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Light-Duty Pickup Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

A guided, do-it-yourself pre-purchase inspection checklist for used half-ton pickups: Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, gas, diesel or hybrid. No mechanic needed: each check tells you what to look for and what counts as a fail, from the engine, transmission, 4WD, brakes and tires to towing equipment and hybrid systems, plus known problems by make. For 2500 and 3500 pickups, use our Heavy-Duty Pickup checklist.

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90 days of access. Inspect and compare up to 12 items of this type.

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What you get

  • No mechanic needed. Most checks need only your eyes, a flashlight and a tire gauge; a few optional deeper checks go further if you have the tools or bring in a mechanic.
  • A guided checklist written for this kind of purchase: every question says what to look for and what counts as a fail. Ready to use the moment you pay.
  • Inspect on your phone: answers save as you go, with photos and notes on any question.
  • Send it to a mechanic, supervisor, colleague, or employee by text or email. They need no account.
  • A report that puts the problems first, with photos, times and location.
  • Inspect and compare up to 12 vehicles, machines or trailers of the same type with one purchase, side by side, before you decide.

How it works

  1. Choose a checklistPick the one that matches what you are buying, and pay by card. No account to set up first.
  2. Add what you are inspectingEnter the item, the asking price and where it is. Add as many as you are considering.
  3. Inspect it, or send itWork through the checklist on your phone, or send it to a mechanic, supervisor, colleague, or employee to do for you.
  4. Read the report and compareSee the problems first, with photos. Put your options side by side and decide.

What it covers 102 questions

  • Records and Identity6 questions
  • Body, Frame and Bed7 questions
  • Engine15 questions
  • Transmission and Drivetrain9 questions
  • Steering, Suspension and Brakes11 questions
  • Wheels and Tires9 questions
  • Electrical, Electronics and Cab12 questions
  • Road Test6 questions
  • Four-Wheel Drive4 questions
  • Towing and Hauling3 questions
  • Hybrid and Mild-Hybrid Trucks2 questions
  • Air Suspension2 questions
  • Onboard Power Outlets1 question
  • Diesel Engines2 questions
  • Ford F-150 Only4 questions
  • Ram 1500 Only4 questions
  • Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 Only4 questions
  • Final Review1 question

A sample of the questions

  • VIN matches everywhere
  • Frame rust
  • Engine oil level and condition
  • Gear engagement when cold
  • Ride height and leveling kits
  • Tire tread depth
  • Battery and resting voltage
  • Acceleration and hesitation

This is a sample. The full checklist is yours when you buy.

Before You Start

You don't need a mechanic or to be a mechanic yourself. Most questions need only your eyes, a flashlight and a few low-cost tools, and each one tells you exactly what to do and what counts as a fail.

Allow about two hours, including a 20-minute road test. Longer if you do the deeper checks.

For full-size light-duty pickups: Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, gas, diesel or hybrid. Not for heavy-duty, midsize or fully electric pickups.

Before you go, ask the seller to:

  • Leave the engine cold. Some checks need a cold start.
  • Have the title, the keys and any service records ready.
  • Park the truck where you can walk all the way around it, not tight against a wall or another vehicle.
  • Agree a road-test route, and access for a mechanic if you are bringing one.

Go in daylight, and check the truck is on level ground with the parking brake on and the wheels blocked.

Never get under the truck while it is held up only by a jack, or while air suspension can change height. Use jack stands.

On a hybrid, a silent engine does not mean the truck is off, and the engine can start by itself. Never touch orange high-voltage cables or open covers.

Answer every question as indicated. Skip the sections for systems or a make the truck does not have.

Questions marked "Deeper check" are optional extras that need special tools. Skip any you can't do (answer Not applicable), or ask a mechanic to do them.

Write readings in the note, and add a photo of anything that fails.

Bring (all available at an auto parts store for well under $100 in total):

  • A flashlight
  • A tape measure
  • A tread depth gauge and a tire pressure gauge
  • A basic multimeter, for the battery and charging voltage
  • A code reader for the port under the dashboard (many parts stores will lend one)
  • A stick thermometer, for the air conditioning vents
  • A screwdriver, for tapping rusty frame areas
  • A clean card or stiff paper, for the blow-by test
  • White paper towels and gloves
  • A trailer plug tester (7-pin), if you plan to tow
  • A helper, for the lights and the cold start
Tools for a Deeper Inspection (Optional)

You don't need any of these to use this checklist. For the questions marked "Deeper check", or if you bring in a mechanic, these are the tools needed, as well as those in Before You Start:

  • A floor jack and two jack stands, for the ball joint, tie rod and wheel bearing check
  • A scan tool with live data that reads every module (engine, transmission, ABS, airbags, body, 4WD), for misfire counts, fuel trims and transmission temperature
  • A compression gauge
  • A cooling system pressure tester with adapters for this truck
  • A brake fluid moisture tester
  • A paint thickness gauge
Sources and Standards
  • FieldDone pre-purchase inspection protocol for light-duty pickups (October 2026)
  • Your truck's own owner's manual and service information, matched to its VIN, year and engine
  • Installation instructions and ratings for any hitch, lift, air helper or added power equipment
  • NHTSA recall lookup
  • Ford Pro manuals, guides and certificates
  • Ford 2024 F-150 owner's manual, drive modes and transfer case
  • Ford 2025 F-150 owner's manual, Pro Power Onboard
  • Mopar vehicle information and owner's manuals
  • Ram 2024 1500 (DT) owner's manual, air suspension and eTorque
  • Ram 1500 Classic owner resources
  • GM manuals and guides
  • Chevrolet in-vehicle trailering app
  • Chevrolet inner tailgate lockout guide