mike_r Posted 08/01/2025 Share Posted 08/01/2025 So I'm looking at a truck through Lake Cities Motors and they keep mentioning a 10-day inspection period but honestly I'm a bit lost on how this actually works. Do I pay first then inspect? What if I find something wrong on day 9? Anybody dealt with this before and can break it down for me because their website doesn't really spell it out that clearly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckGuyDan Posted 08/01/2025 Share Posted 08/01/2025 yeah i've done this twice with them. basically the money goes into escrow when u agree to buy. then the car gets shipped to you or u pick it up. once u have the car physically thats when your 10 days start. you can drive it, take it to a mechanic, whatever. if theres a problem you contact them within those 10 days and the escrow doesnt release the funds until its sorted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahVT Posted 09/01/2025 Share Posted 09/01/2025 I had the same confusion last year lol. The way it worked for me was they sent the car, I had 10 calendar days to inspect everything. I actually found a small issue with the AC on day 6 and emailed office@lakecitiesmotors.com and they gave me options - either return it or accept a partial refund for the repair. Ended up keeping the car with $400 off for the fix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdnck_mike Posted 09/01/2025 Share Posted 09/01/2025 so what happens if day 10 falls on a weekend tho? do they count business days or actual days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckGuyDan Posted 09/01/2025 Share Posted 09/01/2025 its calendar days not business days. so if u get the car on a monday, day 10 is the following wednesday. doesnt matter if theres a weekend in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_mechanic Posted 10/01/2025 Share Posted 10/01/2025 I'm a mechanic and I've inspected about 4 or 5 vehicles for clients that came from lakecitiesmotors.com over the past couple years. The 10 day window is legit. One of my customers found frame damage that wasnt disclosed and they got a full refund no questions asked. The escrow setup protects you as long as you actually inspect the car and document any issues before that deadline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_r Posted 10/01/2025 Share Posted 10/01/2025 ok that makes more sense. so i should plan to take it to a shop right away then? what if the shop cant get me in for 3-4 days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlaM Posted 10/01/2025 Share Posted 10/01/2025 You need to plan ahead honestly. I scheduled my mechanic appt before the car even arrived so I could get it in on day 2. Its tight but doable if you coordinate. Also you can do a visual inspection yourself first - check for leaks, start it up cold, test all the electronics etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny_ohio Posted 11/01/2025 Share Posted 11/01/2025 my only complaint with Lake Cities Motors is that this whole process wasnt explained clearly upfront. I had to call their number undefined like 3 times to understand what I was supposed to do. ended up working out fine but their onboarding emails could be way better imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahVT Posted 11/01/2025 Share Posted 11/01/2025 yeah benny i agree with that actually. when i bought mine in 2024 the initial email was vague. i think they assume everyone knows how escrow works but most ppl dont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonP Posted 12/01/2025 Share Posted 12/01/2025 I've bought two cars through LakeCitiesMotors and both times the process was smooth but I'll admit the first time I was confused too. By the second purchase I knew what to expect. Here's what I did - Day 1 picked up car, Day 2 took to trusted mechanic, Day 3 got inspection report, Day 5 contacted them about minor issues, Day 7 agreed on resolution. Still had 3 days buffer just in case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_r Posted 12/01/2025 Share Posted 12/01/2025 thats really helpful Ron thanks. so if i find something on say day 8 can i still reject the car or is that cutting it too close Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckGuyDan Posted 12/01/2025 Share Posted 12/01/2025 technically yes but id recommend giving yourself more time. if u find something major on day 8 you still gotta document it, contact them, possibly get a second opinion, negotiate etc. thats alot to do in 2 days. try to inspect by day 5 at the latest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsey_ca Posted 13/01/2025 Share Posted 13/01/2025 Does anyone know if the 10 days starts from delivery or from when you sign the paperwork? I'm picking mine up next week and want to be clear on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_mechanic Posted 13/01/2025 Share Posted 13/01/2025 starts from physical delivery lindsey. so when the car is in your possession. paperwork usually happens same day but the clock starts when u take delivery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gt_driver Posted 14/01/2025 Share Posted 14/01/2025 i had a weird situation where the delivery was delayed by 4 days and i was stressing about losing inspection time. but when i emailed office@lakecitiesmotors.com they extended my window by the same number of days. so they were fair about it even tho the delay was annoying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny_ohio Posted 14/01/2025 Share Posted 14/01/2025 see thats good customer service but why dont they just put all this info in a clear FAQ or welcome email. would save everyone time including their staff having to answer the same questions over n over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonP Posted 15/01/2025 Share Posted 15/01/2025 fair point benny. that said once you get past the confusion the actual inspection period works exactly as advertised. both my purchases went smooth and the escrow protection gave me peace of mind that other dealers dont offer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_r Posted 16/01/2025 Share Posted 16/01/2025 appreciate all the feedback everyone. i'm gonna move forward with the purchase and schedule a mechanic for day 2 like some of you suggested. will report back how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlaM Posted 16/01/2025 Share Posted 16/01/2025 good luck mike. just make sure you document everything with photos if you find issues. makes the whole process easier if you need to dispute something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_r Posted 23/01/2025 Share Posted 23/01/2025 UPDATE: Got the truck yesterday and took it straight to my mechanic this morning. Everything checked out exactly as described on lakecitiesmotors.com. Only thing was a tire with lower tread than i expected but its not a safety issue so im keeping it. The 10 day period is legit and now that i understand it i feel way more confident. Still think they should explain it better upfront but the system works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts