What is a PDI check on a lease vehicle?

What is a PDI check, and what does it mean for you and your shiny new lease car ?

TL;DR: What is a PDI check in leasing?

A PDI (or Pre-Delivery Inspection) is a series of checks carried out by the supplying dealership before your lease car is booked in for delivery. 

It covers everything from the exterior and interior to the engine and a road test, to make sure your car arrives in the best possible condition. 

Any issues found are resolved before delivery — you don't need to do a thing.

Your guide to PDI checks on a lease car

Getting a new lease car delivered should be exciting — and a PDI helps make sure it stays that way. 

Short for Pre-Delivery Inspection, it's the comprehensive set of checks every lease car goes through before it lands on your driveway. 

A trained technician works through the car from top to bottom — inside and out — to make sure it's in the best possible condition. 

Anything flagged gets dealt with before delivery, so you're not the one picking up problems. 

So, let's get into exactly what a PDI involves and what it means for you.

What is a PDI check?

The PDI is a series of checks carried out by a specially trained technician at the supplying dealership before you receive your car.

It covers everything from cosmetic issues (scratches in the paintwork, scuffs on the interior) to mechanical ones (warning lights, fluid levels, tyre pressure). 

Something could have happened during transit from the factory, or a problem could have been missed during manufacturing. 

The PDI is the last line of defence: The final opportunity to catch anything that needs resolving before the car reaches you.

Why does my car need a PDI?

Our biggest priority — shared by the dealerships and funders we work with — is that you get the car you ordered, in the brand-new condition you expect.

Being brand-new doesn't always guarantee fault-free, and while most issues are picked up before the PDI stage, it's the final opportunity to make sure anything that needs fixing is dealt with before delivery rather than after.

What are the benefits of a PDI?

The biggest benefit of a PDI is simple: You get a car that's been thoroughly checked over and signed off before it arrives at your door.

That means peace of mind that your car is safe to drive, that all the major working parts have been inspected, and that any imperfections have been dealt with — not left for you to discover on the driveway.

What does the PDI check involve?

The PDI covers the car from top to bottom — inside, outside, and underneath. Six areas are typically checked, though each dealership and manufacturer may have their own checklist to work through.

These usually include:

• Vehicle exterior
• Vehicle interior
• Engine compartment
• The underside of the car
• A road test
• Pre-delivery preparation (such as removing protective coverings and fitting number plates)

The technician is checking for any exterior or interior damage, that everything works as it should, that there are no warning lights on the dash, that all fluid levels are correct, and that the car drives as expected.

It's also worth knowing that while most cars are valeted before delivery, the majority are driven to their destination — so a little exterior dirt on arrival isn't unusual. If it gets overly dirty, the car should be taken for a valet before you receive it.

Interior checks

The interior check covers the entire cabin and boot, looking for any visible damage and making sure all the right documentation and spare wheel (if your car comes with them) are present.

It includes:

• Lights: high and low beam, indicators and hazards
• Horn
• Wipers and washers
• Instruments and infotainment screen(s)
• Heating, air conditioning and ventilation
• Mirrors, door locks and windows
• Seat adjustments, including memory seats, lumbar support, and heating and cooling
• Sunroofs and convertible roofs
• Seat belts, airbags and other safety mechanisms

Exterior checks

The exterior check is a visual inspection of the paintwork, bodywork and alloy wheels for any scratches, scuffs or damage that may have happened between leaving the factory and arriving at the dealership. 

The technician will also check for visible leaks, missing parts, and that the bonnet opens and closes correctly — as well as tyre pressure, battery condition and fluid levels.

Road test

The road test is the final stage of the PDI. The technician takes the car out to check that all instruments and warning lights operate as they should, that driver assistance systems are functioning, and that any optional extras you've added are working.

Other road test checks include:

• Parking, brakes, steering, heating, air con and instruments
• Full diagnostics check
• Audio and navigation systems
• Engine performance
• Transmission and gears

How long does a PDI check take?

A PDI normally takes a couple of hours, though it can take up to five depending on the make and model of your vehicle and the level of detail required.

The PDI will happen before delivery, this buffer is built in to allow time for any faults to be identified and resolved before a delivery date is confirmed.

Does the PDI affect my delivery date?

In most cases, no. The time the PDI takes — including the average time to resolve any issues — is factored in when your Customer Experience Champion gets in touch to book your delivery date.

Most faults can be fixed quickly and at source, but in some cases the dealership may need to push your delivery date back if a problem requires more specialist attention. If that happens, you'll always be kept informed as quickly as possible.

What happens if defects are found during the PDI?

Any issues picked up during the PDI will be dealt with before your car is delivered. Faults that occurred during manufacturing or transit are passed back to the manufacturer to resolve, while anything caused by the dealership is theirs to fix.

Cosmetic issues are generally sorted quickly; mechanical faults may take a little longer if specialist work is needed. Either way, it's not your problem to sort — that's the whole point of the PDI.

The PDI: A quick recap

So, there you have it. A PDI might happen behind the scenes, but it plays a big part in making sure your new lease car arrives exactly as it should — looking good, driving well, and ready to go from the moment it lands on your driveway.

It covers more than most people realise: From paintwork and fluid levels to infotainment screens and driver assistance systems. Every box gets ticked, and anything that isn't right gets sorted before your car is booked in for delivery.

And the best bit? You don't need to do a thing.