What is a Car PDI?
Don’t be surprised with PDI jargon. PDI is simply an acronym for “Pre-Delivery Inspection” and it is an important process which you should perform on your car before taking the delivery. Taking a car delivery happens once/twice in a lifetime and of course it is a happy lifetime moment for you and your family. While the day seem to be quite exciting, you should never forget to perform PDI on your car coming up with some excuses. Although you may very well trust and believe the words of sales team who sold this car, you have to indepently verify things yourselves by doing PDI without fail. A Car PDI is careful scrutiny of your car’s interiors, exteriors, electriical components, oil levels, mechanicals, accessories, road test etc.
Once you move the car out of the showroom, if something goes missing or if something is not working, the liability falls entirely on you. So before you take the car to your custody, a thorough check up of your new car is recommended.
When should you perform a Car PDI?
As explained above, the PDI should happen a day prior or on the day of car delivery but prior to time you receive the car as deliverable.
Mandatory Checklist to follow during physical car inspection
Due diligence has to be done on following:
- Double check the Invoice and look for details like car model and variant (trim level) matches your car.
- Ensure you have all the receipts for payment made - for the car, RTO, accessories, taxes, insurance , old car value receipt (if you sold your old car for new) etc
- Double check your Insurance copy for following details: No of years it is valid, Premium amount, If it covers Own Damage or only Third Party, the model and trim mentioned, Engine capacity, Chassis number, your name and nominee name etc
- Make a note of Insurance policy company name, support numbers etc
- Registration number of your car and RTO Tax certificate
- Collect the warranty papers for your car and also warranty papers on individual accessories/components like battery, engine, CNG Kit, additional accessories which you bought. Make sure the current date, month and year is stamped.
- If you have opted for Extended warranty, collect the Extended warranty papers and check its validity
- Original User Manual / Owners Manual of the car
- Road Side Assitance papers (If you have opted for)
- Service booklet and double check on free service/paid service, the timeline for giving your car for service, Kilometres to be driven before service etc
- Get details of service centres where you should drop the car.
- Pollution under control certificate
- FASTag - Make sure it is activated with your Vehicle number and linked to your mobile number.
Document verification
- Check the spellings in your name, postal address etc printed on sale copy / registration certificate / invoice etc
- Check the chassis number of your car and the one which is printed on paper
- Make sure Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), vehicle registration number, Engine Number are also mentioned correctly.
Things to check inside the car
- Check for scratches and marks on car interiors, panels, dashboard etc
- Check on seats, roof liners, doors, mirrors, arm rests, wireless charging, USB charging points etc
- Check on the odometer reading, make sure it is less than 100 kms
Things to check in electrical components of your car
- Turn on Air condition and check fan speed, airvents in the front and in the rear are all functional
- Check the media system, play songs and check if music system controls and speakers are working
- Check if wipers are working and water is being sprayed
- Check for parking sensors, cameras, rear wipers etc
- Check if horn is working
- Make sure you test all the lights and are in working condition. Headlights, Foglights, tail lamps, brake lights, parking lights, hazard lights, interior lights, lights at the boot space etc has to be thoroughly inspected.
Things to check before making the first move out of showroom
- Ask the showroom to park the car in an open space in a proper daylight and conduct below inspections
- Have a good look at the exterior color, paint, cladding etc
- Have a quick look at the interior color and make sure it is the one which you opted for.
- Have a closer look at the exterior of the car to spent any dents or marks.
- Inspect if there is any difference in the shades of the color on different parts of the car, ensure the paint is consistent.
- Open the boot and check for the spare tyre and wheel (make sure it is of right size). They should be unused and new. Also check for jack, spanners and toolkit.
- Ensure that car’s front bonnet lid and boot lid open and close smoothly.
- Make sure that all the doors of your car can be opened, closed and locked, smoothly and swiftly.
- Ensure the power windows are functional on all the doors and notice for any abnormality.
- Double check that remote key locking system is working fine and functional from distance.
- Ensure if the driver’s control system like Headlamp switches, ignition keyhole, blinkers and vipers control, MID display, etc are working fine.
- Make sure that the cars windows roll up and down properly.
- Open the bonnet and inspect the engine area properly; It should not have tangled wires, oil spill signs, broken or damaged plastic parts.
Things to check - Keys, miscellaneous things
- Make sure you collect the duplicate key of the car and a proof to recover keys
- Make sure right tire pressure is inflated to the wheels
- Make sure you have enough petrol/diesel filled on to the tank
Final wrap-up
Congratulations on your new car! Happy motoring! Do remember to carry a smartphone with high quality camera or hire a professional photography service to capture your big day.