Shop News · November 10, 2026
Ralph's Auto Care Joins PPI Auto as a Used Car Inspector
By Anthony Limpert of PPI Auto, an ASE Master Automobile Technician.
Author Source EEAT Authors · Anthony's Author Page
Ralph's Auto Care in Tallmadge is now a PPI Auto Inspector. If you are about to buy a used car anywhere around Akron, you can book a pre-purchase inspection through PPI Auto and ask for Ralph Mosser's shop to do the check.
Here is what that means, what the inspection covers, and how to set one up before you pay for the car.
What PPI Auto Is
PPI Auto is a pre-purchase inspection network at prepurchaseauto.com. A buyer books one inspection, a mechanic checks the car before any money changes hands, and the report comes back the same day.
Mechanics on PPI Auto carry one of two badges. Listed on PPI Auto means the mechanic does pre-purchase inspections and can be requested there. PPI Auto Inspector is the higher one. It means the mechanic is approved on the PPI Auto desk. Ralph's Auto Care now carries the inspector badge.
Why We Added Ralph's Shop
Ralph Mosser has been fixing cars for more than 40 years. He is an ASE Master Technician and a master machinist. He knows what a tired engine sounds like, and he knows what a fresh coat of undercoating can hide.
His customers say the same thing. The shop held a 4.9 star rating from 93 Google reviews when we checked in October.
The shop also has what a good used car check needs most in Ohio, which is a lift. Road salt eats cars from the bottom up, and the worst rust sits where you cannot see it from the driveway.
What the Inspection Covers
Every PPI Auto inspection follows the same 122 point checklist. It includes an OBD-II scan for stored and pending codes, a road test where the seller allows it, and photos of every fault the mechanic finds. The report is sent the same day.
At Ralph's the car goes up on the lift first. That means a close look at the frame, the subframe mounts, the brake and fuel lines, the exhaust and the suspension for rust and old repairs.
Then comes the rest of the car. Fluids and leaks, brakes and tires, the cooling system and the belts all get checked. You can read more on the shop's pre-purchase inspection page.
What It Costs
PPI Auto charges $225 for most cars, pickups and SUVs. That covers the full checklist, the scan, the road test and the photo report.
Some tests mean taking parts off the car, like a compression test. Those cost extra, and they never happen unless you say yes first.
How to Book the Check
Go to the Ralph's Auto Care listing on PPI Auto and fill in the form, or call the PPI Auto desk at 951-267-8500. The desk takes the booking, sets the time, and offers the job to Ralph first.
Then ask the seller to drive the car to the shop, or bring it in on your test drive. Ralph's is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM, at 203 Potomac Ave, Units C, D and E, in Tallmadge. A seller who will not let a mechanic look at the car has told you something already.
Have a question first? Call Ralph's Auto Care at (330) 366-1802 or see the full list of services.