Booked a State Roads inspection for an interstate purchase of a Lexus LX470 based on generally great google reviews. Paid just over $300 for a comprehensive inspection through the Melbourne office and the customer service upon booking and receiving the report was great, no complaints.
The report listed minor issues (most serious was a noisy power steering pump) so based on the report and phone call with the inspecting officer I went ahead with the purchase. Three hours after picking up the car I had a rear passengers side tyre blowout (Tyre shop told me the tyres were over 10 tears old and the cracks should have been obvious).
Next day the belt tensioner pulley seized resulting in a snapped water pump/power steering belt and a six hour sit by the highway - although the 'noisy power steering pump' vanished once a new tensioner was installed..
The rear tailgate has had a major impact resulting in a tear to the metal seam which wasn't picked up by the inspector. Rust along the top of the windscreen was missed (extremely obvious) and emissions hoses in the engine bay were not connected or split. The Oxygen sensors were faulty (leading to engine fault codes being generated and heavy fuel consumption (over 20 litres per hundred km))

Happy to provide photos to back up the claims - I never would have purchased this car had stateroads provided the "comprehensive" report I believed I was getting. Their warranty was useless too - only covers internally lubricated parts of the motor and had to be registered within 24 hours of the inspection which wasn't clearly disclosed on their website.

All in all a case of "caveat emptor", paying a premium may not always guarantee the most competent inspector is assigned - in this case resulting in significant out of pocket expenses.

Inspection number 267866.

Approximate cost: $300