Most new car buyers treat delivery day as a formality. The excitement of collecting a brand-new vehicle makes it easy to skip or rush through the inspection.
But a proper new car PDI is the one opportunity you have to identify and get fixed, at the manufacturer’s cost, any defect that exists before the car becomes legally yours.
A structured pre delivery inspection checklist turns what could be an anxious glance around the car into a systematic process that covers every category of potential defect. Buyers who follow one find problems. Buyers who skip it inherit them.
Why New Cars Still Need Inspecting
- Cars spend weeks or months in transit yards and dealer stockyards before delivery, during which paint chips, dents and electrical drain can occur
- Pre-delivery prep is done by dealership technicians working under time pressure. Steps get missed, tyre pressures go unchecked, and fluid levels are not always verified
- Showroom display cars and test drive vehicles carry accumulated wear from dozens of uses before being allocated as a customer’s delivery unit
- Manufacturing defects, though rare, are easiest to get resolved when flagged before the first service, while the car is still clearly under pre-delivery responsibility
The Complete PDI Checklist: Category by Category
Exterior
| Check Item | What to Look For | How to Check |
| Paint quality | Chips, scratches, swirl marks, inconsistent finish | Walk around in daylight; use phone torch at a low angle along panels |
| Panel gaps | Uneven spacing between doors, bonnet, boot lid | Run a finger along gaps; visual check from front and rear |
| Glass | Chips, cracks, distortion in windscreen | View glass against sky; check all windows and the rear windscreen |
| Bumpers | Cracks, misalignment, paint mismatch | Check both bumpers and their alignment with body panels |
| Tyres | Correct size, no cuts, valve caps present | Check all four plus spare; verify tyre age using DOT code |
Under the Bonnet
| Check Item | What to Look For |
| Engine oil | Level between min and max on dipstick; colour should be amber, not black |
| Coolant | Level in reservoir between min and max marks |
| Brake fluid | Level in reservoir; clear or slightly yellow, not dark |
| Battery terminals | Tight connections, no corrosion on new battery |
| Any fluid leaks | Check below the car after a 5-minute idle; no puddles or stains |
Interior and Electricals
- All power windows: test open and close fully on all four doors
- Central locking: test from both key and inside button
- Air conditioning: should cool within 2 to 3 minutes of engine start
- All dashboard warning lights: start engine and confirm no unexpected warnings remain lit
- Infotainment: test Bluetooth pairing, volume controls, and all input sources
- All interior lights, map lights and boot light
- Horn, all indicators and hazard lights
- Seat adjustment mechanisms and headrests on all seats
Documents to Verify
| Document | What to Confirm |
| RC book or Form 20 | VIN matches the car exactly; your name and address are correct |
| Insurance certificate | Policy is active, correct vehicle details, no errors in name |
| Warranty card | Stamped and dated by dealer; warranty start date is delivery date |
| Service book | All pages intact; first service interval and date noted |
| Spare key | Both keys present and functional |
What to Do if You Find a Problem
Do not sign any delivery acceptance document until every problem identified during the PDI has been either resolved or formally documented as a pending action in writing by the dealer. A verbal promise to fix something after delivery is not enforceable. A written acknowledgement on the dealer’s letterhead or delivery paperwork is.
The Bottom Line
A new car PDI takes 45 to 60 minutes done properly. That is a small investment against a purchase that may cost Rs 7 to Rs 30 lakhs or more. The checklist turns an emotional and rushed delivery moment into a structured process that protects your investment from day one.
Problems caught at PDI are the dealer’s responsibility to fix. Problems discovered after you drive away are yours.