PDI report format

1. Booking and identity

What was inspected and where: the make, model and variant (or the home's type, project and unit), the VIN, chassis or hull number, the odometer or engine hours, the address, the date and time slot, and the name and experience of the expert.

2. The verdict

One of three, at the top, so nobody has to read the whole report to know the answer:

• Good to accept: no issues that should stop delivery.
• Accept after fixes: issues the seller should fix or put in writing first.
• Do not accept yet: problems serious enough to refuse until they are resolved.

Next to it, the counts: how many checks were OK, how many had issues, and how many did not apply.

3. Summary

A short note in plain words from the expert: what is fine, what must be fixed before you sign, and what to ask the seller.

4. Issues to raise before you sign

Every item marked as an issue, on its own, with the section it belongs to, the expert's note (where exactly and how bad) and photos. This is the part you show the dealer or builder.

5. Full checklist

Every check, grouped by section, marked OK, Issue or N/A. The list fits the booking: a new petrol car gets about 70 checks, a new flat in India about 94, and a used helicopter gets rotor and gearbox checks. See every checklist.

6. Record

The report is dated and kept online, so you can show it to the seller, your insurer or a lender later, or print it and save it as a PDF.

See a sample car PDI report See a sample home report

Questions

Is there a standard PDI report format?

No single official format exists. Manufacturer and dealer forms vary, but they all record the item, the checks, the findings and a sign-off.

Can I print the report?

Yes. Every report has a Print or save PDF button.

Does the report include photos?

Yes. Every issue can have up to six photos, and the expert adds notes on where and how bad it is.

Inspection guides