New Car PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) And Checklist

Everyone dreams about buying his/her favorite car someday. With so many car models existing in the market, choosing the perfect one becomes quite difficult at times. And when you finally succeed in making the right choice, you have to deal with the daunting purchasing process. After successfully bargaining a profitable deal and arranging for financial assistance, you finally get your car registered in your name. But is that where your duty ends as a customer? Enter PDI also known as Pre-Delivery Inspection.

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What is a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI)?

Most buyers might not be acquainted with the phrase Pre-Delivery inspection (PDI). It is the final check that is carried out at the showroom by the dealer before the car is registered. It is a thorough examination of the car that includes careful scrutiny of the exteriors, interiors, electric parts, mechanicals, accessories, road test, fluid level tests and minor problems, and blemishes as well.

What is the need for a PDI?

PDI is conducted to inspect if there is any major or minor issue prevailing in the car. Minor problems are fixed right away by the dealer. While the major ones are passed on to the appropriate specialists for solving. This ensures that your car is in perfect order when you take delivery of the same.

Why should you conduct a PDI of your car?

As a customer, it is also your duty to do your part in making sure everything is in place. So, here’s a detailed Pre-Delivery Inspection checklist that you can follow to ascertain that the PDI of your car has been carried out diligently:

Invoice of the Car including details relating to car’s model and sub-model
Payment receipts including payments done for car, accessories, RTO, taxes, etc.
Miscellaneous documents like a copy of the insurance (crosscheck details relating to model, variant, engine, chassis number and so on).
Insurance policy details.
RTO Road Tax Registration receipt with Vehicle Registration Number.
Warranty papers for Car and every other accessory that is installed in the car such as batteries, music systems, tyres, CNG Kit, Parking Sensor and so on. Make sure they are properly stamped.
Extended warranty, if any.
Road Side Assistance (RSA) Copy.
Owner’s manual & Service Booklet.
PUC (pollution under control) certificate.

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Additional details to be checked and matched in the car documents:

Check that the spelling of your name on the documents is correct.
Make sure that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), vehicle registration number, Engine Number, and Chassis Number are mentioned correctly.

New Car PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) And Checklist

Checklist to conduct during a physical inspection

Park the car in an open space with adequate daylight to have a good look at its interior and exterior.
Inspect the exterior of the car for any dents or marks.
Try to spot if there is any difference in the shades of the color on different parts.
Check the spare tyre and wheel. They should be unused and new.
Ensure that all the doors open, close and lock smoothly.
Make sure the bonnet lid and boot lid open and close smoothly.
Check the remote key locking system is working fine.
Check if the driver’s control system like Headlamp switches, ignition keyhole, blinkers and vipers control, MID display, etc is working fine.
Inspect if the windows roll up and down properly.
Inspect the engine area properly. The engine area of a new car is always clean.
Open the bonnet and inspect the following; tangled wires, oil spill signs, broken or damaged plastic parts.
Inspect the boot space to look for the following; broken or damaged plastic parts, toolkit, jack and spanner, spare wheel, cut or re-assembled wires.

Checklist for checking the car’s interior

Check for marks and scratches
Inspect the Dashboard, roof liner, seats, armrests, doors, and parcel tray
Check the odometer. Its reading should always be under 100 km.

Checklist for testing the electrical components

Test if the air conditioner is working fine.
Carry a CD or pen drive to check the Music system. Check all the ports available in the music system.
Test all the control buttons and speakers as well.
Test the horns and wipers.
Test the working of headlights, tail lights, brake lights, fog lights, and parking lights.

Checklist for a test drive before taking delivery

Go for another test drive and test the acceleration and braking. It is recommended to take one of the executives on the drive who can brief you about all the features of the car and the correct ways to use them.

Checklist for duplicate key

Every car is provided with a duplicate key. It is important for you to check if the duplicate key to the car is working fine. Try to lock, unlock and start the car with it.

Know More: Car Keys | Things You Should Know

Make PDI inspection even more foolproof

You can take a camera along with you to capture photos of your shining brand new car from different angles. This will help you in noticing marks and defects.
You can take a friend or family member along with you who can also help you in identifying defects in the car. Taking a person who has the experience of inspecting cars before could be of great help.