Dhanteras 2025 Car Purchase Guide: A Complete PDI Checklist Before You Take Delivery

Buying a new car during Dhanteras is exciting, but the smartest buyers slow down at the finish line and run a careful Pre-Delivery Inspection. A thorough PDI helps you catch transport damage, factory defects, missing accessories, or documentation errors before you sign and drive out. Use the step by step checklist below at the dealership, in daylight if possible, to ensure your first day of ownership is smooth and stress free.

Exterior Inspection

1. Paint and panels
   Inspect every panel under bright light. Look for scratches, dents, paint bubbles, overspray, mismatched shades between panels, and swirl marks. Check alignment of bonnet, fenders, doors, and tailgate. Gaps should be uniform. Open and close all doors to confirm smooth operation and proper latching.
2. Glass and lights
   Check the windshield and windows for chips or scratches. Verify headlamps, DRLs, fog lamps, indicators, tail lamps, reverse lights, and brake lights. Confirm the headlamp leveling control works. Inspect wiper blades for clean edges and test washer spray pattern.
3. Underside and trim
   Crouch and look under the bumpers and sills for scrape marks from transport. Ensure mud flaps, claddings, badges, roof rails, antenna, and number plate frames are firmly seated with no gaps or loose clips.

Quick Summary

Tyres, Wheels, and Brakes

1. Tyres
   All four tyres plus the spare must be brand new and of the promised make and size. Check the DOT week and year to ensure fresh stock. Visually confirm even tread and no cuts or bulges. Ask for the correct cold inflation pressure and check or set it before the test drive.
2. Wheels and brakes
   Inspect alloy or steel wheels for scuffs. Look at brake discs for unusual grooves or rust beyond a thin surface film. Confirm the parking brake holds on a slight incline.

Engine Bay and Fluids

1. Visual inspection
   Open the bonnet. The engine bay should appear clean and factory fresh with intact caps and clips. Look for any seepage around hoses or reservoirs.
2. Fluids
   Check engine oil level and color, coolant level, brake fluid level, and windshield washer fluid. For automatic or DCT variants, confirm transmission fluid seals are clean. Ask the advisor to point out each reservoir.
3. Battery
   Inspect terminal tightness and any signs of corrosion. If the car has idle start stop or a heavy electronics load, a healthy battery is essential. Note the battery make and warranty card entry.

Interior and Cabin Quality

1. Seats and upholstery
   Scan for stains, scuffs, loose stitching, or sagging foam. Operate seat height, recline, and slide mechanisms. For rear seats, check split fold and latch function. Pull the seat belts fully to ensure fresh, smooth webbing and proper retraction.
2. Plastics and trim
   Tap panels lightly to check for rattles. Verify glovebox, center console lid, cupholders, armrests, sunvisors, grab handles, coat hooks, and parcel tray are secure.
3. Controls and displays
   Switch on the ignition and cycle through the instrument cluster. Confirm odometer shows minimal pre-delivery kilometers. Try every stalk and button: indicators, wipers including intermittent speeds, rear defogger, hazard lights, power windows with one touch functions, child lock, ORVM power adjust and fold, and central locking.
4. Infotainment and connectivity
   Test the touchscreen, physical knobs, and steering controls. Pair your phone, make a quick call, stream audio, and test navigation prompts. Verify promised features like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, USB ports, 12V socket, and wireless charger.
5. HVAC
   Run AC at full blast, check temperature drop, blower speeds, and vent direction controls. Test heater for a minute. Listen for odd noises and sniff for musty smells that could indicate a clogged filter.

Mechanical Feel and Short Test Drive

1. Start up
   Engine should crank quickly and idle smoothly without shudder. Warning lights should self test and turn off. For hybrids or EVs, confirm ready indicators and charge status.
2. Low speed drive in the dealership lane or yard
   Check steering centering, straight line tracking, and brake bite at low speed. Listen for rattles over small bumps. For automatics, verify smooth engagement of D and R. For manuals, ensure clutch take up is progressive and gears slot positively.
3. Parking sensors and camera
   Engage reverse to test guidelines, clarity, and sensor beeps. Try 360 camera views if equipped.

Electrical and Safety Features

1. Safety systems
   Verify ABS or ESC indicator cycles correctly, airbag light goes off after self test, rear seat belt reminders function, and ISOFIX covers are present. If ADAS is equipped, confirm the menu presence and basic functionality on a short, safe demonstration.
2. Keys
   Inspect both primary keys and any smart card or digital key features. Test remote lock unlock, boot release, and remote start if applicable.

Accessories, Tools, and Spare

1. Essential kit
   Spare wheel or repair kit, jack, wheel spanner, towing eye, warning triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher if supplied, fast tag, and floor mats. Confirm the promised accessory pack item by item.
2. Chargers and cables
   For EVs or PHEVs, check the portable charger, wallbox paperwork, mounting kit, and cables.

Documentation and Numbers

1. Chassis and engine numbers
   Match VIN and engine number on the vehicle with the invoice, insurance, and registration documents. Photograph the VIN plate and stamping for your records.
2. Paperwork set
   Owner’s manual, service book or digital service app onboarding, warranty booklet, battery warranty, extended warranty if purchased, RSA details, insurance policy, tax invoice, temporary registration or trade certificate, and check list copy.
3. Delivery note
   Ensure all due payments are correctly reflected. Strike off any items not taken and note pending items with a promised delivery date in writing.

Fuel and Charging

Ask for a minimum of 8 to 10 liters of fuel for ICE cars so you can reach your preferred pump comfortably. For EVs, request at least 60 to 70 percent state of charge to drive home and explore settings without range anxiety.

Final Walkaround and Handover Photos

Do one last walkaround with the delivery executive, photograph the odometer, exterior from all corners, VIN plate, accessory kit, and the signed delivery checklist. Store these in a dedicated folder for future reference.

Five Common Mistakes To Avoid

1. Rushing the inspection due to crowd or celebration timing
2. Skipping the VIN match across documents
3. Ignoring spare wheel, jack, and towing eye
4. Not testing all windows, mirrors, lights, and the reverse camera
5. Accepting delivery at dusk or in the rain without a follow up daylight check

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the ideal odometer reading at delivery

A. Generally under 50 to 100 kilometers is normal for yard movement, fuel station trips, and PDI. Anything significantly higher should be explained in writing.

Q2. Can I refuse delivery if I find defects

A. Yes. Document the issues with photos, list them on the delivery note, and ask for repair or vehicle replacement as per the dealership’s policy and your booking terms.

Q3. Should I take dealership insurance or buy externally

A. Request both quotes. If the dealer matches the external premium or adds value with cashless support and add ons at similar price, either option is fine.

Q4. What should I check first on an EV

A. Battery state of charge, charger kit, charging port condition, cable integrity, charging demonstration, and EV system readiness indicators.

Q5. Do I need a separate PDI for accessories

A. Yes. Verify installation quality for seat covers, 360 camera kits, dash cams, ambient lighting, or alloy upgrades. Ensure no stray wiring and confirm warranty does not get affected.

Official Site

• Vehicle ownership and registration guidance: https://parivahan.gov.in

For More Information Click HERE