Vehicle & Motorcycle Inspections

VEHICLE & MOTORCYCLE INSPECTIONS IN LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO

Know Exactly What You’re Driving—Or Buying

An inspection is the cheapest information you will ever buy about a vehicle. Whether you’re about to hand over money for a used car, planning a long trip, or simply want a professional opinion on where your vehicle actually stands, a thorough inspection turns guesswork into facts. At Advance Transmissions & Complete Auto Care, our certified technicians inspect cars, trucks, and motorcycles—and we give you the findings straight, in writing, whether or not there’s work in it for us. We serve drivers and riders in Lake St. Louis, O’Fallon, Wentzville, St. Peters, St. Charles, and the surrounding communities.

Pre-Purchase Inspections: Before You Buy That Used Vehicle

This is the single best money you can spend when buying used. A private seller’s “runs great” and a dealer’s “fully inspected” are not the same as an independent professional putting the vehicle on a lift. We check the things that separate a good buy from an expensive mistake—frame and structural condition, evidence of prior collision repair, fluid leaks, brake and tire life, suspension wear, and the health of the engine and transmission. You get an honest report you can use to walk away, or to negotiate with confidence.

Motorcycle Inspections—Yes, We Work On Bikes

Most general repair shops won’t touch a motorcycle. We will. Whether you’re buying a used bike, bringing one out of winter storage, or getting ready for a long ride, we inspect the systems that matter most on two wheels: brakes and brake lines, tires and tread condition, chain or belt drive, lighting and electrical, fluid levels and leaks, controls, and overall safety condition.

Professional Tire Inspection Tools Flat Lay

What Our Vehicle Inspection Covers

Brakes—pad and rotor condition, lines, and fluid
Tires—tread depth, wear pattern, age, and pressure
Steering and suspension components
Fluid levels and condition, plus a check for active leaks
Battery, charging system, and lighting
Belts, hoses, and visible engine condition
Exhaust system condition
A scan for stored trouble codes
A written summary of findings, prioritized by what actually needs attention

That last point matters. A useful inspection doesn’t just hand you a list—it tells you what needs doing now, what to plan for, and what can safely wait.

Is This The Same As A Missouri State Inspection?

No—and it’s important that you know the difference. An official Missouri motor vehicle safety inspection is a state-regulated process that can only be performed by a licensed inspection station authorized by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which administers the program statewide. The inspections described on this page are thorough professional evaluations of your vehicle’s condition—they are not official state safety inspections and do not produce a state inspection certificate.

Missouri State Inspections are coming soon to Advance Transmissions & Complete Auto Care. Call us at 636-978-7730 for the latest on availability—we’ll tell you honestly where things stand and, in the meantime, point you toward a licensed station if that’s what you need today.

Looking for the free courtesy check that comes with your service instead? That’s our multi-point inspection. And if an inspection turns up something that needs attention, we handle brake repair, engine diagnostics, and ongoing preventive maintenance in the same shop.

BUYING USED?

CHECK IT FIRST.

A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION COSTS FAR LESS THAN THE PROBLEM IT FINDS.

Are you having auto problems?

Call us at 636-978-7730

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Frequently Asked Questions About Inspections

Is this the same as an official Missouri State Inspection?

No. Official Missouri motor vehicle safety inspections can only be performed by licensed stations authorized by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and they produce a state inspection certificate. What we offer is a thorough professional evaluation of your vehicle’s condition. Official Missouri State Inspections are coming soon—call us at 636-978-7730 for the current status.

What is a pre-purchase inspection, and is it worth it?

It’s an independent evaluation of a used vehicle before you buy it, covering structural condition, evidence of prior collision repair, leaks, brakes, tires, suspension, and engine and transmission health. It’s among the best-value services in the industry—it either gives you confidence to buy or saves you from a very expensive mistake.

Do you really inspect motorcycles?

We do, and most general repair shops don’t. We check brakes and lines, tires and tread, chain or belt drive, lighting and electrical, fluids and leaks, and overall safety condition—useful before you buy a used bike or bring one out of winter storage.

How is this different from your multi-point inspection?

Our multi-point inspection is the complimentary courtesy check we perform alongside services like an oil change. The inspections on this page are standalone, more thorough evaluations you schedule on purpose—most often before buying a vehicle or before a long trip.

How long does an inspection take?

Most inspections take about an hour, depending on the vehicle and how deep you want us to go. You’ll receive a written summary of what we found, prioritized by urgency. Book your inspection here.

Vehicle and motorcycle inspections at Advance Transmissions and Complete Auto Care in Lake St. Louis

Trusted By Drivers Across St. Charles County

Don’t just take our word for it—here’s what our neighbors say about the shop that tells them the truth about their vehicles.

    
 
 
         
   Gregory Underwood 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I came from NY to pick up a truck I purchased from a private seller. The transmission blew 30 miles into our trip home. I googled some transmission shops around the area and found advanced transmissions. It was almost closing time for them, but one of the guys said he would stick around until the tow truck could delivery the truck. When I arrived he went over all of the options and advised me on the best way to proceed. I then went back to NY and waited for the truck to get fixed. They kept me updated with the progress and when it was finished we worked out a plan to pick it up on a Saturday. The truck drove home perfectly 750 miles. They also check all my fluids and looked it over for my trip. I'm very grateful I came across this shop in such a time of debacle. Thanks so much!
  
 
        
   Brian Lewis 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently took my SUV to Advance Transmissions based on a diagnostics from Firestone that lead me to believe a catastrophic issue with my transmission. The transmission was a rebuild and was only a few years old, so still under warranty. After calling around to a few shops, some would honor the warranty while some would not, I ended up taking it to Advance Transmissions based on the fact that they would service it under warranty and were the most responsive. I'm really glad I did. I can't say things would have been worse at other shops, but I could totally see being taken advantage of elsewhere. The issue stemmed from a single missing o-ring. They had it assessed, replaced, tested, and ready in a day or two. And since it was such a simple fix, they made it free of charge. It was originally looking like it would be a lot of labor expense even if the part was under warranty. But instead, they were honest, courteous, and respected me as a customer. I'll definitely be taking any future business here.
  
 
        
   1000bfoehl 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. One of the most honest auto repair shops I’ve ever seen. I worked with John. I told him my problem and over the phone. He helped me get my transmission working again saving me thousands of dollars I would highly recommend this transmission shop and the staff.
  
 
        
   James Wigger 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent job on rebuilding my transmission along with great service. I fully recommend this place! Five ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out 5!!!!!
  
 
        
   Mitch # 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. These guys are very nice and knowledgeable. Location can be a bit hard to find, but it's worth it.