How to Read an Expertise Report? Red Flags and Overlooked Details

Internal Combustion Ownership
Author: Deniz Erkan
Creation: 13 October 2026

Repair marks on the chassis and structural areas are a real red flag; a single painted panel, on the other hand, is a matter for the negotiation table.

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An inspection report is an evaluation document that objectively reveals the technical condition of a used vehicle at the time of sale; it should be thought of as a photograph of the vehicle on that day. Reading the report means being able to distinguish which line is bargaining power and which line is a purchase decision. While red flags are work marks on the chassis and structural regions, a single painted panel or engine performance above 85 percent is often an acceptable finding. On this page, we examine measurement values, color codes, and the most commonly overlooked items with their numerical data.

Highlights

Factory paint thickness 90-140 microns range; 250 microns and above means the panel has been painted.
In engine performance, 85% and above values are generally considered normal.
In vehicles with work done on the chassis, pillars, roof, or side skirts, the purchase decision point comes into play.
If the report is older than 1 month, it may have lost its validity; it should be compared with the traffic insurance claim record.
In 2026, bodywork-paint inspection costs approximately 4,000-5,500 TL, while packages including engine-mechanics are above 5,500 TL.

How Does the Inspection Process Work Step by Step?

An inspection report is not a single measurement, but the sum of several test series matched with one another. To read the process correctly, one must first know what each step measures; because the weight of each line in the report comes from the nature of the test it belongs to.

Paint-coating measurement: what do micron values say?

Paint thickness is measured in microns and constitutes the most numerical section of the report. 90-140 microns range is considered factory original. The 140-250 micron band indicates the possibility of local painting or spot repair. 250 microns and above values indicate that the panel has been painted and, in some cases, that there is filler or putty underneath.

A single panel reading high is usually attributed to minor incidents such as parking scratches. Multiple adjacent panels reading high point to the possibility of a more serious impact; the logic here is simple: a wide crash mark does not leave just one panel painted, it also affects the neighbors.

If the vehicle has PPF (paint protection film), the picture changes. A vehicle with PPF is not painted, but the measurement device detects the film along with the paint, so the micron value rises. In a professional inspection, PPF can be detected and documented when necessary; asking the seller to disclose this situation is a reasonable request. The claim that ceramic coating hides paint defects, however, is an unverified subject debated in the market.

Chassis inspection, OBD scan, and performance test

The chassis inspection is done with special devices and observations: evenness, cracks, and paint marks are checked. The OBD scan reads fault codes from dozens of units such as engine management, ABS, ESP, and airbag. The performance test (dyno) measures engine power, wheel power, torque, and transmission ranges; the powertrain is also evaluated in the process.

Brake test imbalance is reported as a percentage; a front-rear axle difference may indicate a disc or caliper problem. In the suspension test, left-right deviation is evaluated. In the final step, damage record matching is performed: the replaced and painted parts in the report are compared for consistency with insurance claim records.

Many reports use color coding: green means good, yellow means moderate, and red means problematic. But these colors alone are not enough to make a decision; the distinction in the next section is critical.

Which Finding Is a Red Flag, and Which Is a Bargaining Chip?

Şasi işlemi ve silinen hata kodları alarmdır; tek panel boya ise yalnızca pazarlıkta fiyat indirtme kozudur.

Dividing the report lines into two is the essence of the matter. Some findings tell you to walk away from the vehicle, while others are expense items that should be reflected in the price. To clarify this distinction, we can compile the most common findings in a single table.

Finding	Nature	Meaning
Chassis/platform work, weld marks	Red flag	History of a serious accident; the most critical finding in terms of safety and value
Roof replacement, airbag problem	Red flag	The safety system has been tampered with or severely damaged
Erased but recurring error codes	Suspected red flag	May be a sign of a concealed active problem
Single panel paint	Bargaining chip	A minor incident such as a parking scratch; does not by itself mean a bad car
Fender/bumper replacement	Bargaining chip	A detachable part; does not always indicate a serious accident
Engine performance above 85%	Normal	Evaluated according to age, mileage, and usage history
Minor oil leak	Bargaining chip	May not be a problem in the short term but can turn into a major expense

The difference between the structural zone and detachable parts is also decisive in determining value. If the chassis, pillars, roof, or side skirts have been worked on, there is a history of a serious accident and a significant drop in value. The replacement of detachable parts such as fenders, hood, doors, or trunk lid keeps the impact limited. The answer to the question of whether to buy a painted car is not a single word: the reason for the paint and the overall condition of the vehicle are decisive.

When reading the dyno graph, do not look only at the percentage. Sudden drops and irregular curves in the graph may indicate a problem originating from the engine, turbo, fuel system, or transmission. Similarly, low brake or suspension values do not always mean "do not buy"; they indicate that it will incur costs in the near future and provide a concrete basis for bargaining. With a minor oil leak, the right question to ask is not "does it work?" but "what could it turn into later?"

The Most Commonly Overlooked Report Items

The conditions surrounding the report are as important as the report itself. The most frequently skipped items are usually not written on the page; they relate to the organization of the purchasing process.

Date of the report: Reports older than a month may have lost their validity. The vehicle may have had an accident during this time.
Insurance claim-report consistency: Tramer only shows accidents that were reported to insurance companies. There may be repairs that were never reported to insurance; "no record" does not always mean "no damage." A physical inspection is decisive.
Comprehensive package selection: For a new, low-mileage vehicle, a standard package may suffice; for an older, high-mileage, or commercially used vehicle, a comprehensive package including airbag and gasket testing is recommended.
Items that cannot be tested: In cases such as excessive oil leakage or heavy damage, some tests cannot be performed for safety reasons and remain missing from the report. Ask why the line is missing.
The process as a whole: An inspection report alone is not enough; maintenance history, service records, a test drive, and a debt inquiry should also be included in the process.

When evaluating damage records, no decision is made on the basis of a single record; the nature of the damage, repair history, inspection findings, current condition, and sale price are considered together. When in doubt, the most practical solution is to request a second independent inspection.

Inspection Company or Independent Expert?

An insurance expert is a neutral and independent professional registered with the Registry of Insurance Experts. There are also platforms across Türkiye that provide independent vehicle inspection services "in the field on your behalf"; this model, which acts on the buyer's behalf, differs from an inspection arranged by the seller. Whether the inspection fee should be paid by the buyer or the seller is a debated topic in the industry; therefore, do not hesitate to ask whether who pays may affect the report's impartiality.

The clearest question to ask when choosing a company is this: does it stand behind its report? A service referred to as a so-called expert that produces reports with a superficial check sets your purchasing decision on a false foundation. The legal dimension should also be kept in mind: a superficial report can lead to an undervalued depreciation claim; since faults known to the buyer may fall outside warranty coverage, having the fault date and mileage recorded in the report matters. In sales transactions, a TSE-certified inspection report counts among the documents; inspection is mandatory for vehicles under 8 years of age and under 160,000 km.

What Does an Inspection Report Not Guarantee?

A report is a snapshot and has this limitation. If the vehicle has an accident after the inspection, the report's validity is greatly affected. A report stating "no damage record" does not guarantee that the vehicle was completely damage-free in the past; it only guarantees that there is no record reported to insurance.

Insurance companies submit inspection reports to the Insurance Information Center (SBM); damage information is recorded there. This shows that access to information has become easier, but it does not change the fact that a report is no substitute for a physical inspection. Let us add a practical cost figure for 2026: a bodywork and paint check alone is approximately 4,000-5,500 TL, mid-level packages including engine and mechanical checks are above 5,500 TL; the 2026 notary vehicle sale transaction fee is approximately 1,869 TL.

Reading the Report as a Whole: The Biggest Mistake Made

The most common mistake buyers make is reducing the report to a single line just to get "accident-free" status. What really matters are the chassis, mechanical components, and safety systems; a painted bumper is insignificant next to a reworked side skirt. The second common mistake is focusing excessively on low mileage and relying on the trust of "a friend"; both of these prevent you from reading the rest of the report.

The correct approach is to calculate the combined impact of the findings. A vehicle with a clean chassis, engine performance above 85%, borderline brake imbalance, and two painted panels is, on paper, a safer purchase than a vehicle with chassis work but all original panels. In the report, look not at a single line, but at what the lines tell each other; if necessary, request a second independent inspection. Buying a vehicle without an expert inspection, on the other hand, is a no-advice zone so obvious it is not even worth discussing in this list.