We've written plenty about what you should check before buying or renting a car. Today we're turning that lens on ourselves: what we actually do, in practice, to every car that passes through our hands before it reaches you. Not because we want to sound better than the next dealer. Because we believe that once you see the process, you'll understand for yourself why people trust us with it.

The check before a car even reaches our lot

Before we decide whether a car is worth putting in front of you, it goes through the same points we describe to you when you're shopping for a used car: inspection (ΚΤΕΟ) history, service book, VIN check, and a look from a mechanic who has nothing to gain by telling us what we want to hear. If something doesn't add up, the car doesn't move forward. This isn't a rule we apply "most of the time." It's the filter every single one goes through.

What we fix, and what we tell you we didn't

Every car that comes to us gets the maintenance it needs: oil, filters, brakes, tyres where needed. That part is the obvious one. What sets us apart is what we do with the things we don't fix. A small mark on a wing, a scuff on the dashboard, something that doesn't affect safety but is still there: we tell you. We don't hide it behind a good photo, and we don't wait for you to discover it on the test drive. We'd rather you know before you decide than feel like something was kept from you after you've already committed.

Cleaning and preparation: substance behind the look

A clean car photographs better, that's true. But the reason we spend time on this step isn't the picture. It's that a car that's been looked after on the outside usually tells you something about how it's been looked after on the inside too. Interior cleaning, checking that the air conditioning actually works, the general "readiness" of the car: it's all part of the same logic. We don't prepare a car so it looks good in a photo. We prepare it so it's ready to serve you from day one.

Why we run the same process for sales and rentals

Plenty of people assume a rental car goes through a lighter check, since "you're not buying it, you're just using it for a few days." We see it the other way around. If something goes wrong with a car you're renting for your trip or for work, the problem is just as real, it just lands at a more inconvenient moment. That's why every car, whether it's headed for sale or for rental, goes through the same inspection and the same preparation. Not because a rule says so. Because we don't want to find ourselves thinking "well, it's just a rental, it'll do the job."

What this means for you at the test drive or pickup

It means that when you sit behind the wheel, the car doesn't have surprises waiting for you. Whatever needed fixing has been fixed. Whatever isn't perfect but doesn't affect anything important, you already know about before you even open the door. And if you'd like to bring your own mechanic for a second opinion, we have no problem with that, quite the opposite, we encourage it. If you've read our guide on what to check before buying a used car, you'll recognise most of the points we've described here. That's not a coincidence. It's the same checklist, from both sides of the table.

If you're shopping to buy, take a look at our available cars. If you need something to rent, especially if you're planning something for summer, see our guide to renting a car in Arcadia in summer. And if you're not sure which one fits you, read when it makes more sense to buy and when it makes more sense to rent. Or, more simply, talk to us and get a straight answer with no strings attached.

Frequently asked questions

Do you check every car the same way, whether it's for sale or for rent?

Yes. Every car goes through the same history check, the same maintenance, and the same preparation, regardless of whether it's headed for sale or for rental.

What happens if you find a problem with a car?

If it affects safety or function, we fix it before moving forward. If it's a minor, harmless flaw that doesn't change anything important, we tell you about it openly before you decide, instead of waiting for you to find it yourself.

Can I bring my own mechanic to check the car before I decide?

Yes, and we encourage it. Anyone confident in their own process has no reason to discourage an independent second opinion.

How long does it take to prepare a car before it's ready?

It depends on what each individual car needs. We don't put a time limit on the process, we put a limit on what we consider acceptable for it to reach you.