​Which Car Evaluation Centre is Better: STA or VFIT?

STA Inspection (STAI) and VFIT by VICOM are two of the most frequented car evaluation centres in Singapore, but which offers a more detailed evaluation report? Let’s find out!

When it comes to car evaluations, most car dealers would offer to send pre-owned cars to either STA Inspection (STAI) or VFIT, which is the car evaluation arm of VICOM.

Both centres follow the Standard and Functional Evaluation Checklist set by CASE and have over 30 years of experience in the industry. So what exactly sets them apart?

Although they offer similar services, there are some differences when it comes to the actual evaluation and report.

Let’s have a look:

STAI Vehicle Evaluation Report:

Several netizens on MyCarForum have expressed that STAI’s report is more general as compared to VFIT. For instances, instead of listing any observations, they simply award a ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ grade to parts they are checking. Their observations are only summarized at the end of the report, which might require you to flip through the report several times.

At the end of the report, vehicles are also awarded an overall grading (see above). Grades ‘A’ and ‘B’ are generally considered acceptable, while vehicles awarded with a grade ‘C’ and ‘D’ should be avoided at all cost.

VFIT by VICOM Evaluation Report:

Unlike STAI’s evaluation report, VFIT’s evaluation report is more detailed and organised. Any defects or abnormalities are also immediately highlighted next to the affected part.

It also appears VFIT is stricter when it comes to the brake efficiencies, tyre thread depth, and road test—they simply conduct far more test on those parts.

Although there is no grade given by VFIT, you’ll at least have a better understanding of the road worthiness of the pre-owned car you’re about to purchase. Remember, you can’t put a price for a peace of mind and your general safety.

Verdict

We obviously recommend VFIT over STAI because of how thorough they are when it comes to the actual evaluation. However, at the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. No evaluation centre is perfect, and it also depends on the condition of the pre-owned car you are able to purchase.

It doesn’t matter if you decide to go with STAI, VFIT, or your personal workshop, just remember to send any pre-owned car for a car evaluation first before the purchase is complete. That way, you can safely purchase a pre-owned vehicle without worrying about a “lemon”.

A pre-owned car might be considerably cheaper than a new brand new car, but you'll still be paying a hefty sum for it. Therefore, it's advisable that you get it checked out properly before committing to the purchase.

The motorcar industry has always seen its fair share of complaints, so it's better to be safe than sorry! A car evaluation is a small price to pay for a peace of mind after all.

If you have sent your car to STAI or VFIT before, do share your experience with us in the comments below!

Read More: Car Inspection VS Car Evaluation: What’s the Difference?

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