New Car PDI Checklist Before Taking Delivery
Start a new-car PDI by matching the allocated vehicle's identity. Then check visible body condition, cabin features and applicable vehicle systems. Confirm dealer access beforehand, record concerns and review any corrections before delivery. Use the vehicle's own manual for model-specific instructions.
Before you decide
- Confirm the exact car, location, keys and inspection permission before the visit.
- Record what could not be checked as well as what was checked.
- Keep the findings and dealer response together; do not treat a checklist as a future-fault guarantee.
Before the visit: agree on access
Confirm that the exact allocated car will be available and that the dealer permits the inspection you are booking. Share the showroom or stockyard address, vehicle details and any access restrictions with the inspection coordinator.
A useful message to the dealer is: Please confirm the allocated vehicle and VIN, where it can be inspected, who will provide the keys, and which checks are allowed. Let me know about any timing, lighting or road-test restrictions before I arrange the visit.
1. Confirm the exact vehicle
Start with identity because every later observation should relate to the exact car you are about to receive.
- Match VIN or chassis number with the allocated vehicle details
- Confirm model, variant, colour and fuel type
- Check the displayed odometer reading
- Review the vehicle and delivery paperwork available to you
2. Check body, paint, glass and exterior trim
- Inspect panels under good lighting
- Look for scratches, dents, chips and paint differences
- Check panel alignment and visible gaps
- Inspect windscreen, windows, lamps and mirrors
- Check wheels and tyres for visible damage
3. Inspect the cabin
- Seats, dashboard and trim condition
- Seat belts and accessible controls
- Air conditioning and blower operation
- Infotainment and instrument display
- Power windows, mirrors and locking
- Camera, sensors and other equipped features
4. Check warning indicators and vehicle systems
Observe the normal start-up sequence and check whether warning indicators behave as expected. For petrol and diesel cars, inspect accessible engine-bay items. For EVs, check the relevant charging equipment and EV-specific items included in the inspection scope.
Follow the model's owner manual. Do not open a hot radiator cap; Maruti Suzuki includes this warning in its car-care guidance. Leave dismantling and specialist system diagnosis to appropriately qualified personnel.
5. Review the final delivery condition
Confirm that concerns found during the PDI have been addressed or clearly documented before accepting the car. Recheck repaired or corrected items rather than assuming they were completed.
Why use a structured PDI?
A written checklist reduces the chance of forgetting items during an exciting delivery day. A professional PDI adds an independent, service-specific inspection and a digital record of the observed condition.
It still cannot guarantee future reliability or replace manufacturer diagnostics where specialist testing is required.
Sources and further reading
Manufacturer guidance is vehicle-specific. These sources inform the explanation; they do not endorse InspecXO or define your booked inspection package.
This guide is general buyer information. Inspection findings depend on the specific vehicle, access available at the time of inspection and the service selected. A vehicle inspection records observed condition and does not guarantee future reliability. Read our scope and editorial standards.