Taking delivery of a brand-new Rivian R2 is exciting, but before you get caught up exploring the screens, cameras, storage, and all the other new features, it’s worth spending a little time inspecting the vehicle.
The R2 is still a new platform, and with any newly launched vehicle, early production cars can occasionally have small fitment, trim, software, or assembly issues. Most of these are minor and fixable, but finding them before you leave the delivery center can save you an unnecessary service appointment later.
We put together this Rivian R2 delivery checklist based on our own experience with the R2, conversations with other early owners, and the types of things we normally inspect when taking delivery of a new vehicle.
You can also download our full Rivian R2 Delivery Day Checklist and take it with you when you pick up your R2.
1. Confirm Your VIN, Keys, and Rivian App
Before getting too deep into the inspection, make sure you’re actually taking delivery of the correct vehicle.
Check the VIN visible through the windshield and confirm it matches the VIN assigned to you in the Rivian app and your delivery paperwork.
You should also confirm that all of your vehicle access methods work properly.
Check:
- Your Rivian key cards
- Key fob, if included
- Phone key
- Rivian app access
- Apple Wallet key functionality, if you’re setting it up
Lock and unlock the vehicle a few times using your phone and physical keys.
Most R2 owners will probably use their phone as their primary key, so it’s worth making sure everything is paired and communicating correctly before leaving.
2. Inspect the Exterior Paint and Body
This is one of the most important parts of the inspection.
Walk slowly around the entire vehicle and look for:
- Dents
- Scratches
- Paint chips
- Scuffs
- Paint defects
- Shipping or transportation damage
Look for Dents at an Angle
Dents can be difficult to see when looking directly at a body panel.
Instead, stand slightly to the side and look across the reflection of the panel. Small depressions or waves in the reflection can reveal dents that aren’t obvious straight-on.
Check Scratches With the Fingernail Test
For scratches, lightly run your fingernail across the affected area.
If your nail catches on the scratch, it’s probably deeper than a surface-level clearcoat mark and may not simply buff out.
Make sure deeper scratches are documented with Rivian before leaving.
Look Closely for Paint Chips
Pay particular attention to:
- Front bumper
- Hood
- Front fenders
- Rocker areas
- Lower doors
- Rear quarter panels
A true paint chip may expose the primer or even bare metal underneath.
If you find one during delivery, point it out immediately.
3. Check Panel Gaps and Alignment
Panel alignment is another area worth inspecting on any new vehicle, especially an early production vehicle.
Look at the spacing between:
- Hood and fenders
- Front fascia and surrounding panels
- Doors and quarter panels
- Tailgate and surrounding bodywork
- Charge port door
- Exterior trim pieces
You’re looking for consistency.
The gaps don’t necessarily have to be microscopic, but the spacing should generally look even from one side of the vehicle to the other.
Also look at whether adjoining panels sit at similar heights.
A slightly uneven gap is usually something Rivian can adjust and wouldn’t necessarily be a reason to reject the vehicle.
Door alignment is more important.
If a door requires excessive force to close or visibly sits too high or too low compared with the surrounding panels, bring it up with the delivery team.
4. Inspect Exterior Trim
Walk around the R2 and inspect the plastic and exterior trim pieces.
Check for:
- Scratches
- Nicks
- Cracks
- Loose trim
- Trim that isn’t fully seated
Small damaged trim pieces can often be replaced fairly easily, but it’s still better to document them during delivery.
Pay particular attention around the wheel arches, rocker panels, tailgate, mirrors, and lower portions of the vehicle.
5. Look Underneath the Vehicle
Take a quick look underneath your R2.
You don’t need to crawl underneath the entire vehicle. You’re mainly checking for anything obviously out of place.
Look for:
- Loose panels
- Hanging underbody covers
- Damaged aero panels
- Visible leaks
- Fluid underneath the vehicle
A brand-new EV obviously shouldn’t be leaving puddles underneath it.
6. Inspect the Wheels and Tires
Your wheels are another easy area to inspect before leaving.
Check every wheel for:
- Scratches
- Gouges
- Curb damage
- Chips
- Finish defects
Also inspect the tires themselves for unusual cuts or damage that could have happened during transport.
Check that:
- All valve stems are present
- Tire pressures are reasonable
- All four tires match the expected specification
If your R2 has larger or upgraded wheels, spend a little extra time here. Wheels are expensive, and damage is much easier to document before you’ve driven the vehicle.
7. Check Every Door
Open and close every door several times.
The doors should close without requiring excessive force.
You’re looking for:
- Proper alignment
- Smooth opening
- Smooth closing
- No scraping
- No abnormal resistance
- No unusual noises
Also make sure every exterior door handle operates correctly.
If a door feels noticeably harder to close than the others, it may need a small alignment adjustment.
8. Inspect the Weather Seals
While each door is open, inspect the rubber weather stripping around the opening.
Make sure:
- The seals are present
- Nothing is torn
- Nothing is folded over
- Nothing is hanging loose
- The seals appear fully seated
You can lightly press or tug on the weather stripping to make sure it isn’t coming loose.
These seals are important for keeping water, wind, and road noise outside of the cabin.
9. Test the Rear Hatch and Rear Window
Open and close the rear hatch several times.
Listen for:
- Grinding
- Clicking
- Creaking
- Abnormal motor noises
Make sure the hatch opens completely and latches correctly when closed.
The R2 also has an opening rear glass section, so test that as well.
Open it, close it, and confirm that it latches securely.
10. Test the Charge Port Door
Open the charge port and make sure everything operates smoothly.
The most important thing here is simply that the door:
- Opens properly
- Doesn’t bind
- Closes completely
- Sits reasonably flush when closed
Also inspect the charging connector area for visible damage.
11. Test the Frunk
Open the front trunk and watch how it operates.
The R2’s frunk can release and open automatically, while the closing process uses an assisted latch.
When closing it, the hood should catch and pull itself securely into the latched position.
Check for:
- Smooth opening
- Smooth closing
- Proper latching
- No strange noises
- No excessive resistance
Some early owners have mentioned that the hood may initially open to a relatively low position, so don’t necessarily assume that alone indicates a defect.
The important thing is that it opens and latches correctly.
12. Check Every Exterior Camera
The Rivian R2 has a lot of cameras.
Inspect the camera lenses around the vehicle, including cameras located near the:
- Front fascia
- Side mirrors
- Rear of the vehicle
Look for:
- Cracked lenses
- Scratches
- Shipping film that hasn’t been removed
- Visible damage
Then get inside and pull up the camera system on the center display.
Confirm that every camera feed is visible and functioning.
If one camera doesn’t immediately appear, a software restart may solve it, but physical camera damage should be documented before leaving.
13. Test All Exterior Lights
Turn on and inspect:
- Headlights
- Daytime running lights
- Turn signals
- Brake lights
- Reverse lights
- Hazard lights
If you have someone with you during delivery, have them walk around the vehicle while you activate each light.
14. Inspect the Interior Materials
Once you’re inside, take your time inspecting the seats, dashboard, doors, center console, and trim.
Look for:
- Rips
- Tears
- Scratches
- Stains
- Loose trim
- Damaged stitching
- Misaligned interior panels
The R2 interior feels very premium, and the seats have a lot of detailed stitching and perforation, so look closely.
Also inspect the wood trim.
Natural materials can have slight variations, but there shouldn’t be major scratches, chips, cracks, or obvious damage.
15. Check the Interior Trim and Storage Areas
Open all of the small compartments and storage areas.
Check that:
- Hinges operate smoothly
- Covers open and close correctly
- Trim doesn’t feel loose
- Nothing rattles excessively
It’s an easy way to find a loose interior part before it becomes annoying later.
16. Inspect the Panoramic Glass Roof
The R2 has a huge panoramic roof, so take a close look at the glass.
Inspect it both inside and outside.
Look for:
- Chips
- Cracks
- Scratches
- Manufacturing defects
Having another person inspect the rear section while you inspect the front can make this easier.
17. Test the Interior Lights
Turn on all of the cabin lighting.
Check:
- Front interior lights
- Rear interior lights
- Cargo-area lights
- Hazard lights
Make sure everything responds normally.
18. Test All Five Windows
Run every window completely down and back up.
The R2 has a convenient five-window control feature that can operate all of the windows together, including the rear glass.
Use it to confirm that everything moves smoothly.
Listen for:
- Grinding
- Clicking
- Excessive wind noise
- Windows that move significantly slower than the others
19. Check the Emergency Door Release
Inspect the emergency mechanical release on the front doors.
Make sure the trim around the release is properly seated.
On at least one early R2 we’ve inspected, the trim covering the emergency release was unusually loose and could pop out with very little force.
If yours feels noticeably loose or keeps falling out, mention it during delivery.
20. Test the Rivian Flashlight
This is one of those little Rivian features we love.
Remove the flashlight from the door and make sure it:
- Releases correctly
- Turns on
- Turns off
- Seats properly when returned
It should automatically shut off when placed back into its storage location.
21. Inspect the Rear Cargo Area
Open the cargo area and inspect it closely.
Look around:
- Lower storage compartments
- Side panels
- Rear hatch seals
- Vent areas
- Under the cargo floor
You’re mainly looking for unexpected moisture or evidence that water is entering the vehicle.
If it has recently rained or the vehicle was just washed, that’s actually a great time to perform this check.
Confirm Your Cargo Accessories
Check that all of the equipment that’s supposed to come with your R2 is actually present.
Depending on configuration, this could include items such as:
- Tire inflator
- Jack equipment
- Jack pads
- Spare tire or spare tire equipment
- Charging equipment
- Other Launch Edition accessories
Compare the cargo area with what your specific configuration is supposed to include.
22. Test the Cargo Power Outlets
The R2 offers power outlets in the cargo area.
Bring a phone charger or another small device and test them.
Some outlets may need to be enabled through the vehicle’s settings first, so make sure you understand how to activate them.
23. Explore the Center Display and Software
You don’t need to inspect every software menu before leaving, but spend a few minutes making sure the major functions work.
Confirm that:
- The touchscreen responds normally
- Driver display works
- Navigation loads
- Climate controls respond
- Vehicle settings open
- Bluetooth works
Rivian also provides an in-car walkthrough that can help new owners familiarize themselves with the controls.
If you’re moving from a traditional gas vehicle—or even from another EV—the interface may take some getting used to.
It’s better to learn the basics while you’re still parked.
24. Test Bluetooth and the Sound System
Connect your phone and play some music.
Use a song you’re familiar with, preferably something that has decent bass.
Listen for:
- Distortion
- Buzzing
- Rattling
- Missing speakers
- Weak or absent bass
We’ve heard reports from a few early R2 owners about subwoofer issues shortly after delivery.
That doesn’t mean every R2 has the problem, but it’s simple enough to test while you’re sitting in the vehicle.
Turn the volume up moderately and listen carefully.
25. Set Up Gear Guard
If you’re coming from Tesla, think of Gear Guard as Rivian’s “Sentry Mode”, or security and camera-recording system.
Make sure you understand how to activate it.
If your setup requires external storage, confirm that you have the appropriate USB-C storage device and know where to connect it.
26. Tell Rivian About Problems Before You Leave
If you find something, tell the delivery team while you’re still there whenever possible.
Minor cosmetic items may be handled later through service, but documenting them during delivery establishes that the issue existed before you took the vehicle home.
This is especially important if you live far away from your nearest Rivian Service Center.
If your service center is 10 or 20 miles away, returning may not be a huge inconvenience.
If you’re driving several hours home, you should perform a much more thorough inspection before leaving.
And obviously, don’t leave the delivery center with anything that appears to be a significant safety issue.
Should You Reject Your Rivian R2 Over a Small Problem?
Not necessarily.
A slightly uneven panel gap, loose piece of trim, or small adjustment generally isn’t a reason to immediately reject an otherwise great vehicle.
Early-production vehicles can occasionally need small adjustments.
The important thing is to identify the issue, document it, and make sure Rivian acknowledges it.
From what we’ve seen and heard from early R2 owners, Rivian has generally been responsive about addressing legitimate delivery concerns.
Don’t Let the Checklist Ruin Delivery Day
The purpose of a delivery checklist isn’t to make you stressed about your new R2.
It’s the opposite.
Spending 20 or 30 minutes carefully checking the vehicle gives you a chance to document anything that needs attention so you can stop worrying about it and start enjoying your new Rivian.
The R2 is a seriously exciting vehicle, and once everything checks out, take some time to familiarize yourself with the controls, set up your phone, connect your music, and enjoy the drive home.
Happy delivery day!
Download the Rivian R2 Delivery Day Checklist
Want something easier to use while you’re standing next to the vehicle?
Download our printable Rivian R2 Delivery Day Checklist and bring it with you to your delivery appointment.
It covers the major exterior, interior, software, wheel, tire, camera, cargo, and functionality checks in an easy-to-follow format.
And if you’re planning to protect your new R2, stay tuned. We’ll also be sharing more Rivian R2 DIY content, including paint protection film, wraps, installation guides, trim removal tutorials, and more.
