Author: Nodar, Car Select expert · October 10, 2026 · 4 min read
What Car Select Checks a Car With: Scanners, Paint Gauge, Videoscope
In short
Car Select uses professional equipment: Autel and Launch multi-brand scanners for control unit fault codes, a VCDS scanner for VAG cars (Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, SEAT) for in-depth control unit diagnostics, Etari and Carsys paint gauges to find repainted and repaired body panels, and an Autel MaxiVideo videoscope for hard-to-reach spots without taking anything apart.
Car Select checks cars with Autel and Launch multi-brand scanners, a VCDS scanner for Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and SEAT, Etari and Carsys paint gauges and an Autel MaxiVideo videoscope. Each tool covers its own part of the check: electronics, body or hidden cavities.
A pre-purchase inspection rests on measurements, not on how the photos look. A scanner reads the control units' memory, a paint gauge measures the paint, and a videoscope shows places you can't see without taking things apart. This is the set of tools Car Select experts use.
Autel and Launch multi-brand scanners
The scanner plugs into the diagnostic port and polls the car's electronic systems. It reads and decodes control unit fault codes, so you can see which part of the car a fault belongs to. A multi-brand scanner works with many makes, which matters in Georgia, where cars arrive from the US, Europe and Asia.
VCDS for Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and SEAT
VCDS is built for VAG group cars. It's used for in-depth control unit diagnostics on these makes when a general scanner isn't enough.
Etari and Carsys paint gauges
A paint gauge measures the paint layer on every body panel. A repainted panel or one with filler reads differently from the factory paint next to it, and that is how repainted and repaired panels are found. How to read these measurements is covered in our paint gauge article.
Autel MaxiVideo videoscope
It's a camera on a flexible probe, used to look into hard-to-reach spots and hidden cavities of the car without taking anything apart.
Where we use these tools
- On-site inspection before you buy: paint gauge on every panel and a scanner check
- Expert for a day: several cars checked in one trip
- Car computer diagnostics as a separate service, if the car is already yours and you need to deal with fault codes
What the tools don't show
A scanner sees what the control units recorded, a paint gauge sees the paint, and a videoscope sees where the probe reaches. The suspension and how the car drives are checked from underneath and on a test drive, and both are part of the on-site inspection.
Would rather not do this yourself?
We'll inspect a specific car or source one for your budget, with a written report.
See also
Related services
What is usually needed alongside this. Each page has the price and a request form.
on request
Car computer diagnostics
Car Select checks a car's electronic systems with professional scanners: we read and decode control unit fault codes and, when needed, measure the paint and look into hidden cavities with a videoscope.
How the inspection works
What a car inspection covers: our protocol step by step
How the on-site inspection works: documents and VIN, Carfax history, paint depth gauge on every panel, OBD scan, suspension and test drive.
$100
On-site car inspection
Car Select runs independent diagnostics of the car you've picked, before you buy. Already found something interesting? We'll come to the seller before the deal and check it fully.
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