By Wayne K.
Pre-Delivery Inspection (performed by dealership personnel)
When you purchase a new or used RV from a dealer, the dealer typically performs a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). The sales department adds the PDI service charge to your purchase. Because the service department may handle the inspection internally, its hourly rate can be significantly lower than the rate for warranty or customer repairs.
Most new RVs arrive at the dealership with a few issues due to manufacturing oversights or damage incurred during transit from the manufacturer to the dealership. Transporting the new RV from the manufacturer to the dealership really puts it to the test.
The initial transport trip may bring out issues with cabinet doors, drawers, and trim moldings. These defects are easily seen upon inspection. Other issues, such as slide-out seals, plumbing, and wiring, may not be evident without a close inspection of the coach.
An employee at the participating dealership performs the PDI using a short checklist (with 50 to 130 items) to ensure all systems function properly. After completing the inspection and before the customer arrives to finalize the RV purchase, the dealership cleans the RV and repairs any cosmetic issues.
Most RV dealership service departments prioritize their own repair workload and do not accept RVs from other dealerships. Because many dealerships operate with limited staff, you should arrange an inspection before buying an RV from an out-of-state dealer. The employee conducting the inspection of your new RV has only a short window to complete the PDI.
The time a dealer spends on a PDI largely depends on the dealership and the employee assigned to inspect the coach. A PDI at a dealership can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes to complete. A more thorough inspection, such as one conducted by a certified RV inspector, can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours, depending on the age, make, and model of the RV. Issues may be identified that are beyond the scope of a typical dealer-provided pre-delivery inspection.
Some dealers are hesitant to allow a 3rd-party RV inspection. Some questions that should be raised if the dealer takes this approach could be;
- If the manufacturer’s quality is 100% then why is a PDI needed? Ask to see the PDI inspection list. Does the dealer climb on the roof and inspect all the sealant joints?
- If the RV manufacturer is producing a quality product, why do most RV manufacturers only offer a 1-year warranty?
Private party versus Dealership Purchase of a used RV
Similar to buying from a dealership, buying from a private party also presents risks. Private sellers may not be aware of issues or may fail to disclose known issues. Many owners of used private coaches do not provide maintenance documentation, which makes it hard to track the coach’s history and past issues. Keep in mind that all RVs need regular maintenance, and you will need to make repairs as they age.
Example Dealership PDI
I recently, in October 2025, inspected a 5th-wheel travel trailer at a local dealership and found the PDI results posted inside the coach.
During the inspection of this coach, some of the findings were;
- The spare tire had the valve stem mounted up, which made it impossible to measure the pressure of this tire. This coach included a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), but it did not monitor the spare tires because the system requires rotation to activate and transmit data.
- The Water Heater did not work; the control reported an error code. I am not sure what the dealership means by their PDI ‘(Tankless Exception)’.
- Not listed on the PDI is checking for issues with sealants. The inspector found a number of areas while inspecting the roof of this coach that had sealant gaps that could lead to water intrusion.
Independent NRVIA Inspection (performed by a Certified Inspector)
I earned certification as an NRVIA Inspector and RVIA Master Certified Technician Level 4, which qualifies me to deliver the industry’s most advanced and thorough inspections. Depending on the coach type, I examine 600 to 750 Points of Inspection (POI) during each NRVIA inspection. Links for the POI for travel trailers and 5th wheels and Motorhomes. The inspection report will provide you with a list of issues to address before you sign a purchase contract for your RV, along with photos to help identify the problems.
An NRVIA Certified Inspection will take 6 to 12 hours of on-site testing and checking. It will take another 2 to 3 hours to complete the comprehensive, 50-plus-page report, which is available online and downloadable as a PDF.
| Dealership PDI | NRVIA Inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectable Items | 50 to 130 | 600 to 750 |
| Time spent on Inspection | < 4 hours | 6 – 12 hours |
| Report Available | Rarely | +50 page report with photos |
| Problems found shared with customer | No | Yes |
| Certified Inspector | No | Yes – NRVIA |
| Independent Inspection | No | Yes |