A new car delivery checklist helps you find and record problems before you sign for the car, when they are simplest to raise. On pickup day, match the VIN and build date to your contract, inspect the paint and trim in good light, check that every key, accessory and document is there, test the main systems and confirm recall status.
Dealers should check the car before you collect it and show you how its features work, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria and NSW Fair Trading. Both still suggest inspecting it yourself. A careful look at handover is also easier than proving weeks later that a scratch or missing part was there from day one.
Before pickup day: payment, insurance and timing
Ask the dealer for the car's VIN once it has been allocated to you. With it, you can check the build date and recalls before you arrive.
Confirm in writing how and when you will pay the balance. If you pay by bank transfer, be wary of any email that changes the dealer's account details. Scamwatch advises checking changed payment details by phoning the business on a number you have found yourself.
If you are using finance, ask the dealer and lender to confirm the settlement date so the funds are in place before pickup. This guide to car loan settlement explains the steps between approval and payout, and the usual causes of delay.
If you are still comparing loans, Loanseekers can help you explore car loan options. Approval and terms depend on the lender's assessment.
Arrange insurance to start from the moment you collect the car. NSW Fair Trading notes that a new vehicle must be registered and have compulsory third party (CTP) insurance before you drive it, and that the dealer can arrange registration for you.
If you have a car loan, check whether your lender also requires comprehensive cover.
Timing matters in Victoria. As of October 2026, Consumer Affairs Victoria says buyers from a licensed motor car trader have three business days after signing to change their mind, but accepting delivery within that time ends the cooling-off right.
Victoria's cooling-off right does not apply to commercial vehicles or to cars bought in the name of a company.
The ACCC notes that cooling-off periods vary and are not available in every state and territory.
Match the car to your contract first
Take your signed contract and written quote with you. Before you look at the paint, find the VIN on the car and check it against the contract.
The Register of Approved Vehicles search page says the VIN is usually at the base of the windscreen, visible from outside, or on the door post or foot well.
Then confirm the make, model, variant, colour and options. A different trim pack or wheel design is easy to miss.
Check the build date too. Both regulators list it, and NSW Fair Trading suggests searching the VIN on the Register of Approved Vehicles to find it. Compare it with any build date or model year in your contract.
Check the odometer. NSW Fair Trading says the reading should be appropriately low, so ask the dealer to explain anything that looks high and write the figure on the delivery paperwork.
Finally, compare the invoice with what you agreed: price, deposit paid, trade-in value and accessories. If you are unsure what the total should include, see what a drive-away price covers.
Inspect paint, panels, glass and wheels in daylight
Walk around the car outside, in daylight if you can. Both regulators suggest checking the bodywork for dents and chips in the paint, and the interior trim for cuts and scratches.
Then look for colour differences between panels, bumpers and mirror caps, and chips or cracks in the glass, mirrors and lights.
Check the wheels for kerb marks and the tyres for damage. Open and close each door, the bonnet and the boot or tailgate to check alignment, and look over the seats, headlining and carpets for marks, stains or tears.
Photograph anything you find, close up and from further back so the location is clear.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, a car sold by a licensed dealer must be of acceptable quality. The ACCC describes that as including an acceptable appearance and finish, as well as being safe, durable and free from defects.
Check every item you paid for is actually there
Count the keys and ask how many the car should come with. NSW Fair Trading lists all keys among the items to collect before you drive away.
Look for the spare tyre, jack and tool kit that both regulators mention, or the tyre repair kit if your variant comes with one instead. Check that each accessory on your contract, such as floor mats, a tow bar, window tint or roof racks, is fitted and works.
For an electric or plug-in hybrid car, check which charging cables the contract or brochure says are included, and make sure they are in the car before you leave.
Test the systems before you drive away
Ask the salesperson to demonstrate the features, which Consumer Affairs Victoria says new car dealers should do at delivery. Then check them yourself.
With someone standing outside, test the headlights, indicators, brake lights and reversing lights. Pair your phone and try the infotainment and speakers.
Check the reversing camera, parking sensors and driver-assist alerts, plus the air-conditioning, windows, mirrors and seat adjustment. At start-up, note any dashboard warning light that stays on.
Take a short test drive with the salesperson, as Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests, to check for mechanical faults. Listen for rattles or knocks, and notice whether the car pulls to one side or the brakes feel uneven.
Collect the documents and check recall status
Before you leave, collect the owner's manual, the service book or logbook and any alarm instructions, which NSW Fair Trading lists. If the brand keeps service records digitally, ask how you will access them. Keep the contract, invoice, delivery paperwork and registration details together.
The ACCC also says dealers should give new car buyers its "Just bought a new car?" fact sheet at the point of sale. Ask for it if you did not receive one.
Ask which date the manufacturer's warranty runs from and note it. The ACCC says manufacturer warranties are in addition to your consumer guarantee rights and cannot replace them.
Search the Australian vehicle recalls register for your make and model. Notices include an identifying-features section, which can be a downloadable list of affected VINs.
For example, as of October 2026 the official Toyota Kluger seat recall notice covers a 2021 to 2025 year range and identifies affected cars by VIN. This Kluger recall explainer covers what it means for owners.
If a notice might cover your car, ask the dealer to check the VIN and confirm in writing whether any recall work is outstanding.
Make sure the dealer and manufacturer have your current contact details. The government's owner's guide to vehicle recalls says you will likely hear about a recall from the place you bought the car, or from the supplier or manufacturer, by phone, email, post or text.
Found a problem? Record it before you sign
Raise anything you find before you sign the delivery receipt. Write it on the delivery paperwork, keep your photos and ask the dealer to confirm in writing what will be fixed, how and by when.
If the problem is significant, you can ask to delay pickup until it is fixed. Check what your contract says about delivery before agreeing to a new date.
Do not rely on a verbal "we'll sort it out later". A written record shows when you raised the problem and what the dealer agreed to do.
If you are buying a car already in stock and see it before you sign the contract, raise any problem before signing and have the agreed fix written in.
This matters because the ACCC's car buying guidance says consumers are not entitled to a repair, replacement or refund for a problem they knew about or were made aware of before buying, although a different problem that was not made clear to them may still be covered.
According to the ACCC, consumer guarantee rights cannot be taken away by anything a business says or does, and they last for a reasonable time after purchase.
The ACCC's guide to contacting a business explains that a business must fix a minor problem for free, while for a major problem you can choose a refund or a replacement.
Go back to the dealer first. The ACCC says the business that sold the car must help and cannot send you to the manufacturer instead. If you cannot agree, contact your state or territory consumer protection agency.
Your new car delivery checklist for pickup day
Before you go: VIN received; payment or finance settlement confirmed in writing; insurance starting at pickup.
Identity: VIN, variant, colour, options, build date and odometer match the paperwork.
Condition: paint, panels, glass, wheels, tyres and interior checked in daylight, with photos.
Equipment: keys, spare or repair kit, jack and tools, accessories and any charging cables present.
Systems: lights, cameras, sensors, phone pairing, air-conditioning and a short test drive checked.
Paperwork: manual, service record, warranty start date and registration details collected; recall check done.
Problems: written on the delivery paperwork, with an agreed fix and date, before you sign.
If you are still choosing a car, compare new car drive-away prices first, then keep this checklist with your contract for pickup day.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
What should I do if I find a fault after picking up my new car?
Contact the dealer as soon as possible, explain the problem and say what outcome you want. The ACCC suggests following up in writing with key dates, what you have already tried and a reasonable time for a response. Consumer guarantees can still apply after the manufacturer's warranty has ended.
Does this checklist work when picking up a demo car?
Mostly, yes, but look harder at the odometer, condition and service history, because a demonstrator has already been driven. NSW Fair Trading classes a demo car as a used vehicle rather than a new one, so check how your state treats demonstrators before relying on new-car rules.
Do I need a PPSR check when buying a brand-new car from a dealer?
It is optional. The PPSR's car check guidance says that if you buy from a licensed motor vehicle dealer, you are generally protected from repossession even if a security interest was registered against the car, although you may still want to search. The ACCC also lists title and undisturbed possession among the consumer guarantees for cars bought from a licensed dealer.
