If you are buying a new car on Diwali, then do PDI like this; Dealer should not sell defective goods in haste

Bringing home a new car on the auspicious occasion of Diwali is a very happy moment for everyone. During the festive season, there is a huge rush of customers in automobile showrooms due to huge discounts, great offers and new models. There is a huge pressure on dealerships to deliver vehicles and taking advantage of this pressure, many times dealers hand over damaged, defective vehicles to customers or those that have been gathering dust in the stockyard for months.

In the excitement and hurry of taking delivery, people often complete the paperwork and take the keys, due to which they have to regret later. The only surefire way to avoid this problem is Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). If you inspect the car closely before registering and making full payment, it not only gives you peace of mind, but also completely eliminates the risk of the dealer handing over a defective product.

PDI’s Step-by-Step Guide

1. Choosing the right time and place

Always do PDI in broad daylight. Avoid inspecting the vehicle in the showroom basement or stockyard with low lighting, as small dents and paint scratches are not visible in low light.

2. Examining the Exterior

• Paint and Body Panel: Go around the car and look for gaps in the body panels. If the gap appears uneven, the vehicle may have been hit during transportation. The shine of the paint should be uniform.
• Mirror and wiper: There should be no cracks or scratches on the windshield, windows and rear glass. Also check the rubber of the wiper blades.
• Tires and spare wheel: Check the manufacturing date and tread of all four tyres. Open the boot space and also check the spare wheel, tool kit, jack and first-aid kit.

3. Cabin check

• Sitting and Fabric: There should be no stains or cuts on the seat upholstery, roof lining and door padding. Check all the seats forward and backward and recline.
• Dashboard and Console: There should not be any scratches on the dashboard. Glove box, sun visor and storage compartments should open and close properly.
• Cabin Smell: There should not be any smell of dampness or rat bite in the cabin, which indicates that the vehicle has been parked for a long time.

4. Electrical and technical checkup

• Lights: Lightly check the headlamps (high/low beam), fog lamps, turn indicators and taillights.
• AC and Climate Control: Start the engine and immediately check the cooling/heating capacity of the air conditioner and heater. Test different speeds of the blower.
• Infotainment System: Try enabling the touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, speakers, reverse camera and sensors. Operate controls for all power windows, sunroof and side mirrors.

5. Engine Bay Inspection

Open the bonnet and check the level of engine oil, coolant, brake oil and washer fluid. There should not be any cuts, loose wires or signs of leakage in any pipe or cable. There should be no corrosion on the battery terminals.

6. Odometer and VIN Verification

• odometer reading: The odometer of a new car should be within 30 to 70 kilometers. Ask for clarification from the dealer if the reading is more than 100 km.
• VIN Number: Check the manufacturing month and year of the car by decoding the chassis number of the car, so that the dealer does not sell you old stock.

7. Matching of documents

Match the engine number and chassis number written on the invoice, insurance copy, warranty booklet and owner manual with the number plate and physical plate of the car.

Do not sign the delivery challan and withhold final payment until you are completely satisfied with each checkpoint. A little caution will make your Diwali shopping completely safe and pleasant. These small tips are going to help you a lot.