Buyer guide
New car delivery checklist: 8 things to confirm before you sign
By the InspektAI inspection team, 2 October 2026, 3 min read
The moment you sign the delivery note, every problem with the car stops being a condition of sale and becomes a favour you are asking the dealer for. The checks below come straight from a real pre-delivery inspection report on a new Skoda Kylaq in Bengaluru. Do all of them before you sign and before the balance leaves your account.
The eight checks
Take this list to the showroom, and tick each one yourself:
- The VIN on the car matches the invoice and Form 22. Photograph the VIN plate and compare it with every document.
- The odometer reads what it should. A delivery car should show single or low double digits, and should not gain kilometres between inspection and handover.
- Anything found at inspection has been put right, at the dealer’s cost, and written on the delivery note.
- Tyre date codes on all four tyres and the spare. The DOT code on the sidewall gives the week and year; they should match the car’s build.
- Every document is handed over: Form 22, invoice, insurance, temporary registration, owner’s manual, service book and both keys.
- The warranty starts on the delivery date, not the invoice date or the day the car reached the yard. Get it in writing.
- Every accessory on the invoice is present, including the tool kit, jack and spare wheel.
- Once the protective film and transit tape are off, the paint underneath is unmarked. Look in daylight.
What an inspection adds to your own look
Some things cannot be seen by eye. Transit damage that was repaired in the yard is the main one: a panel that was scratched on the truck and quietly resprayed looks perfect, but reads thicker on a paint gauge. Glass date codes, tyre manufacturing dates, fluid levels, the underbody, and an engine scan for stored fault codes are the others.
When to inspect
Book the inspection for the day the dealer allots your car, at the stockyard if they allow it, or at the showroom before registration. If something is found, that is when you have the most leverage: you can ask for a different car, or a documented fix, before the car is in your name.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refuse delivery of a new car with a defect?
Before you sign the delivery acceptance, you can ask for the defect to be fixed or for a different car. After you sign, it becomes a warranty or goodwill request. That is why the checks come first.
How do I read a tyre’s manufacturing date?
Find the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits are the week and year: 3226 means week 32 of 2026.
Does the dealer allow an independent PDI?
Most do. We coordinate the slot with you and the dealer, and the inspection takes about 90 minutes.
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