What Does a Car PDI Check?

How the grading works

Every checklist item gets one of three grades, and the report closes with an overall condition rating. The scale is deliberately simple so it can be used in a negotiation without translation.

• OK: the item is in normal condition for the vehicle's age and mileage, with nothing to report
• Minor Issue: a defect or irregularity that does not affect safety or legality but should be corrected or priced in
• Major Issue: a defect that affects safety, legality or resale value, such as structural damage, a fuel or coolant leak, or brake failure risk

Why the same checklist matters

A checklist that changes from location to location is worthless as evidence, and it is also the reason many inspection reports cannot be compared. Because the same 84 points and the same grading scale are used in Churchgate, Virar, Palghar, Panvel, Thane and Kalyan, a report from one location can be compared directly with a report from another.

It also means repeat customers accumulate a comparable history for the same car, which is how gradual change between inspections becomes visible.

• Identical grading scale at every location
• Photographs recorded against the specific finding, not a generic gallery
• VIN and odometer recorded on every report for your permanent record
• Written remarks in plain language, not diagnostic jargon

What is not covered

Being straight about the limits of a physical inspection matters more than claiming everything. A pre-delivery inspection is a physical, visual and functional check performed on site within about an hour. It is not a workshop diagnostic.

• No engine teardown, compression test or dyno measurement
• No OBD-II software scan beyond functional testing of visible systems
• No load-bearing suspension measurement on a road test
• No guarantee of future reliability, only evidence of present condition
• No legal or ownership document verification, which remains the buyer's responsibility