PDI checklist: what to check before taking delivery of a new car

A PDI checklist is the list of things to check on a new car before you accept delivery: the paperwork and identity numbers, the odometer, the paint and body, the interior and electronics, the engine bay and fluids, and a short test drive. PDI stands for pre-delivery inspection. The dealer carries out its own PDI to prepare the car; your check is the last chance to find damage or faults while they are clearly the dealer’s to fix, so do it before you sign the delivery papers.

Before delivery day

• Confirm the month and year of manufacture. SBI General suggests asking the dealer for Form 22, the certificate the manufacturer issues for the car, which carries its engine and chassis details.
• Book the handover in daylight. Autocar India and SBI General both recommend inspecting the car in good light. Scratches, swirl marks and repainted panels are hard to see under showroom spotlights or at night.
• Bring someone who knows cars, if you can, and give yourself an hour without being rushed.

The PDI checklist

This checklist follows the delivery checks recommended by Autocar India and SBI General.

1. Documents and identity numbers

• VIN and engine number on the car match the invoice and the registration papers
• Invoice, insurance papers, warranty booklet, service booklet and owner’s manual, all filled in correctly
• Spare key, and invoices for any accessories you paid for
• Insurance is valid before you drive away; in India, third-party cover is the legal minimum

2. Odometer

Autocar India’s rule of thumb: a double-digit reading is normal, from moving the car around the factory and transporting it. Anything in triple digits should be explained by the dealer.

3. Paint and body

• Every panel for scratches, dents, swirl marks and signs of repainting, such as a slight colour or texture difference
• Uneven gaps between panels
• Rust, faded paint and chips, including along the lower edges of the doors
• Windscreen, windows and sunroof for cracks or chips
• Lights, plastic trim, cladding, roof rails and mirror covers for damage or poor fit
• Doors, bonnet and boot open and close smoothly, without hinge noise, and the rubber seals are undamaged

4. Wheels and tyres

• Alloys or wheel covers for scuffs and damage
• Tread depth and flat spots on every tyre
• Tyre manufacturing date, moulded into the sidewall
• Spare wheel or puncture kit, toolkit and jack are in the car

5. Interior

• Seats, door pads, headliner, armrests and mats for stains, tears or loose stitching
• Lift the mats and check underneath for water stains or damp
• Seat adjustments and seatbelt retraction
• Gloss-black trim for scratches and swirl marks
• Air conditioning: cooling, smell, every fan speed and airflow mode

6. Electrics and infotainment

• Power windows, central locking, mirror controls and steering-wheel controls
• Interior lights, charging and USB ports and wireless charger
• Touchscreen for lag, glitches or dead pixels; phone connectivity
• Parking sensors and reversing or 360° cameras
• Horn, wipers and washers
• No warning lights left on in the instrument cluster after the engine starts

7. Under the bonnet

• No leaks, loose wiring, damaged parts or signs of tampering
• Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid at the right levels
• Battery terminals free of corrosion

8. Test drive

• The engine starts smoothly and idles without excessive vibration or noise
• Steering turns smoothly from lock to lock
• No rattles or suspension noises over rough surfaces
• No vibration or pull to one side; the car tracks straight and brakes evenly
• Gear changes are smooth, and paddle shifters work if fitted

If you find a problem

Autocar India separates minor from serious problems, and the distinction is a useful one.

• Minor: scratches, missing accessories, software glitches or loose fittings. Have the dealer record and acknowledge them, fix them, and recheck before you sign.
• Serious: repainted panels, rust, accident damage, water getting in, warning lights, leaks, abnormal noises or a high odometer reading. Ask for a different car.

Either way, get every commitment in writing, including repair dates. Photograph or film the whole car, inside and out, before you drive away. It takes five minutes, and a dated record of the car’s condition at handover is what settles a disagreement later.

How dealers use AI to record condition at handover

Dealers face the same question every day: when did this damage happen? A dated, objective record made at the moment a vehicle changes hands answers it.

Flotte Eins, a dealership and service network in Germany, had more than 10% of service customers complaining about damage they believed was introduced while the car was in the workshop, and no record of the car’s condition on arrival to settle it. Service advisors now photograph each car on a phone at check-in and again at check-out, guided by on-screen stencils and voice instructions. CamCom’s AI assesses the condition and produces a delta report showing what changed between the two. Complaints fell from over 10% to below 1%, assessment takes under 3 minutes, and more than 40 dealerships use it (Flotte Eins case study).

The same approach applies to new-car delivery: an AI inspection when the car leaves the factory, when it arrives at the dealer and at handover shows when any damage occurred. We explain how one record can follow a car from the production line to resale in Six inspections, six different answers.

Common questions

What is PDI in a car?
PDI stands for pre-delivery inspection: the checks a dealer carries out to prepare a new car before handing it over. Buyers also use the term for their own inspection of the car before accepting delivery.

What should I check during a PDI?
The documents and the VIN and engine numbers, the odometer reading, the paint and body, the wheels and tyres, the interior and electronics, the fluids under the bonnet, and how the car drives on a short test drive.

How many kilometres is normal on a new car at delivery?
A double-digit reading is normal, from moving the car at the factory and in transport. A reading in triple digits should be explained by the dealer before you accept the car.

What should I do if I find damage during a PDI?
Have the dealer record and fix minor problems such as scratches or missing accessories, and recheck them before you sign. For serious problems such as repainted panels, rust, accident damage or leaks, ask for a different car. Get every commitment in writing.

Related reading: Automotive paint defects: types, causes and how they’re caught · Car insurance inspection: how AI self-inspection apps work

Sources: Dipan Sur, Pre-delivery inspection: what you must check before taking a new car delivery, Autocar India, 17 May 2026. SBI General Insurance, New car delivery checklist, 25 January 2023. CamCom, Flotte Eins case study.