In a rapidly evolving automotive landscape, startups across the globe are racing to modernize a long-standing practice: vehicle inspections. Self Inspection, a San Diego-based startup, is emerging as a trailblazer by introducing AI-powered inspections that are not only faster and more cost-effective but also remarkably easy to use. Their innovative approach has now earned them a $3 million seed funding round from high-profile investors.

Major Backing for a Big Vision

Founded in 2021, Self Inspection recently closed a seed funding round co-led by Costanoa Ventures and DVx Ventures, the latter founded by former Tesla president Jon McNeill. Westlake Financial, a key player overseeing over one million vehicle transactions annually, also joined the round, signifying strong confidence in the startup’s potential.

Karim Bousta, a partner at DVx Ventures, emphasized the need for innovation in the $30 billion vehicle inspection market. “Self Inspection not only streamlines operations for auto lenders, dealerships, and rental companies,” said Bousta, “but also sets a new benchmark for quality, reliability, and a seamless digital experience.”

AI Technology that Transforms the Inspection Process

The unique value behind Self Inspection lies in its minimal hardware requirements and seamless integration. Unlike competitors like UVEye, which require drive-through inspection stations and have raised $191 million for similar AI-based technology, Self Inspection’s solution only needs a smartphone camera and optionally, data from a vehicle’s OBD2 port.

This lightweight approach democratizes vehicle inspections, making it accessible to more businesses and individuals by eliminating implementation barriers. There’s no need for users to install a mobile app or follow complex camera setup protocols. Instead, users simply receive a link via text or email, access it through their mobile browser, and start capturing images immediately.

“Everyone has a good camera, everyone has a good phone, everyone knows how to capture photos,” stated CEO Constantine Yaremtso. “We’re enabling auto marketplaces, banks, and fleets to conduct inspections quickly and efficiently, expediting the sales and lending cycles.”

Smart Software, Real-Time Intelligence

Self Inspection’s underlying AI engine has been trained on one of the largest datasets of damaged vehicles in the industry. This vast training data enables the system to detect damage accurately, assess its severity, and calculate repair costs — all in just minutes.

The end result is a detailed PDF inspection report comparable to one produced by a traditional auto body shop. “What we deliver is actually a fully detailed PDF report,” said Yaremtso. “It includes labor estimates, repair costs, part requirements — all of it.”

Customization Built In

Flexibility is a key selling point of Self Inspection. Customers have the ability to tailor the inspection process using a drag-and-drop interface. This means vehicle marketplaces and fleet operators can easily prioritize certain inspection areas or insert customized inspection points — such as verifying an electric vehicle’s charging cable is included.

Whether it’s a global car rental company or a small used car dealership, the tool is designed to integrate directly into existing workflows and scale as needed. The user-friendly interface means minimal training is required to get started, and inspections can be completed in just a few minutes from almost anywhere.

Real-World Clients and Next Steps

Self Inspection is already working with established clients such as Avis, CarOffer (a CarGurus company), and Westlake Financial. These early adopters are benefiting from reduced overhead, faster transactions, and improved accuracy in vehicle condition assessments.

CEO Yaremtso sees this funding as a pivotal milestone in the company’s journey. “This is a validation of the work we’ve done over the last few years,” he noted. “Now we’re going to start expanding, growing, and scaling.”

The Future of AI-Powered Vehicle Inspections

The vehicle inspection sector is ripe for disruption. Decades-old manual processes are being replaced by automated, AI-driven tools that reduce costs, increase speed, and deliver improved accuracy. Self Inspection is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift by empowering businesses with a tool that makes inspections both smarter and simpler.

As the auto industry becomes increasingly digital and customer expectations continue to rise, convenience and precision in vehicle assessments will no longer be optional — they’ll be mandatory. Self Inspection’s browser-based technology, AI-powered damage analysis, and seamless client integration make it a standout solution in a market ready for transformation.

With $3 million in seed funding, powerful AI technology, and a growing list of enterprise clients, Self Inspection is poised to redefine what it means to inspect a vehicle in the 21st century.