In this guide
Two checks that are not the same
In Panama, “inspection” refers to two different things. The first is the revisado vehicular. According to the ASSA Auto blog, it is an annual technical inspection by the Land Transit and Transport Authority (ATTT), with an exemption in the first year of a new vehicle’s circulation. For a transfer, the Panama City Mayor’s Office requires the current-year Vehicle Inspection Certificate and the ATTT asks for a valid revisado vehicular.
The second is the ASSA Market inspection, an additional and optional check that someone selling a car can have done at a workshop authorized by the platform to obtain the Inspected badge.
| Revisado vehicular | ASSA Market inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Who requires it | ATTT, per the ASSA Auto blog | No one: it is optional |
| What it is for | Driving and transferring the vehicle | Getting the Inspected badge on the listing |
| Where it is done | Inspection centers authorized by the ATTT | Workshops authorized by ASSA Market |
| What stays visible | Inspection certificate | Report shown on the listing |
| Frequency | Annual, per ASSA Auto | When the owner decides to get it |
| Document in the transfer | Asked for by the Mayor’s Office and ATTT | Not a transfer requirement |
The ten systems it covers
The ASSA Market website lists the systems the inspection covers. The table sets them out with a question the buyer can ask about each one when reading the report.
| System | What to ask when reading the report |
|---|---|
| Engine | What was observed and whether the workshop left a note |
| Brakes | Whether the report flags any wear or pending item |
| Suspension | Whether there are remarks on general condition |
| Steering | Whether the workshop noted play or noises |
| Tires | Whether the report mentions wear or date |
| Lighting | Whether all lights were checked |
| Electrical system | Whether warning lights or faults are noted |
| Transmission | Whether any abnormal behavior was recorded |
| Cooling | Whether leaks or repairs are noted |
| Interior | Whether the condition matches what the listing shows |
The table does not replace the workshop’s report: it is a reading guide. Each workshop decides how it presents its observations.
How the badge is obtained
The inspection page describes a four-step process and clarifies that the listing must be created and published on the platform for the inspection to be linked to it.
- Choose an authorized workshop and book the inspection. Other workshops cannot be used to assign the badge.
- Take the vehicle to the workshop for the check and receive the report.
- Send the report to soporte@assamarket.com.
- Wait for the review. If it is correct, the badge shows on the listing within 24 to 48 hours.
ASSA Market’s inspection page details the authorized workshops, the systems checked and the process for showing the badge on the listing.
What to ask the workshop
A buyer can rely on the report and put these questions before deciding:
- Report date and the workshop that issued it.
- Whether the report matches the car in the listing, comparing make, model and year.
- Which systems had remarks and whether the seller addressed them.
- Whether any repair is pending that is worth quoting before agreeing on the price.
The weight of vehicle safety is documented worldwide: the World Health Organization states that about 1.16 million people die each year from road traffic crashes. This is general context and does not refer to the platform’s inspections.
When it makes sense
ASSA Market’s site says the inspection increases listing visibility and builds trust, and that the owner decides whether to get it. For the Good history badge, the platform sets a different criterion: that the car has no reported claims in the last 5 years of being insured with ASSA. The two badges measure different things and can appear together or separately. Before buying, the vehicle’s document status is also confirmed against the requirements of the Mayor’s Office and the ATTT.
This content is informational and does not replace the assessment of a trusted mechanic or workshop.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the used car inspection on ASSA Market take?
It takes 15 to 30 minutes, according to the platform’s FAQ. The inspection page gives an estimated time of 30 minutes.
What does the inspection cover?
It covers engine, brakes, suspension, steering, tires, lighting, electrical system, transmission, cooling and interior, according to the ASSA Market website.
Is the ASSA Market inspection mandatory?
No, it is optional. According to the platform, it increases listing visibility and builds trust. The ATTT’s revisado vehicular is a different check.
How long until the Inspected badge appears?
It appears on the listing 24 to 48 hours after the report is sent to soporte@assamarket.com, as long as the report is correct.
Can any workshop do the inspection?
No. According to ASSA Market, only workshops authorized by the platform can carry it out for the badge.
Related articles
- How much does a car depreciate in Panama? Year-by-year table and the factors that weigh on resale
- Guide to buying a Chinese car in Panama: warranty, parts, workshops and resale
Used car listings from private sellers are at assamarket.com/panama/autos.
Sources
- ASSA Market, inspection and FAQ: systems, duration, authorized workshops, badges and timing.
- Panama City Mayor’s Office, Vehicle Transfer: current-year inspection certificate.
- Panamá Digital, ATTT listing for individual to individual transfer: valid revisado vehicular.
- ASSA Auto, what the revisado vehicular is in Panama: annual nature of the check, attributed to this blog.
- WHO, Road traffic injuries: worldwide annual road traffic deaths.
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