Don't accept your new car
until you've verified everything.

Dealers sometimes deliver a different variant or colour than what was booked — especially when a specific colour is unavailable. Once you accept delivery, reversing this is extremely difficult and time-consuming.

This confirms the car in front of you is actually the car on your invoice. Rare but not impossible — mix-ups happen in busy dealerships, and the consequences are significant paperwork nightmares.

Cars sitting in stockyards for 6–12 months develop flat-spotted tyres, degraded lubricants, and discharged batteries. You're paying for a "new" car — it should be recently manufactured. More than 3 months old = negotiate a discount.

A new car at delivery should have minimal kilometres — typically 5–20 km from factory test drives and dealer movements. Above 50 km needs explanation. Above 100 km is a red flag that the car was used as a demo or test drive vehicle.

A dirty car at delivery is disrespectful — and more importantly, dirt, grease, and plastic wrap residue hide scratches and paint defects underneath. Demand the car be cleaned before you begin your inspection.

Delivering a car with a near-empty tank is poor practice and means you can't conduct a proper test drive without stopping for fuel immediately. Dealers are expected to deliver with reasonable fuel — at least enough for a test drive.

Factory paint applied by robots is extremely consistent. Swirl marks mean the car was polished incorrectly at the dealership. Orange peel texture (like the skin of an orange) means poor paint application. Both indicate the car was touched up before delivery.

Transport damage is the most common new car defect. Cars travel hundreds of kilometres on open trucks and through dealership handling. Even a "new" car can have transport scratches that dealers hope you won't notice.

Factory assembly produces extremely precise panel gaps. Uneven gaps on a brand-new car indicate either a manufacturing defect or that the car was in a minor accident during transport and repaired before delivery — without your knowledge.

Windshield damage can occur during transport when stones kick up on flatbed trucks. A chip can spread into a full crack within weeks. The windshield seal should be perfectly flush with no bubbles or gaps from the factory.

Non-functioning lights are a safety and legal issue. They also indicate a manufacturing defect or wiring issue that should be resolved before you accept the car. Testing takes 3 minutes and is non-negotiable.

All 4 tyres should be identical brand and size as specified for your variant. A different brand tyre on one wheel means a tyre was damaged and replaced at the dealership — another issue they should disclose. Flat spots develop when cars sit stationary for months.

Wing mirrors are vulnerable during transport and dealership parking. A cracked housing or non-functioning electric motor means the car was damaged. Check the mirror glass itself for any chips or cracks too.

The boot rubber seal should compress evenly all around when closed. An uneven seal will let water, dust, and noise in. The boot should also open fully and stay open without sagging on its own.

Warning lights that stay on after the engine starts and runs for 30 seconds indicate active fault codes — in a brand-new car, this is unacceptable. Do not accept any car with an illuminated check engine, ABS, airbag, or any other warning light.

Infotainment issues in new cars are more common than you'd expect. Dead touchscreen zones, software that freezes, or Bluetooth that won't pair are all defects that should be resolved before you sign. Replacement screens cost ₹15,000–₹60,000.

A new car AC should be ice-cold within 90 seconds on maximum. Weak cooling in a new car indicates an incorrectly charged or leaking AC system — a manufacturing or pre-delivery defect that the dealer must fix before handover.

Seat damage — tears, stains, or compressed foam — in a new car indicates it was used as a demo or test drive vehicle. Also test that seat adjustment (manual or electric) works through the full range of movement.

Window regulator issues can appear even in new cars as manufacturing defects. Test every window from the main switch panel and from each individual door switch. A window that moves slowly or makes noise has a defective motor or regulator.

Sunroof motors and tracks are complex mechanisms. A new sunroof should operate silently and completely. Any grinding, hesitation, or incomplete travel indicates a track alignment issue or motor defect that is expensive to fix later.

Systematically test every single control. Non-working buttons in a new car are manufacturing defects that must be fixed before handover — not after. Once you sign, getting dealers to fix small issues becomes significantly harder.

Plug your phone into every USB port to confirm it both charges and transfers data. Test the 12V power socket. Test the wireless charging pad if your variant has one. Non-working ports are a defect to note before signing.

An oil leak in a brand-new car means a gasket or seal was incorrectly fitted at the factory. This is a manufacturing defect that must be fixed before handover — running an engine low on oil causes catastrophic damage.

A new engine should be completely silent at idle except for the normal mechanical sounds of the engine running. Any knocking, ticking, or rattling is a manufacturing defect or incorrect assembly that needs to be investigated before you sign for the car.

New car engine oil should be clean and at the correct level. Dark or black oil in a new car suggests the wrong oil was used, old oil was filled, or the car has done significantly more km than the odometer shows.

Coolant should be at the MAX line in a new car. Low coolant means either a leak or the car was incorrectly filled at the factory. Dirty or rusty coolant in a new car is a serious quality control failure.

Loose battery terminals cause complete electrical failure. In new cars, this is rare but worth 10 seconds to check. Corrosion on a new battery terminal means the car sat in storage too long with the battery discharging and recharging repeatedly.

Insurance must start on the day of delivery — not a day later. Driving even 1 km without valid insurance is illegal. Also confirm it's Comprehensive (covers your own damage) not just Third Party. Check the policy is in your name with the correct registration number.

The warranty card is your legal proof of warranty. Without it properly stamped by the dealer, claiming warranty repairs becomes a dispute. The chassis number on the warranty card must match the car exactly.

New cars come with 2 sets of keys (sometimes 3 for premium models). Missing keys are your loss the moment you drive away — replacements cost ₹5,000–₹25,000 depending on the key type and brand. Test both physically lock, unlock, and start the car.

Some dealers substitute a smaller "space saver" spare when the full-size spare goes missing — or deliver without a spare entirely. Know what type of spare your variant comes with (full size, space saver, or tyre sealant kit) and verify it's present.

Without the jack and tyre changing tools, a flat tyre leaves you stranded. These items are often missing when dealers do "spring cleaning" of car boots. Check every individual piece is present — a jack without the handle, or a spanner without the extension, is useless.

The owner's manual contains important safety, maintenance, and feature information specific to your car. The service booklet is where your first and subsequent services get stamped — essential for warranty and resale. Confirm both are for your exact model year and variant.

Every accessory you paid for on your booking invoice must be fitted before delivery. Dealers sometimes forget accessories, deliver incorrect items, or fit lower-quality substitutes. Check your booking invoice against what's actually in the car.

A new car should start instantly with zero hesitation every single time. Slow cranking, multiple attempts needed, or any roughness during startup in a brand-new car indicates a battery, starter, or engine management issue that is unacceptable at delivery.

New car brakes should be firm, progressive, and result in perfectly straight stopping. Pulling to one side indicates brake imbalance. Vibration through the pedal indicates disc runout. Both are manufacturing defects to raise before signing.

A new car with misaligned wheels indicates it was incorrectly assembled or damaged in transit. Wheel alignment is cheap to fix but recurring misalignment on a new car suggests deeper suspension or geometry issues that can accelerate tyre wear significantly.

Gearbox issues in new cars are serious manufacturing defects. AMT (Automated Manual) gearboxes are notorious for slight jerks but should not be rough. Automatic and CVT should be completely imperceptible. Manual should have smooth, precise shifts with zero grinding.

New car suspension should be completely rattle-free. Any clunking over bumps indicates loose suspension components — a manufacturing or assembly defect. Squeaking from springs is also unacceptable on delivery and should be noted.

Interior rattles in a new car indicate poorly fitted panels or trim pieces. Wind noise from windows or the windshield seal suggests incorrect sealing. Both are quality issues that dealerships can and should fix before delivery — they worsen over time.

Some AC systems show reduced cooling performance under engine load (accelerating hard) due to compressor capacity or calibration issues. This should not happen in a properly functioning system. Test during the drive rather than only at standstill.