New EV Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) Checklist for India (2026) — Free & Printable

A pre-delivery inspection (PDI) is your one chance to catch problems before you sign for a brand-new electric car. Work through this list at the dealership, in daylight, without rushing. Your ticks are saved on this device, and you can download the ready-made printable PDF to carry with you.

New EV Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist

evfirst.co.in

Before you take delivery

4 checks

Inspect in daylight and don’t let anyone rush you — budget at least 45–60 minutes. Check the manufacturing month/year in the VIN — reject old stock, as a battery that has sat for months loses warranty life. Match the VIN (chassis number) across the car, invoice, insurance and Form 22. Note the battery pack’s manufacturing date if shown — the warranty clock starts here, not on your purchase date.

Exterior & body

5 checks

Paint is uniform under sunlight — no scratches, swirl marks, dents or overspray. Panel gaps are even all around, with no sign of repaint or repair. Windshield and all glass are free of cracks or chips. Every door, bonnet, tailgate/frunk and the charging flap opens, closes and aligns. Bumpers and underbody are free of scrapes, and all variant badges and trim are present.

Tyres & wheels

4 checks

Tyre manufacturing date (the DOT week/year stamp) is within a few months of delivery. All four tyres — and the spare, if any — are the same make and size, with full tread and no repairs. Alloys are unmarked: no curb rash or finish defects. Tyres are the correct EV/load-rated spec for the car’s weight.

Battery, charging & range

5 checks

State of charge on delivery is healthy (ideally 50–80%). Both charging cables are in the boot — the portable AC (15A/3-pin) cable and the Type-2 AC cable. A test AC charge actually starts, and the charging flap locks and unlocks. Battery warranty years and kilometres — and the start date — are printed on the warranty card. Estimated range at full charge is plausible against the claimed figure.

Interior

6 checks

Seats, upholstery and trim are unmarked, and all seat adjustments work. Infotainment, instrument cluster and every display power on with no dead pixels. AC cools quickly; the blower, all vents, and every button and stalk work. Windows (one-touch), mirrors (fold, adjust, defog) and the sunroof, if fitted, all operate. The odometer shows delivery mileage only — typically under about 50–100 km. Floor mats, tool kit/jack, first-aid kit and warning triangle are all present.

Lights & electronics

4 checks

Headlamps (low and high beam), DRLs, indicators, brake, reverse and fog lights all work. Horn, wipers, washer spray and rear defogger work. Reverse camera and parking sensors, speakers, Bluetooth and Android Auto/CarPlay all work. The connected-car app pairs to this VIN, and the software is on the latest version — ask about any pending recalls.

Test drive

4 checks

The motor pulls smoothly with no unusual whine, rattle or vibration. Regen braking modes switch cleanly and drive modes (Eco/City/Sport) engage. Brakes are firm and even, steering is centred with no pulling, and the suspension is quiet over bumps. No warning lights remain on the cluster, and auto-hold / parking brake works.

Paperwork before you pay

4 checks

Tax invoice, Form 21 and Form 22, and an insurance policy that matches the VIN. Owner’s manual and a warranty card (vehicle and battery) stamped and dated. A signed PDI report from the dealer. Booked accessories, offers and freebies confirmed in writing, and both key fobs handed over.