Record delivery before cleaning or alteration
Compare VIN, mileage, body condition, wheels, glass, included keys and charging accessories with the loading record. Photograph warning messages and visible damage before routine work. If there is a leak, damaged tyre, battery-area impact or other safety concern, arrange qualified assessment before driving. Follow the applicable carrier and insurer reporting process promptly when relevant. The Song Plus shipping guide explains the custody boundary. Do not assume every arrival issue was caused by transport, but do not erase the evidence needed to distinguish transport damage from a pre-existing condition. At arrival, recheck the buyer-account and former-user access record through the supported market service route rather than continuing to use a seller account.
Establish a stable low-voltage baseline
Have the 12-volt system assessed if the vehicle struggles to wake, shows multiple communication warnings or has been stored for a long period. A successful boost does not establish battery reserve or explain an abnormal drain. Preserve the original scan and follow the correct recovery procedure for the identified version. The storage and wake-up guide covers this common source of confusion. Check tyres, lamps, wipers, basic brakes and accessible fluid levels through an appropriate inspection before treating a normal dashboard appearance as readiness for daily use.
Prove the destination charging routine
Use supported equipment and a safe commissioned installation to verify charging with the actual car. Record the session, settings and any interruptions. Confirm that cable routing, parking access and account or payment requirements are practical. The home-charging plan should be completed before relying on overnight charging for the commute. For public charging, identify a compatible backup and test it where possible. Do not make the first long journey depend on an untested adapter or an assumption that an overseas station network recognises the vehicle and the buyer's account.
Reconcile servicing with the powertrain
Separate due scheduled work, unresolved faults and optional preventive work in the workshop quotation. A DM-i has combustion and fuel-system requirements that should not be omitted because the first journeys are electric; an EV should not inherit a generic hybrid service list. Use the correct market and version schedule and credible invoices. Record fluid specifications and parts identity where work is needed. Do not clear a fault merely to present a clean handover report. A focused baseline makes later diagnosis easier because it states what was known and what changed during the first workshop visit.
Complete access and personal-data transfer
Test each supplied physical key separately and follow the supported process for any connected-account transfer. Remove previous-user pairing and personal information without discarding inspection records. Verify that required functions work locally and that remote services are actually supported at the destination. The software and connectivity guide helps distinguish market limitations from repairable faults. Avoid unsupported software flashing just to obtain a preferred language or app. An apparently successful modification can create future support or security problems that are more expensive than the convenience it adds.
Review the first ordinary journeys
Keep a brief log of route, charging, warnings, unusual noise and any repeatable symptom during normal use. Do not use the first week for extreme range or performance tests. Return unresolved issues to the responsible workshop with the original and current evidence, and agree a specific next action. File invoices, charging equipment records and support contacts under the VIN. Update the ownership budget with actual costs rather than hiding them inside the original purchase figure. By the end of the month, the buyer should know the vehicle's verified baseline, next service requirements and realistic support route.
Use the evidence in a real buying decision
Suppose the car arrives with several warnings after a long storage period. Save the display and scan before recovery, assess the low-voltage supply, then repeat the checks once it is stable. If warnings remain, investigate them rather than declaring them storage artefacts. This sequence preserves evidence while avoiding premature conclusions that several unrelated modules failed during shipment or that a successful jump-start solved every issue.
Buyer checklist
- Arrival condition and included items recorded
- Stable 12V supply and original diagnostics
- Destination charging tested safely
- Powertrain-specific service and ownership access closed
Questions and answers
Should I reset all systems immediately after arrival?
No. Preserve diagnostic and delivery evidence first, then perform only supported resets or ownership-transfer steps.
Does a new imported Song Plus need arrival checks?
Yes. New status does not rule out transport damage, storage effects, missing accessories or destination incompatibility.
Manufacturer reference
Use the applicable market and year documentation for equipment and operating limits. These model references do not establish the condition, fitted equipment or destination approval of an individual vehicle.
Continue with the Song Plus shipping guide, or send your vehicle requirements.