CAR SPECIAL...What to Check in a New Car Before You Drive it Out of the Showroom

What to Check in a New Car Before You Drive it Out of the Showroom

What to check and how to detect defects before a car is registered in your name

    Many of us love to make high-value purchases during the festive season, and the list also includes cars. Some of us even go to the extent of waiting for an auspicious day to take the delivery of the car. Sure, most of us slog it out researching the car we want to buy, negotiating with dealers to get the best deal. However, it is important to put in some extra effort and do the necessary due diligence while taking your car delivery to ensure that you get your dream car in good condition. Here you need to be a little proactive.

“While booking the car itself inform your dealer that you would like to do a pre-registration check at the stockyard. Since the car is not yet registered in your name at this stage, you can point out any defect there and then. This is important as once a car is registered in your name, it is unlikely that the dealer would replace it in case defects are found,” says Roshun Povaiah of Cartoq, an automobile website. “Once you start inspecting the car, look for things like odometer reading, colour and body of the car, bonnet, tyres, electrical components and the music system,” says Banwari Lal Sharma, AVP (marketing), Carwale, an online automobile site.

ASK FOR A PRE-REGISTRATION CHECK

Typically, a car travels from the factory to the dealer’s stockyard and from there to the dealer’s showroom where it is delivered to the customer. It is at the stockyard that registration and other paperwork take place. So once you finalise your car and book it with the dealer, it is essential to inform the dealer that you wish to inspect your car at the stockyard itself. In case you do not inform the dealer, he will choose one car from his stock and get it registered in your name and deliver it to you at the showroom. The stockyard is the first place where you can start checking your car.

DOING A PRE-REGISTRATION CHECK

Take an acquaintance, friend or an auto mechanic if possible to do this check. It would be nice to check the car in the morning or early afternoons in broad daylight. It is difficult to notice smaller defects or scratches and changes in colour shades once it gets dark. Walk around the vehicle several times and look at it from as many angles as possible. Carefully look along the sides of the car, from front to rear and vice versa, looking for any mark or uneven surface. Look for paint over-spray on door ledges or around the edges of the engine compartment that might indicate repairs. Make sure the seams and door lines are straight. Inspect the spare wheel and tyre carefully. It should be brand new and unused and properly fixed in its position. Open the bonnet and check the engine bay to tally the chassis number. See to it that there are no oil leaks. Check all the upholstery, which should be neat, clean and wrapped in plastic. Finally, check the electrical components like lights and horn to see if they are in proper condition. “A careful inspection is critical because after the car leaves the lot, the dealer could reasonably claim that any body damage was caused by you,” says Roshun Povaiah. The car will now be taken by the dealer’s representative for the dealer’s PDI and pre-registration formalities with the RTO.

DRIVING THE CAR HOME

Finally, you are at the dealer’s showroom to drive your car home. At this stage the car has been billed in your name already. This is the second round of inspection that you make at the showroom on the day of taking delivery. Here you need to ensure that everything is in order as per the pre-registration inspection. If you have asked for additional accessories, like music system, floor mats, seat covers, ensure that they are in place. Check the odometer reading. “There should be no more than 100 km on the odometer at the most. Anything more than that is questionable and the dealer should give you a proper explanation,” says Banwari Lal Sharma. Since the car is new, you may not be aware of some features. Ask the salesperson to explain what you do not understand, so that you are familiar with the car. Take a test drive in the presence of a salesperson and this will give you an idea about how the car performs. If anything remains to be tested, quickly do that as this is your final chance to do so. After taking over the papers from the dealer, you are now ready to drive your car home.

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