Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about your MyCarPilot Professional Vehicle Assessment.
What is a MyCarPilot assessment?
A MyCarPilot Professional Vehicle Assessment is an independent, desk-based assessment of a used car you are considering. It is designed to help you understand the vehicle, spot potential problems and negotiate with confidence before you buy.
What do I get for £14.99?
A complete Professional Vehicle Assessment including: an overall assessment score out of 10, a score breakdown, a clear recommendation, a vehicle overview, a mechanical assessment of common problems, realistic UK repair cost estimates with labour times, a maintenance review, a personalised inspection checklist, specific questions to ask the seller, negotiation advice with a fair price and suggested offer, vehicle risks, next steps, a document findings review (if you upload documents), and a buying recommendation.
You also receive 30 days of access to the MyCarPilot Buying Companion, and you can download your assessment as a professional PDF to keep.
What is the 30-Day Buying Companion?
After your assessment is delivered, you can ask follow-up questions and get viewing and negotiation advice from the MyCarPilot Buying Companion for 30 days, so you are not on your own when you go to see the car or make an offer.
How does the document upload work?
When you enter your vehicle details you can optionally upload the service book, MOT certificates, repair invoices, maintenance receipts, warranty documents, inspection reports, a few photos of the car itself, or any other vehicle-related documents.
You do not need formal paperwork. Photos of documents sent to you by the seller, screenshots from the MOT section of the gov.uk website, and screenshots of service records shown in the online advert all work just as well. If the advert does not show service history, ask the seller to send you photos of the service book or previous invoices and upload those. Screenshots and photos produce the same depth of assessment as uploaded PDFs.
If you upload documents, MyCarPilot reviews them and incorporates the findings into your assessment, including service history quality, missing servicing, major repairs, mileage consistency and potential concerns. You can also skip this step and your assessment will be generated using the vehicle details alone.
Is it a subscription?
No. MyCarPilot is a one-off payment of £14.99 per assessment. There is no subscription and no recurring charge; you only pay when you want an assessment.
How long does it take?
Your assessment is generated within two to four minutes of payment. You will see a live progress screen showing each stage of the analysis while it is being built.
Is this a mechanical inspection?
No. A MyCarPilot report is a desk-based professional analysis to support your buying decision. It is not a physical inspection, a guaranteed valuation or a warranty. Before buying, carry out a physical inspection and test drive using the checklist we provide, and verify the documentation in person.
What if I do not have any service documents?
You can still receive a full report. Ask the seller to send you photos of the service book or previous invoices, take screenshots of the MOT history on the gov.uk website, or screenshot any service records shown in the advert. You can also upload a few photos of the car itself, saved from the advert or taken by you, and we will factor visible condition into your assessment. Upload those and we will build your report from them. If you have nothing to upload, your assessment will be generated using the vehicle details and model knowledge alone. Adding documents or photos makes the analysis deeper, but it is never a requirement.
Do I need technical knowledge to understand the report?
No. Every report is written in clear, plain English with technical terms explained where they matter. You get a straightforward score, a clear recommendation and practical next steps, so you can act on the findings without any mechanical background.
What happens after the 30-day access period?
After 30 days, your access to the Buying Companion and the online report expires. We recommend downloading your PDF within the access period so you can refer to it for as long as you need. You can start a new report for any vehicle at any time.
Can I use this for any car?
Yes. MyCarPilot works for any used car sold in the UK, old or new, petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric. The report is tailored to the exact make, model, year, engine and mileage you enter.
Are my documents secure?
Your documents are used only to generate your report and are never shared with sellers, dealers or third parties. Payment is processed by Stripe; we never see or store your card details. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
How accurate are the repair costs?
Repair cost estimates use realistic UK ranges and labour times that lean towards the higher end to avoid underestimating. Actual costs vary by location, garage and parts quality, so figures should be treated as informed estimates to support negotiation rather than a final bill.
Can I download my assessment?
Yes. Once your assessment is generated you can download it as a professional PDF to keep and refer to during your viewing and negotiation.
Is my data secure?
Your vehicle details and any documents you upload are used only to generate your assessment. Payment is processed securely by Stripe; we never see or store your card details. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Can I get a refund?
If your assessment fails to generate after payment, contact us and we will either re-run your assessment or issue a full refund. See our Refund Policy for full details.