New Car PDI Checklist: Check Everything Before You Pay
The dealer's PDI is a workshop formality — this is the buyer's version. Work through it in order: paperwork before the final payment, the car itself in daylight. Pick your fuel type and flag old stock to get the checks that actually apply to your car, then save it as a PDF to carry to the yard.
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Paperwork — before you make the final payment
Everything here is easier to fix BEFORE money changes hands.
Exterior — inspect in daylight, never just showroom lighting
Interior & electricals
Under the bonnet & start-up
Opens your print dialog — choose “Save as PDF” or print it and carry the sheet to the yard. Unchecked items print with empty boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PDI when buying a new car?
Pre-Delivery Inspection — your systematic check of the exact car you're paying for, before you accept delivery. The dealer does an internal PDI, but it's a workshop checklist, not a buyer's one: it won't flag a 6-month-old battery, mismatched tyre dates, yard damage or a warranty booklet stamped with the wrong date. Do your own, in daylight, before the final payment.
Can I refuse delivery if the PDI reveals a problem?
Before full payment and registration — yes, that's exactly why you inspect first. Once the car is registered in your name, rejecting it becomes a fight. Order of operations: inspect the actual VIN-matched car, THEN pay the balance, THEN let them register it. A dealer who refuses to show you the car before payment is telling you something.
Is it okay to buy a car manufactured a few months ago?
Yes, if two things are true: you're compensated for it (old stock earns a bigger discount than the month's standard offers), and the age-sensitive parts check out — battery date code, tyre DOT codes, no yard rust, and written confirmation that warranty and free services run from your invoice date. Toggle 'old stock' in the tool above for the extra checks.
What documents should I check before taking delivery?
VIN matching the invoice and Form 22, the manufacture date on the VIN plate, insurance in your name with the right variant and IDV, warranty booklet stamped with the invoice date, Form 21, the dealer's PDI certificate, and an invoice that lists every agreed discount and freebie in writing.