A pre-delivery inspection is the last thorough look at a vehicle before its owner drives it away: transit damage found and dealt with, fluids and tyre pressures set, every lamp and switch tried, recalls and software brought up to date, a road test, and the keys, books and accessories gathered for the handover. This form works for new and used vehicles, and you can fill it in here and download the finished PDI as a PDF without creating an account.
What a PDI is, and who does it
A PDI is done by the selling dealer's technicians, and by fleet buyers accepting vehicles from a supplier. Most manufacturers publish their own PDI procedure for each model; where yours does, follow it and use this form as the signed record. Where nobody hands you a procedure — an independent dealer, a fleet taking delivery, a converted vehicle — this list is a sound general one.
The aim is simple: the customer's first hour with the vehicle should turn up nothing the workshop could have found first.
Transit damage: find it on arrival, not at handover
Inspect the vehicle as it comes off the transporter, in good light, before it goes into stock. Damage noted on the carrier's delivery receipt is the carrier's problem; damage found three weeks later at handover is yours. The places it hides:
- The roof and the top of the tailgate — look from a step, not from the ground.
- Lower door edges, sills and the underside of the front bumper.
- Wheel rims, where tie-down straps sit.
- Glass, especially the windscreen, for stone chips picked up in transit.
- Interior trim, scuffed by whoever drove it on and off the truck.
Shipping settings to undo
Many vehicles leave the factory in a transport or storage mode that limits electrical drain — sometimes switched in software, sometimes with a fuse left out. Tyres may be inflated above road pressure to stop flat spots during storage. Paint, seats and wheels may wear protective film. A battery that has stood for weeks may be low enough to cause odd electrical faults.
The arrival section asks about each of these, and records the battery voltage, because a weak 12-volt battery is behind a surprising share of early warranty complaints.
Used vehicles need the underneath
Answer Yes to "Is this a used vehicle?" and a section appears for the wear items a new car does not have: brake pads and discs measured, steering and suspension joints, CV boots, exhaust, the underbody, a cold start, the service history and the tyres' age. It is a condensed version of a full mechanical survey, aimed at what a retail customer would reasonably expect to have been checked.
The handover is part of the inspection
Most complaints in a customer's first week are handover misses, not mechanical faults: one key instead of two, a floor mat lying loose over the pedals, the locking wheel-nut key not in the car, the clock an hour out, an accessory that was ordered but not fitted. The handover section is the last thing checked, after the valet, for that reason.
Common questions
What does PDI stand for?
Pre-delivery inspection: the checks and preparation done on a vehicle after it reaches the dealer or buyer and before it is handed to the customer.
How long does a pre-delivery inspection take?
For a new car without many accessories, typically one to two hours including the valet. A used vehicle, a commercial vehicle with a body conversion, or a long list of dealer-fitted accessories takes longer.
Is a PDI the same as a safety inspection?
No. A safety or roadworthiness inspection is a defined test, often a legal requirement before registration or sale in some places. A PDI is preparation and quality control. A used vehicle may need both.
Should the customer get a copy of the PDI?
Many dealers hand one over, and it is good practice — it shows what was checked and who signed for it. The PDF this form produces can go in the handover pack.
What if the vehicle has an open recall?
Do the remedy before handover wherever it is available. In the US, a dealer may not sell or deliver a new vehicle with an open safety recall until it has been remedied; the rules for used vehicles vary by state and country. Record the recall and its status here either way.
Does a PDI include a road test?
It should. A short drive finds what a stationary check cannot: noises, a pull under braking, a gearbox that shifts badly, a driver-assist warning that only appears at speed. Switch the road test section off only if the vehicle genuinely could not be driven.