Advice about buying used cars for self or others

I wasn't sure where to place this kind of thing, I'm stuck with a salvage title 2007 Mazda3 hatch with an electric problem (solved by a battery monitor button on the windshield) and now a transmission issue that would cost far too much to fix.  I haven't shopped for a car properly in a long time, and I know this place is a great resource, and maybe this sort of thread could be a thing to point others to.

I'm in central VA, my main question is: How do I find a shop that is willing to look over a car that I can bring on a test drive?

I live in an apartment so even if I trusted myself to wrench, it wouldn't be possible.

Not many shops will want the liability but money talks if you call around for a PPI. If it's a sportscar delta V or sportscar workshop here in RVA might be in the game. Harder part if buying both from a dealer or private party is convincing the seller to let you take their car to a shop, most folks will say pound sand. I'm in central VA here too and used market is still as hot as local temps today.

It might be more odd on a run of the mill car like a Mazda 3, but any dealer would be more than happy to do a Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) for you, and it's easier to get a private individual to agree to having the dealer inspect the car.

In the specialty market, it's common for a marque specialist to do a PPI for you, I've had one done when I bought my Porsche years ago.

You will have to pay for the PPI yourself, of course.