Make sure you check every item on this list before taking Delivery of a new car

Excited about your new car delivery! Ensure you confirm with dealer about your vehicle's readiness to avoid disappointment. Also confirm the required documentation work, so that you are well prepared to take the delivery.

It is preferable to take the delivery in day light, as you can better look at your car.

You might also want to take a friend or an acquaintance along, who can look beyond your excitement and identify any misses

At showroom, you can ask the dealer guy to give you a complete demo on various instrumentation and controls on car. Many cars have different control mechanisms, fuel lid control, rear trunk control, seat adjustments, instrumentation controls, etc. You should take the opportunity to understand various functions in detail.

Meanwhile, here is a list of checks you should do before taking your car delivery

We will begin with basic checks first.

Exterior check (as mentioned, preferably do the checks in open space, with enough natural light)

• Walk around the car to ensure there are no dents, repaints or any repair jobs.
• Check the tire condition, they should be new and should have right air pressure.
• Check if all the doors, handles, hoods, trunks, fuel lid, etc. work correctly

Interior Checks. Should be clean and smelling nice (there have been instances where buyers have been handed cars with wet carpets, causing bad smell)

• Check carpet, headliner/roof, and seats. They should not have any stains or tears/damages
• Check if all lights and electric accessories are working fine - headlights, tail lights, brake lights, reverse lights, trunk light, hood light and any interior lights (dome, glove box, reading etc.)
• Check for AC and Sound System, to ensure they all are working fine.
• Try adjusting all seats to ensure any electrical or mechanical control systems are in place
• Check the mileage on the car. Ideally it shouldn't be more than 100 km. Also, ensure there is enough fuel in the car to take you to the nearest fuel station
• Check the gauges and other controls to ensure they all work properly. It is highly recommendable to ask dealership person for any doubts on gauges or usage of various safety/control devices.
• Check the spare wheel and related accessories like jack, spanner, etc.

Accessory checks - Ensure all the accessories, promised by dealer or paid for are fitted in the car

Open the car bonnet to check if everything seems clean and fine, especially check the battery for any corrosion or loose connections

Document Check - While it seems like a simple check, we think it's very critical to ensure all elements are ticked

• Check the invoice. Ensure Chassis No, Engine No, and VIN matches with the invoice. Also ensure you have all the payment receipts, whether for advance payment or balance payments
• Check the Registration book and Owner's Manual to ensure details are fine. Also ensure all the free service coupons are intact and clearly marked
• Insurance documents should be in place. Check the Vehicle details, Owner Details and Insurance start date and validity. Also, ensure the coverage is provided as per your discussion and all elements are clearly marked
• Ensure all the warranty documents - original OEM warranty, extended warranty (if opted for), any additional part warranties, etc. are in place with original stamps
• Original PUC certificate, with validity of 1 year
• Get hold of duplicate keys, and roadside assistance details

While this check list should take care of your pre-delivery inspection, if you still want to have more exhaustive checks, including a quick spin in your car before officially taking handover, then please refer the attached list for details

Meanwhile, Team WheelMonk wishes you "All the Best" for your new purchase. Have fun, but be safe