A new car is not automatically flawless just because it is new. A lot can happen between the factory, logistics and the showroom. A delivery record captures the condition at the first handover — protecting dealership and customer alike.
By the time a new car stands at the customer's door it has come a long way: end of the production line, interim storage, transport by rail or lorry, transhipment points, and finally the dealership. Damage can occur at any of these stages — often small, often only visible on close inspection. Anyone who documents the delivery cleanly can later say unambiguously what condition the vehicle was handed over in and who is responsible for what.
The complete delivery check is already built in as a process.
The most common misconception is: “new means faultless”. In fact it is precisely the transport and storage stages where defects arise. Typical cases:
Transport damage from the factory, rail or haulier — dents, scratches, stone chips, damage from lashing straps.
Paint defects such as runs, inclusions, repainting or colour deviations on individual parts.
Rims and tyres: kerb contact while manoeuvring, incorrect tyre pressure, differing DOT numbers.
Interior: scratches on trim, stains, badly fitting panels, residue from transport film.
Missing accessories: charging cable, second key, service booklet, warning triangle or first-aid kit incomplete.
If such a defect is only discovered weeks after the handover, the argument starts about when and where it arose. Without a documented initial condition it is one person's word against another's — between customer, dealership, manufacturer and haulier.
A solid record documents the condition ex works as well as the completeness of the equipment. These points belong on the checklist:
Make, model, trim level and colour.
Vehicle identification number (VIN) — checked against the registration document and the order.
Mileage ex works — documented with a photo of the odometer, not just noted down.
Date of first registration or the planned registration date.
Date, time and place of the delivery, and the people involved.
Paint all round: photos of every side, each defect marked and described individually on the body diagram.
Rims and tyres: visual check for damage, tyre pressure, tread.
Windows, lights, mirrors for stone chips and scratches.
Interior: seats, dashboard, trim, cleanliness, transport film removed.
Function check of the main systems as part of the delivery check.
Keys (number), charging cable for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Service booklet, owner's manual, service record or its digital equivalent.
Registration certificate (part I) and other documents.
Warning triangle, first-aid kit, high-visibility vest, tyre repair kit or spare wheel where applicable.
Confirmation by both sides by signature or digital approval.
Anyone who merely presents the car briefly instead of checking it systematically will miss transport damage. Better: a fixed walk-around at every delivery, always in the same order.
The mileage ex works and the registration date are often just typed into the form. Better: photograph the odometer and bind the value to that photo.
“Minor transport marks” helps no one when a complaint arises. Better: locate, describe and photograph every defect individually.
Loose phone photos cannot be attributed reliably later. Better: capture live on site with place and time.
If a second key or the charging cable is missing later, without a checklist it is unclear whether it was ever handed over. Better: document every item with a status.
A clean delivery record is more than a formality. It takes pressure off the dealership in exactly those situations that otherwise cost time and money:
Complaints can be settled on the facts because the initial condition is documented.
Goodwill does not have to be granted out of uncertainty — the record shows what the situation was at handover.
Evidence towards manufacturer and haulier: transport damage recorded at the point of delivery can be claimed against the logistics chain instead of ending up with the dealer.
Trust with the customer: a transparent, guided handover looks professional and prevents disputes.
Comcentra Logs guides you step by step through the complete delivery check — in under three minutes, offline in the showroom or in the yard too. Photos are taken live on site with place and time (Certified Capture), every defect is marked and assessed individually, and an AI-assisted before/after comparison detects new damage at later handovers. The finished record is sealed immutably (SHA-256) and anchored publicly — so every party, whether customer, manufacturer or haulier, can verify its authenticity independently. The form becomes solid evidence.
New cars can have transport damage or paint defects too. Documenting the condition at handover makes later complaints easy to attribute.
Paint and bodywork all round, the interior, complete accessories and documents (registration certificate, service booklet), mileage and a function check.
Without a documented condition at delivery it is disputed whether the damage occurred before or after the handover. Documentation creates clarity.
Yes — it protects against unjustified complaints and documents the faultless condition at delivery.
This article gives a practical overview and does not replace legal advice in an individual case. It refers to German law.