Top 5 New Car Delivery Checks Even Experts Miss: Last One Will Get You A Hefty Discount!

Published: Thursday, May 29, 2025, 16:14 [IST]

Usually, car dealerships do not want to cheat their customers as it will hurt their business and brand image. However, there have been scenarios where dealerships have been caught selling cars with a history of flood damage, accidents, or faults.

However, a PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) is usually carried out to check for such problems before handing over the new car to customers. What is interesting is that a PDI is usually done by the dealership itself.

To overcome this, there are professionals who offer PDI services on behalf of the customer. While this model of business has been successful, even these professionals miss out on a few key areas. As such, here are a few key things you must check before taking delivery of your new car.

Tyres

Tyres are a very crucial part of the car, and they are often neglected. Though tyres provided by a car manufacturer are not often the best, it is critical to make sure it is in their best condition.

Since tyres are not protected while transporting a new car, it may have punctures. So, taking a closer look at the condition of the tyres of the new car before delivery is a must. Also, ensure the Date of Manufacture of tyres is not more than 6 months older than the Date of Manufacture of the vehicle.

Battery

New car batteries can be easily stolen and replaced. As such, ensure you have a new battery in the car. The same '6-month' rule for tyres also applies to the car battery. Also, if you are buying an older stock vehicle from the dealer, request the dealer to replace the car battery before taking delivery.

Worn-Out Rubber Seals

Since dealerships can stock cars for a long period of time on their stock yards, exposure to the sun may damage rubber seals. As such, check if the rubber seals are not hard or cracked.

Under Seat Checkup

While flooding of dealership stock is not common, we have witnessed such scenarios in the past. While selling these flood-affected cars comes under bad business practice, dealerships may indulge in such practices.

So, one of the best ways to check for flood-affected cars is to check the underside of the front seats, as they tend to be damp and collect mud.

Scratches On Plastic Trim

This check is completely optional and does not affect the performance of the car in any way. While minor scratches on the exterior and interior of a new car is more common than you think, deeper scratches on the plastic trim on the interior can be an eyesore and cannot be repaired.

If you encounter such a scenario, ask the dealership to replace the area with the deeper scratch or haggle for a hefty discount to accept the delivery.