaviour under load, clutch wear or drivetrain noise cannot be assessed.

7.14 Modifications. We do not assess the quality, insurability, type approval or legality of aftermarket modifications, conversions, tuning, wraps or retrofitted equipment.

8. Your obligations

8.1 Before the appointment you must make sure that the Seller has agreed to the Inspection and knows the date and time; the Vehicle is available in a safe, level, well-lit place with room to open the doors and bonnet and walk around it; the keys, documents and service history are available; the Vehicle has not been driven just before, where a cold start has been requested; and we have accurate contact details for the Seller.

8.2 You confirm that you have the Seller's permission for us to attend and inspect the Vehicle, and we are entitled to rely on that.

8.3 You must not ask us to do anything unlawful or unsafe, or anything that could damage the Vehicle or anyone's property.

8.4 If you book on behalf of someone else, you confirm you are authorised to do so and accept these Terms for them as well as for yourself.

9. Access, site conditions and aborted inspections

9.1 Our inspector may suspend, limit or stop an Inspection where, acting reasonably, they consider that continuing would be unsafe or unlawful or would risk damage, including where anyone present is hostile or abusive, or where traffic, weather, light or space make it unsafe.

9.2 An Inspection is aborted where we attend and it cannot go ahead for reasons outside our control, including where the Vehicle is not there, not accessible or already sold; the Seller does not attend, cannot be reached or refuses access; the Seller refuses a diagnostic scan, opening the bonnet or another material part of the Inspection; the Vehicle cannot be started; or the location is materially different from the one given.

9.3 An aborted Inspection counts as a used appointment and our attendance charge applies, as set out in Bookings & Refunds.

9.4 Where only part of the Inspection is possible, we complete what can safely and lawfully be completed, record in the Report what could not be examined and discuss a return visit with you. Return visits are chargeable.

9.5 We are not responsible for any pre-existing defect or condition of the Vehicle, or for damage caused by the Vehicle's own condition during normal careful handling. We remain responsible for damage caused by our own negligence, in line with Section 14.

10. Fees, deposit and payment

10.1 Our fees depend on the vehicle category, the package and the location, and currently range from €249 to €494. The fee for your booking is the one confirmed to you in writing.

10.2 Prices are in euro and include VAT where VAT applies.

10.3 A deposit of 50% of the agreed fee confirms your appointment. The appointment is held only once the deposit is received.

10.4 The balance is due when the Inspection is completed and in any case before the Report is released, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

10.5 We may hold the Report until payment is received in full.

10.6 For business clients only, we may charge interest and reasonable recovery costs on late payments under the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012.

10.7 Travel is charged on every inspection according to where the vehicle is, and is confirmed before booking. Extra charges may also apply, always notified in advance, for return visits, expedited reports and vehicles that differ materially from the booking.

11. Cancellation, rescheduling and refunds

11.1 Cancellations, rescheduling and refunds are governed by our Bookings & Refunds policy, which forms part of these Terms.

11.2 If you are a Consumer and booked at a distance (online, by phone or on WhatsApp) or away from our business premises, you have a statutory right to cancel within the applicable cooling-off period. That right, and when it is lost, is explained in the Bookings & Refunds policy.

11.3 An appointment reserves a fixed slot and often significant travel, so late cancellations cause loss we cannot recover. The charges in our Bookings & Refunds policy are a genuine pre-estimate of that loss and not a penalty.

12. The Report

12.1 The Report records the findings, the areas examined, the areas that could not be examined and our inspector's professional opinion, formed in good faith on the day.

12.2 The Report is prepared only for you, to help you decide about the Vehicle, and relates only to the Vehicle and date it names.

12.3 You may share the Report with the Seller, a mechanic or anyone helping you with the purchase. You may not publish it, sell it, use it commercially, alter it or quote it selectively in a way that misrepresents our findings.

12.4 We owe no duty to anyone other than you. See Section 21.

12.5 If you believe the Report contains a factual error, tell us within 14 days of receiving it. We will review it and correct and reissue it at no charge where needed.

12.6 We keep a copy of each Report and its supporting material as described in our Privacy Policy.

13. No warranty and no guarantee

13.1 We do not guarantee that the Vehicle is free from defects, that no defect will appear after the Inspection or that it will stay in the condition observed.

13.2 We give no assurance about the honesty, conduct or statements of the Seller or any third party.

13.3 The decision to buy the Vehicle, at any price, is yours. We do not advise you to buy or not to buy and are not responsible for that decision or its financial consequences.

13.4 Where we recommend further examination, for example by a specialist, it is your responsibility to act on it. We are not responsible for loss arising from a recommendation that was not followed.

13.5 Nothing in this Section limits our obligation to provide the Services with reasonable care and skill.

14. Limitation of liability

14.1 Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence; fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or any liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded, including under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 where you are a Consumer.

14.2 Subject to 14.1, our total liability to you arising out of or in connection with the Services, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise, is limited to the fee paid for the Inspection concerned.

14.3 Subject to 14.1, we are not liable for the purchase price of the Vehicle; the cost of repairing any defect, whether or not identified in the Report; any fall in the Vehicle's value; loss of profit, business, opportunity, savings or use, or wasted expenditure; any indirect or consequential loss; or loss caused by the act, omission, dishonesty or insolvency of the Seller or any third party.

14.4 Subject to 14.1, we are not liable for any defect or condition excluded under Section 7 or recorded in the Report as not inspected or not accessible.

14.5 Business clients must notify any claim in writing, with reasonable details, within six months of the Inspection. This does not apply to Consumers and does not shorten any statutory limitation period.

14.6 We hold professional and public liability insurance appropriate to the Services. Details are available on request.

14.7 These limits reflect the fee charged and the fact that the purchase you are considering is worth many times that fee. You are free to obtain other assurance, such as a mechanical warranty or independent legal advice.

15. Your statutory rights

15.1 If you are a Consumer, you have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 and other Irish and EU law, including that services must be supplied with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time and, where no price is agreed, for a reasonable price.

15.2 Nothing in these Terms affects those rights. Any clause that would be unfair or unenforceable against a Consumer does not apply to that Consumer.

15.3 Advice on consumer rights is available from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission at ccpc.ie and the European Consumer Centre Ireland at eccireland.ie.

16. Independence and impartiality

16.1 We are independent. We are not a dealer, broker, garage, finance provider or sales agent, and we do not sell vehicles.

16.2 We accept no commission, referral fee or other benefit from any Seller, dealer, garage or repairer in connection with an Inspection.

16.3 We report what we find. We will not change, soften or omit a finding at a Seller's request, and we change a finding at your request only to correct a factual error.

16.4 If we become aware of a conflict of interest, we tell you and, where appropriate, decline the booking and refund any payment.

17. Intellectual property

17.1 We own the copyright and other intellectual property in the Report, our methodology, checklists, templates and website content.

17.2 Once paid in full, you receive a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Report as described in Section 12.

17.3 Photographs and diagnostic data captured during an Inspection remain ours. We may use anonymised material for training, quality assurance and educational or marketing content, as described in our Privacy Policy. Registration numbers, VINs, personal details and anything that could identify you, the Seller or the specific vehicle are removed or obscured, and identifiable material is never used for marketing without consent.

18. Data protection

18.1 We process personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018, as explained in our Privacy Policy.

18.2 If you give us the Seller's contact details, you confirm you are entitled to do so and should tell the Seller we will contact them to arrange the Inspection.

19. Complaints

19.1 If you are unhappy with any part of the Services, email info@vamchecks.ie with the subject "Complaint", your booking details, the vehicle registration and a description of the issue.

19.2 We acknowledge complaints within 10 Working Days and give a full response within 30 Working Days. If a technical review or re-inspection is needed, we agree a revised timescale with you.

19.3 Where a complaint is upheld, remedies may include re-performing the Inspection, correcting and reissuing the Report, a partial or full refund, or compensation within the limits in Section 14.

19.4 If we cannot resolve your complaint, you can contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission or, for a cross-border dispute, the European Consumer Centre Ireland. The European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform closed on 20 July 2025. Nothing in this Section prevents you from taking legal proceedings.

20. Events outside our control

20.1 We are not liable for delay or failure caused by events outside our reasonable control, including severe weather, flooding, snow or ice, road closures, traffic incidents, vehicle breakdown, illness or injury, industrial action, failure of utilities or networks, epidemic, government action, fire or civil disturbance.

20.2 If this happens we contact you as soon as possible and offer the earliest alternative appointment. If the delay is substantial, you may cancel and receive a full refund of any amount paid for that Inspection.

21. No third-party reliance

21.1 The Report is addressed to you alone. We accept no duty of care or liability to anyone other than the Client named in the booking.

21.2 No third party, including any later buyer of the Vehicle, Seller, lender, insurer or anyone you show the Report to, may rely on it or bring a claim about it.

21.3 A person who is not a party to this contract has no right to enforce its terms.

22. Changes to these Terms

22.1 We may update these Terms to reflect changes in our services, processes or the law. The version that applies to your booking is the one published on the date your booking was confirmed. The current version date is at the top of this page.

23. General

23.1 Severability. If any provision is found unlawful or unenforceable, it is removed and the rest continue in force.

23.2 Waiver. A delay or failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of it.

23.3 Assignment. You may not transfer your rights without our written consent. We may assign or subcontract our obligations provided this does not reduce the standard of the Services or your rights.

23.4 Notices. Notices to us go to info@vamchecks.ie. Notices to you go to the email or mobile number given at booking.

23.5 Records. We keep written messages and may record calls for quality and record-keeping, as described in our Privacy Policy.

24. Governing law and jurisdiction

24.1 These Terms and any dispute arising from them or the Services are governed by the laws of Ireland.

24.2 The courts of Ireland have exclusive jurisdiction. If you are a Consumer living in another EU Member State, you keep the protection of the mandatory laws of that State and may bring proceedings there.