Things to check before taking car delivery
Taking delivery of a car is indeed the most excitement-filled moment in the whole car buying process. In the excitement of acquiring the keys to their new set of wheels, most buyers tend to forget that one must take care of a few things before leaving the showroom. Moreover, the process of Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) ensures that your new car is free of any damage before the car is registered under your name. In this article, we will talk about some important things to check before taking delivery of your car. Let’s begin.
The first thing to check
Opening a car dealership is a business in itself. Like any other business, no owner wants to see losses. In the case of dealerships, cars lying around for too long in the stockyard is a loss for the dealer. A car standing for too long is more dangerous than a car that is regularly on the roads. In order to rectify their losses, dealers silently sell out these cars to buyers, with most of the buyers unaware of the fact that an old car has been passed on to them. To avoid this, the first thing on your checklist should be the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Decoding this number will tell you the exact month and year when the particular piece was manufactured. If you find yourself in this particular situation when a car has been in the stockyard for well over six months, there are only two things that you can do; either you can reject the piece or you can go via the negotiation route.
Exterior
Sometimes, a new car tends to get some scratches or dents when it is in transit from the dockyard to the dealership’s location. It is important to check for any symptoms of repaint around the corners, look out for any deformity on the bodywork like ripples, dimples, dings, scrapes or dents. If you notice any bodywork damage, bring it to the dealer’s notice and get a written confirmation for the same. Minor issues can be fixed then and there, however, if you find some serious issues with the car like major damage to body panels, you can straightaway refuse from taking delivery. However, this needs to be done before the car is registered under your name. Post-registration, there will not be much that you can do about it.
Apart from this, check the tyres as well. Look out for signs of usage on tyres. They should look new. You can confirm by checking the manufacturing dates on the tyres. Do not forget to check the spare tyre as well.
Interior
Once you step inside the car, check the quality of the dashboard, have a look at all the panels and upholstery, check if the glove box shuts correctly. Test the AC, see if it’s cooling the cabin effectively and quickly. Look out for any stains on the front as well as rear seats or the carpet. Lift the carpets and check for any signs of water seepage inside. Look out for any cracks on the window and door seals. Check if all the seat belts and adjustment controls for the seat and steering wheel, and each of the windows operate smoothly.
Electrical equipment
Turn the car on, ensure that the electrical bits are in proper condition and working perfectly. With cars being parked in an open stockyard for weeks together, there is a chance that the wiring could suffer damage due to rodents. So, it is important to check all the electrical equipment like the infotainment system, instrument cluster, power windows, wipers, headlights, tail lights, indicators and others. Make sure to check what lies under the hood as well. Take a good look at the battery and ask the salesperson to provide the warranty card for the same. Also, its electrodes should be free of corrosion. When looking under the hood, also check whether all fluids like engine oil, coolant, washer fluid, etc. are topped up.
Documentation
The most important thing about any purchase is its documents. Go through all the payment receipts, insurance papers and other documents like the ‘Form 22’ which carries your car’s engine number and chassis number along with the month and the year of manufacture. Moreover, ensure that the engine and the chassis number of your vehicle match those mentioned in the official document.
Ask for demonstration
The last thing to check before taking delivery of a new car is the demonstration of the car. Before driving away, do not forget to ask the salesperson to provide a demonstration of how every feature of the car works. Clear all your doubts about the maintenance, service intervals and oil check-ups before you get behind the wheel of your new vehicle.
These are the things to check before taking car delivery. If you have car buying doubts click here to ask! Get the lowest price for car insurance here. For more such content stay subscribed to MotorOctane Youtube, Google News Facebook and Twitter. Also, follow us on Flipboard and Reddit where we have a discussion community.
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