“Many Filipinos are in the market for used cars as an alternative to public transport or as an additional option for personal mobility,” Vince Socco, Chairman of PWSPI and GT Capital Auto & Mobility (GT CAM), said. “By providing top-quality inspection and warranty services, PWSPI is able to bring a new level of transparency to the second-hand car market and help provide buyers with added peace of mind in both the buying and ownership experience,” he added.

PWSPI is set to elevate the used car buying experience by offering a 188-point vehicle inspection. Inspection includes an array of tools and equipment and even a 360-degree inspection of the exterior, interior, engine, and undercarriage.

Aside from looking for dents and scratches, paint thickness is also measured to detect any potential repainting resulting from an accident. The cross-member, pillars and welding spots are checked for integrity. The car’s OBD is electronically scanned for fault codes to uncover hidden issues. Suspension is also checked to determine if shock absorbers, ball joints and other related parts are in good condition.

After the thorough inspection, they will certify a vehicle’s condition and will carry an “Inspected” badge with a link to the vehicle’s inspection certificate. In addition to the inspection certification, PWSPI will also provide photos of the vehicle, highlighting the significant findings on the condition of the car.

Plans with online classifieds portal, Carousell are being ironed out, but plans are in place to have all used vehicles sold on the platform be inspected and certified.

Aside from Carousell, PWSPI is partnering with financial institutions and second-hand car dealers to give would-be owners a sense of transparency on the cars they’re considering to acquire.

“We want to make PWSPI inspection and warranty services easy to find and avail. Partnering with used car dealers and online auto portals in offering these services is the natural place to start,” Socco says. “They know their customers and the market best and our role is to help them provide better value and a better purchasing experience,” Socco added.

With PWSPI, pre-owned car dealers will be able to offer warranties on vehicles aged 10 years below or with mileage of 150,000 kilometers or less for as little as P 5,100 (for Engine & Transmission coverage) or up to P 13,300 for a two-year Comprehensive Warranty similar to a brand-new vehicle.

Warranties are offered for used cars that are certified as eligible by PWSPI Vehicle Surveyors. It is available for major Japanese, American, and Korean car brands except for grey market parallel imports, modified, or commercial vehicles.