New Car Handover Checklist: What to Check Before You Drive Away
A new car handover checklist covers three things to check before you sign anything. First, that the car is the one you ordered: VIN, version, colour and options against your order and the certificate of conformity. Second, that it has no damage to paint, panels, glass, wheels or interior, inspected in daylight. Third, that everything works and is included, from keys and documents to charging cables and the spare wheel or repair kit. Note any fault in writing and have the dealer sign it. Once you have signed the acceptance papers, it is much harder to prove that a scratch or a missing option was there at delivery.
Key takeaways
- Book the handover in daylight and dry weather, allow plenty of time and carry this checklist.
- Compare the VIN on the car with the invoice, the registration papers and the certificate of conformity (COC).
- Delivery mileage should be low: a reading of several hundred kilometres needs an explanation.
- In the EU you have a legal guarantee of at least two years on a new car, and a defect that appears within the first year is presumed to have existed at delivery.
Before the day: prepare the handover
- Bring your order confirmation. It lists the exact version, colour, wheels and options you paid for. Mark the items you want to see on the car.
- Ask for daylight. The Australian motoring club NRMA advises doing the checks in daylight and good weather, and rescheduling the delivery if that is not possible. Paint flaws and scratches are hard to see under showroom lights or at night.
- Ask the dealer what to expect. Which documents you will receive, how many keys, whether the car will be registered and insured in your name, and whether the battery of an electric car will be charged.
- Check your insurance. The car must be insured from the moment you drive it away. Team-BHP's checklist also asks you to confirm that the policy is valid and active.
- Allow time. A thorough handover, including a demonstration of the main functions, takes longer than the dealer's standard slot. Do not let the inspection be rushed.
The printable new car handover checklist
By our count, the checklist below has 28 checks in six areas. Print it or open it on your phone, and tick each line as you go.
| Area | What to check | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | VIN on the car (windscreen base and plate) matches the invoice, registration papers and COC | ☐ |
| Version, engine, gearbox and colour match the order | ☐ | |
| Build date is plausible; ask if the car was built many months ago | ☐ | |
| Number plates match the registration papers | ☐ | |
| Exterior | Walk round twice: paint runs, scratches, dents, colour differences between panels | ☐ |
| Gaps between panels are even; doors, bonnet, boot and fuel or charging flap open and close cleanly | ☐ | |
| Windscreen and glass free of chips and cracks | ☐ | |
| Wheels and tyres: the size and design ordered, no kerb damage, tyre production date recent | ☐ | |
| All lights work, including indicators, brake lights and fog lights | ☐ | |
| Interior | Seats, headlining, dashboard and carpets clean and undamaged | ☐ |
| Ordered options present: seats, screens, sound system, sunroof, towbar | ☐ | |
| Infotainment, phone connection, cameras and sensors work | ☐ | |
| Climate control, heated seats and windows work | ☐ | |
| No warning lights after starting | ☐ | |
| Mileage on the odometer noted | ☐ | |
| Equipment | All keys or key cards, including the spare | ☐ |
| Spare wheel or repair kit, jack and tools, locking wheel nut key if fitted | ☐ | |
| Warning triangle, first-aid kit and other kit required in your country | ☐ | |
| Floor mats and accessories you paid for | ☐ | |
| Electric cars: the charging cable or cables in the order | ☐ | |
| Documents | Invoice with VIN, price, options and any agreed extras | ☐ |
| Registration certificate (or temporary registration) in your name | ☐ | |
| Certificate of conformity (COC) | ☐ | |
| Warranty booklet or digital warranty registration, service plan details | ☐ | |
| Owner's manual (printed or digital) | ☐ | |
| Contact for roadside assistance | ☐ | |
| Drive | Short test drive: brakes, steering, noises, all gears | ☐ |
| Ask for a demonstration of the main functions | ☐ |
Paperwork: VIN and the certificate of conformity
The VIN (vehicle identification number) is the car's 17-character fingerprint. It must be the same on the car, the invoice, the registration papers and the certificate of conformity. You can also run it through our VIN decoder to check the make and model year it encodes.
The certificate of conformity is the manufacturer's declaration that the car complies with its approved type. It contains the type-approval number and technical data, and it is what lets a car with EU type approval be registered in any member state. Keep it with your documents. If you sell the car abroad later, or move to another country, you will need it again.
Check the build date too. NRMA advises making sure the build date matches the year and month of manufacture in the paperwork. A car that stood in stock for a long time is not necessarily a problem, but it can affect its resale value and you may want a discount for it.
Mileage at delivery
A new car is driven from the factory to the transporter and from the dealer's yard to the handover bay, so it will show some kilometres. Team-BHP's checklist treats a reading of more than about 100 km as unusual for most brands, and warns that a disconnected odometer can be a sign that the car was used for test drives. If the mileage is high, ask why and get the answer in writing. A car that has been used as a demonstrator is not a new car and should be priced accordingly.
Common faults found at handover
- Transit damage. Scratches and small dents from transport and handling. Team-BHP notes that transit damage is often visible on a careful walk-round.
- Wrong or missing options. A different wheel design, a missing towbar or a lower trim's seats.
- Missing items. The second key, the locking wheel nut key, the charging cable or the parcel shelf.
- Paint defects. Runs, dust in the clear coat or a slightly different shade on one panel, which can be a sign of a repair.
- Tyre pressures. New cars are often delivered with tyres over-inflated for transport, Team-BHP notes; set them to the values on the door pillar before your first long trip.
If you find a problem
- Do not sign the acceptance papers unconditionally. NRMA's advice is to sign and accept the car only once you are satisfied with your checks.
- Write it down. List each fault on the delivery note or a separate sheet, with photos, and ask the salesperson to sign it. NRMA recommends exactly this for faults found on the test drive.
- Agree the remedy and the date. A small paint repair can be done later; a wrong version or a major defect is a reason to refuse delivery.
- Know your rights. Under EU rules, a new car bought from a business carries a legal guarantee of at least two years from delivery. The seller must repair or replace a faulty car free of charge. If that is not possible within a reasonable time, you can claim a price reduction or a refund. A defect that appears within one year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery, and in some EU countries this period is two years.
- Buying online? If you bought the car at a distance, the EU cooling-off period for goods runs 14 days from delivery. It does not apply to goods made to order or clearly personalised, which can include a car built to your specification. Check your contract.
After you drive away
- Read the owner's manual for the running-in advice and the first service date.
- Register the warranty and any connected services if the car uses an app.
- Keep the invoice, COC and handover notes together. They will matter when you sell.
- Watch for anything that appears in the first weeks and report it quickly, in writing.
Who needs this most: buyers collecting a car ordered months ago, buyers of electric cars with many software features, and anyone buying remotely and taking delivery at home. A careful handover is the cheapest moment to fix a problem. To compare the car you ordered with its official specifications, browse the car catalogue, and for help choosing your next model see our car finder.
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Cost of ownership calculatorFAQ
What should I check when collecting a new car?
That it is the car you ordered (VIN, version, colour and options), that it has no damage in daylight, that everything works, and that all keys, equipment and documents are included. Note any fault in writing before you sign.
How many kilometres should a new car have at delivery?
Very few, usually from the factory and transport. Team-BHP's checklist treats more than about 100 km as unusual for most brands. Ask about a higher reading and get the answer in writing.
Can I refuse to accept a new car?
You can refuse to sign for a car that is not what you ordered or has significant defects. For small faults, note them on the delivery papers and agree a repair date. Your legal guarantee of at least two years applies from delivery.
What is a certificate of conformity?
It is the manufacturer's declaration that the car complies with its EU-approved type, with its type-approval number and technical data. It allows the car to be registered in any EU member state, so keep it with your documents.
What if I find a fault after the handover?
Report it to the dealer in writing as soon as possible. Under EU rules, a defect that appears within one year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery, so the seller must repair or replace the car unless it can prove otherwise.
Sources
- NRMA: Taking delivery of your new vehicle (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
- Team-BHP: Pre-delivery inspection (PDI) checklist (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia: Certificate of conformity (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
- Your Europe (European Union): Guarantees and returns (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
- Your Europe (European Union): Returns, right of withdrawal (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
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