What is pre-delivery inspection?

While a series of tests were already conducted in the plant, many brands do a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) in order to ensure that the customer is not getting a defective unit. Each car manufacturer has its own procedure for doing a PDI. Before we get onto it, let us first understand the true purpose of having your brand new car go through this inspection.

PDI happens to be part of the quality management of a car brand. That said, it is being done in order to make sure that the vehicle to be released is road-worthy and without fault. This means its mechanicals and other essential features are to be tested in order to make sure that the unit has no issues. By the end of the test, it should then be declared if the car is ready and safe to be driven on the road. 

As mentioned, each car manufacturer has its own standard procedure in performing a PDI. In most cases, your preferred dealership will be the one to carry out the PDI checks before giving the keys to your car. However, not all car brands do this, as some conduct the inspection at a different location, which means other brands have already gone through the process before having the units delivered to the dealership.

During a PDI, the manufacturer shall examine the major components of the car. While this may not seem accurate for all manufacturers, here are the following things that will most likely be included on a PDI checklist. Do take note that a PDI will require all of the equipment fitted to the car to protect it during transit to be removed in order to effectively conduct the inspection.

• Wheels - The inspector must make sure that the locking nuts are correctly tightened and that the tires are well inflated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Exterior lights - The lights must be able to function well in any mode, be it in low beam, high beam, or even in automatic. Notably, the alignment of the headlights will be corrected if necessary.
• Door locks - The car’s door lock system must be well operated through the key fob.
• Car’s start-up - The inspector will also check if the car will start properly.
• Fluids - Of course, the coolant, engine oil, and washer should have the correct fluid level.
• Safety features - Part of the process is also ensuring that its seatbelts and the dashboard warning lights are working as they should.
• Checking for any physical damage - Lastly, the car must be free from any physical damage before cleaning it all up and delivering it to the customer.

A portion of the checks will require your vehicle to be driven on the road. This is to ensure that the car is behaving well, plus, all functions and other mechanisms are working properly such as the steering and anti-lock braking system (ABS). This happens to be the reason why your new car already has a few kilometers on the clock when you buy it.

The usual timeframe runs in between 1 to 2 hours. However, processing a PDI usually varies depending on how thorough and comprehensive the checks are.