What is a New Car PDI?
A new car PDI, or Pre-Delivery Inspection for a new car, is a detailed quality control process carried out before the car is officially handed over to the buyer. Though your vehicle is fresh from the factory, it may have been exposed to handling issues during transit or storage. This is where the PDI of a new car plays a vital role.
CARS24’s new car inspection service covers all 140+ point key vehicle systems and checks for cosmetic flaws, mechanical defects, electrical faults, and software irregularities. Our process ensures your vehicle is delivered in pristine condition, just as promised.
We look at:
- Mechanical & electrical systems
- Cosmetic condition (interior & exterior)
- Functioning of safety features
- Software & sensor diagnostics
- Legal & financial background
Whether you're buying from a dealership, leasing company, or direct manufacturer, a PDI for new cars ensures your investment is protected before you ever drive off.
What’s Included in Our New Car PDI Checklist?
Our expert technicians follow a 140+ point standardised yet exhaustive pre delivery inspection checklist for new car models, irrespective of make or variant. Every point is evaluated with precision to ensure complete quality assurance.
Exterior and Body Inspection
- Detection of scratches, dents, paint mismatch, and panel damage
Our new car PDI service involves a close inspection of all external surfaces to identify minor scratches, swirl marks, paint inconsistencies, or dents that may have occurred during transit or handling at the dealership. - Condition of lights, tyres, wheels, glass, and door alignments
As part of the new car inspection, we check for properly aligned doors, intact glass panels, scratch-free lights, and tyres that are factory-fresh and free of wear or bulges. - Check for signs of previous repairs or replacements
The pre delivery inspection of a new car includes detecting any panel repaints or part replacements that may suggest accidental damage before delivery — an issue not always disclosed.
Interior Inspection
- Dashboard operations, infotainment system, upholstery, seat functionality
The interior inspection for the new car covers proper operation of the dashboard, screen responsiveness, and infotainment features like Bluetooth, navigation, and display accuracy, as well as upholstery condition and adjustable seats. - AC performance, switches, buttons, and safety locks
We test all switches, buttons, and lock functions to ensure your new car inspection checklist is complete. AC output and cooling efficiency are also thoroughly verified. - Cabin hygiene and overall factory-fresh condition
The PDI for the new car confirms there are no signs of water leaks, unpleasant odours, dust buildup, or stains, ensuring a clean and brand-new cabin experience.
Mechanical & Safety Systems
- Brakes, clutch, steering response, and suspension movement
A critical part of our pre delivery inspection for the new car includes checking braking distance, clutch smoothness, steering wheel alignment, and suspension bounce to ensure optimal driving performance. - Fluid levels – brake oil, coolant, washer fluid
The new car PDI checklist includes verifying all essential fluids are filled to manufacturer standards and free from contamination. - Testing of airbags, seatbelts, and safety alerts
We ensure safety systems are fully operational — including airbags, audible alerts, and functioning seatbelts — as part of our comprehensive inspection for new car buyers.
Electrical & Software Functionality
- ECU and sensor diagnostics
Using diagnostic tools, our team performs an ECU scan and sensor check to ensure there are no hidden software errors or warning signals, which are essential in today’s tech-enabled vehicles. - Operation of headlights, indicators, fog lamps, rear defogger
Our PDI new car checklist ensures all lights and signals are functioning correctly for safety and compliance, including fog lamps and rear defoggers. - Battery health and charging system
We check that your vehicle’s battery is brand new, charging efficiently, and not showing signs of pre-installation discharge or damage.
Documentation & Accessories
- Cross-verification of VIN, chassis, and engine numbers
Every new car pre delivery inspection includes verification of identification numbers to confirm that all documentation matches the actual vehicle delivered. - Owner’s manual, tool kit, spare tyre, jack, and accessories check
Our pre delivery checklist for new car covers all promised accessories, including spare tyre, emergency tools, and the user manual, ensuring nothing is missing at the time of delivery. - Registration details and compliance verification
We verify registration status and ensure your vehicle is compliant with RTO regulations, emissions norms, and any applicable road safety mandates.
This structured approach forms the backbone of our new car PDI checklist, helping customers avoid issues that may not be visible during a regular showroom visit.
Why Is PDI Important for a New Car?
Most buyers assume that a brand-new vehicle is flawless, but that’s not always the case. Cars can develop issues during transportation, factory assembly, or storage. A pre delivery inspection of a new car ensures that any faults—minor or major—are caught early and resolved before delivery.
Choosing a professional new car inspection service not only protects your investment but also ensures you receive the vehicle in its intended condition. Our data shows that a significant number of new cars inspected show at least one deviation from showroom standards.
With CARS24’s PDI for new cars:
- Catch detection of manufacturing defects
- Identify transit or storage-related damages and dealer cover-ups
- Assurance that all electronics and software are functioning correctly
- Ensure critical safety systems work as intended
- Confirmation of complete accessories and correct documentation
- Verified factory-fresh condition at the time of handover
- Peace of mind and complete transparency from day one
Why Choose CARS24 for Your New Car PDI Service?
With a presence in 220+ cities and a team of over 1500+ inspection professionals, CARS24 delivers reliable, unbiased, and expert-led inspections for new car owners. We bring the inspection to your doorstep, giving you a hassle-free and neutral quality check before delivery.
- Same-day inspection appointments
- Independent, third-party evaluation
- Transparent reporting with a detailed health certificate
- Support with claim resolution for defects found
- End-to-end verification from VIN to visual flaws
Whether you're buying from a dealer, leasing agency, or showroom, our pre delivery inspection for new cars ensures every part, panel, and process meets expectations.
Book PDI for New Car Today
Don’t leave your first drive to chance. Book PDI for a new car with CARS24 and take delivery only after an expert confirms that everything checks out. Our comprehensive pre delivery checklist for new car models ensures you avoid future complaints and start your ownership experience on the right note.
A PDI for a new car isn’t just a precaution — it’s a smart move.
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