Who it's for
When to use this service
Claims involving structural or hidden damage
Disputed or high-value vehicles
Cases where photos are not enough
Vehicles held at bodyshops or holding yards
What's included
Every physical inspection covers
- On-site inspection nationwide
- Scheduled within 48 hours
- Structural and hidden-damage assessment
- Full photographic evidence log
- Written report structured for claims
How it works
Three steps, no chasing
- 01Instruct the inspectionSend the file and vehicle location.
- 02We attend on-siteInspection scheduled within 48 hours, nationwide.
- 03Report deliveredFull written report with photographic evidence.
What a physical inspection involves
A physical inspection means attending the vehicle. We travel to the bodyshop, holding yard or compound where it is being held and examine it in person, rather than forming a view from a set of photographs taken by someone else. That difference matters most when the question is not what the damage looks like, but what is behind it.
On site the vehicle is examined properly. We look past the visible impact for structural involvement, checking for distortion to the chassis or monocoque, damage to inner panels and reinforcement behind the outer skin, and displacement to suspension, steering or mechanical components that a photograph will never show. Panels and trim are looked behind where access allows, and the vehicle is lifted or probed where that is needed to reach a safe conclusion. A bumper cover with a light scuff can sit in front of a deformed crash bar and cracked mountings, and the only way to know is to look.
The repairer's estimate is then validated against what is physically present, line by line, against Audatex data for that specific vehicle. Throughout the inspection we build a full photographic evidence log, recording the damage, the areas examined and anything relied on in reaching the conclusion. The report that follows carries weight because it is based on first-hand examination rather than interpretation of someone else's images, which is what makes it hold up when it is challenged.
When a physical inspection is the right choice
A physical inspection costs more and takes a little longer than a desktop assessment, so it is worth instructing where it genuinely adds something. This is a straightforward guide to which route suits which file.
A physical inspection suits
- Structural or hidden damage is suspected behind the visible impact
- The vehicle is high value, modified, or the claim is already disputed
- A total loss position is contested and needs to be evidenced
- Photographs are incomplete, unclear or challenged by another party
- Older vehicles where pre-existing damage is in question
A desktop assessment is enough when
- Damage is clearly visible and fully photographed
- Severity is low to mid range with no suspicion of structural involvement
- The claim is speed critical and a same-week decision is needed
Systems and standards
An inspection is only as useful as the record it produces and the person who signs it.
Photographic evidence log
Every inspection produces a full photographic record of the damage, the areas examined and the findings relied on, so the conclusion can be traced back to what was seen.
Audatex estimating
The repairer's estimate is validated against Audatex data for the specific vehicle, covering part prices, labour times and repair methods.
Qualified and accredited
Every report is signed by an IAEA member and IMI Certificated Automotive Engineer, with over 20 years of assessment experience across Ireland, the UK and Australia.
Built for the claims file
Reports are structured to sit on a claims file and to stand up to scrutiny from engineers, solicitors and courts, with the reasoning and evidence set out rather than assumed.
Coverage and scheduling
Inspections are scheduled within 48 hours and every instruction is acknowledged the same working day. Attendance is nationwide, at bodyshops, holding yards and compounds in every county. The engineer who inspects the vehicle is the engineer who writes and signs the report, so there is one accountable assessor on the file rather than a subcontracted partner network.
48hrs
Inspection scheduled
Same day
Instruction acknowledged
Nationwide
Every county in Ireland
FAQ
Physical Inspection questions
Yes. Physical inspections are scheduled within 48 hours at bodyshops and holding yards countrywide.
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