What should you take care of while doing car purchase inspection?
Whether it is a new or used car, bringing it home is always a wonderful occasion for the person who does it. However, a good deal for purchasing a used automobile must include a thorough evaluation of the car to ensure that it is in top driving and operating condition. By doing this, the customer will be shielded against any unexpected repair costs and undesirable circumstances, such as becoming stuck on the side of the road. We have therefore provided a list of some fundamental inspection checklist items for secondhand cars so as to address this issue. Following these inspection checklist items will make the car purchase inspection more organized, straightforward, and practical.
Car purchase inspection: What is it?
Pre-Delivery inspection or car purchase inspection may not be an expression that most customers are familiar with (PDI). Before the car is registered, the dealer performs one last inspection in the showroom. It is a complete inspection of the vehicle that pays close attention to the exterior, interior, electric components, mechanical components, accessories, road test, fluid level testing, as well as any small issues and flaws.
1. Begin by examining the body shell.
Examining the general body of an automobile is the first step in the inspection procedure. This entails strolling around the car and inspecting the body for dings and scratches. Additionally, a comprehensive check for a questionable paint job should be conducted. After that, it is necessary to inspect the spaces between the fenders and the doors. Uneven gaps typically signify either improper factory assembly or poor maintenance of the vehicle.
Next, using a torchlight, check the interior of the wheel wells for signs of corrosion and rust damage. To check if they are up to par and make no unwelcome noises while being perfectly secured to the chassis, each and every door, including the boot and bonnet, should be opened and closed. Last but not least, be sure to look for decay and tears in the rubber seals that surround the doors and windows.
2. Carefully scan the area between the glass panels
The next step in the checklist for inspecting a used car is to look for any cracks or cratered areas. Windscreen and window cracks will only become worse with time and may eventually need to be repaired at a cost.
3. Verify your suspension
One of the major components that are prone to wear and tear is suspension. Standing back from the automobile and examining for slumping and sagging are two steps in the process of determining whether the suspension of the old car is in good shape. For the car body to return to its original position, all the corners must be pressed down. A sign that the suspension setup is not in very good shape is if the car keeps going up and down.
4. Inspect the frame for damage
When aftermarket CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) kits or other exterior accessories are installed, frame damage primarily affects the car’s body. The gas tank is often mounted in the vehicle’s boot and fastened to the body with bolts. Permanent holes are made in the body as a result, which may have serious repercussions.
Through these gaps, the car’s deadly smoke coming from below the exhaust pipe might get inside. Additionally, check the area that connects the front fenders to the radiator’s top by opening the hood. This should never be welded; it should always be securely fastened into place on either side with bolts.
5. Check the Tires and All the Lights
The vehicle’s lights, including its headlamps (both low and high beams), tail lamps, third brake lamps, and fog lamps, are the next thing to be checked as part of the basic checkpoints.
When carefully examined, tires typically reveal the entire picture of a car’s history. Making sure that all of the tires are the same size and brand is important. The tread on the tires should show the same amount of wear and tear across their breadth on both sides of the vehicle. The previous owner may need to replace the tires if one side of the tires appears to be more damaged than the other due to irresponsible driving.
6. Inspect the Bonnet
The engine is the most important component of a car’s mechanical system. The following items are on the engine car purchase inspection checklist:
Checking for leaks in all fluid tanks
Belts shouldn’t display any indications of cracking.
Pull remove the dipstick to check the amount of oil in the car.
The coolant shouldn’t be discolored or dirty-looking in color. This can indicate a damaged coolant tank or a leaking head gasket.
Pull the dipstick on the transmission. Check the “timing belt” and make sure the liquid within is red or pink in color.
The timing chain, which is among the car’s most important and costly mechanical components, needs to be replaced every 95,000 to 1,60,000 kilometers.
7. Time to Unlock the Doors and Take a Look Around
The next stage is to examine the cabin after inspecting the outside and engine. The following items are on the standard interior inspection checklist for used cars:
Check the seats and upholstery for burns from cigarettes, tears, and other damage.
Check the metal and plastic parts inside the car’s cabin for dings.
Switch Turn on the car’s air conditioner and check the airflow. Look for a sticker on the condenser to confirm that it is utilizing R134 coolant.
The next logical step is to examine the mileage. The number of kilometers driven on the car should match its age. A 15-year-old vehicle with less than 20,000 miles on the odometer does not necessarily have to be in good condition.
Turning on the ignition and looking for any warning lights on the instrument panel are the final steps in the interior inspection of the vehicle. During this process, someone should also examine the rear parking sensor and rear parking camera.
8. Drive the vehicle around.
A test drive is the last stage to determining whether a car is in good condition. Check the brakes and gear-shifting system while driving. Additionally, there shouldn’t be any significant pedal shaking, unnecessary noises, or brake squeaking. Make a fast U-turn at a slow speed to listen for any suspension system creaking.
Why is a PDI necessary?
The purpose of PDI is to check the vehicle for any significant or small problems. Minor issues are immediately resolved by the dealer. While the most significant issues are referred to the proper experts for resolution. By doing this, you can be confident that your car will be in excellent condition when you receive it.
Why should your car undergo a PDI?
It is also your responsibility as a customer to ensure that everything is in order. Here is a thorough Pre-Delivery Inspection checklist you may use to be sure your car’s PDI was performed with care:
Car invoice that includes information about the model and sub-model of the vehicle
receipts for payments made for the vehicle, its accessories, the RTO, taxes, etc.
documents of many kinds, such as a copy of the insurance (crosscheck details relating to model, variant, engine, chassis number, and so on).
details of the insurance policy.
The vehicle registration number on the RTO Road Tax Registration receipt.
Warranty documents for the vehicle and every other installed component, including batteries, audio systems, tires, a CNG kit, parking sensors, and so forth. Make sure the stamps are applied correctly.
If any, an extended warranty.
Copy of Roadside Assistance (RSA).
Owner’s guide and service handbook.
PUC certificate, or pollution under control.
Important stats of car purchase inspection to look out
Road accidents have several contributing factors, and one of them is vehicle flaws. Prior studies estimated that car problems were responsible for up to 19% of road crashes in wealthy countries, with the highest percentage recorded at 27% in poor nations. Given that such checks can identify mechanical flaws and hence avoid crashes, this link is the primary justification used to justify the establishment of vehicle technical inspection (VTI) programs as a legal requirement for roadworthiness in many nations.
Although the number of traffic accidents has decreased recently due to new technologies and improvements in traffic safety, some nations or regions within nations have chosen to do away with this legal requirement. The chance of being involved in a traffic accident when driving a car made before 2000 is 71% higher than the risk of driving a vehicle made in 2010 or later, according to reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the USA. This conclusion, along with comparable statistics, serves as the primary justification for economic incentives aimed to reduce the average age of vehicles on the road, as opposed to the construction, upkeep, and management of specialist VTI centers in those nations having VTI laws in place.
Final thoughts
You can bring a camera so you can take pictures of your sparkling new car from various perspectives. This will assist you in identifying flaws and imperfections. You can bring a friend or family member who can assist you in spotting car flaws along with you. Bringing along someone with previous car inspection experience could be quite beneficial.
Understanding the implications of specific distinct facts and deciding if estimates are fair can be challenging for an auto company or its consultants. The appraisal result should be plausible in addition to an examination of each distinct assumption. Talk to a qualified appraiser about your next auto inspection or call 1-877-888-6113
Daniel “Dan” Jendrowski
Certified Public Auto Appraiser Diminish Value Experts B.C.A.A. & I.A.C.P.
For FREE Consultation with an expert Auto Appraiser, call
