What is a vehicle walkaround check?
A vehicle walkaround check is a systematic inspection carried out before using a vehicle. Drivers walk around the vehicle checking specific items to ensure it is safe and roadworthy. It takes five to ten minutes and could prevent breakdowns, accidents, and prohibitions.
For commercial vehicles – lorries, vans, coaches, and buses – these checks are not optional. They are a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act and a condition of holding an operator licence. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) expects operators to have robust daily check systems, and they examine these records during audits.
But here is what often gets missed: even if you are not a licensed operator, daily checks make commercial sense. Catching a worn tyre before it fails is cheaper than roadside recovery and vehicle downtime.
Related reading: Fleet compliance guide for UK logistics
What the law requires
The law does not prescribe exactly how to do a walkaround check, but it does set clear expectations. Under Section 40A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, using a vehicle in a dangerous condition is an offence. Both the driver and the operator can be prosecuted.
For Operator Licence holders, the Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory guidance states that vehicles must be checked at least once every 24 hours when in use. The check must cover all items likely to affect safety, and defects must be reported and rectified before the vehicle is used.
See how it works: MyVehicleCheck captures daily inspections digitally and flags defects for immediate attention.
The standard walkaround check process
While specific items vary by vehicle type, a thorough walkaround check follows a consistent pattern. Start at one point and work systematically around the vehicle so nothing gets missed.
Exterior checks
Front of vehicle:
- Windscreen – clean, no cracks or chips in the driver line of sight
- Wipers and washers – blades in good condition, washer fluid topped up
- Lights – headlights, indicators, and fog lights working
- Number plate – clean, legible, securely attached
- Mirrors – clean, properly adjusted, not cracked
Nearside (left):
- Tyres – adequate tread depth (minimum 1mm for commercial vehicles over 3,500kg across the central three quarters), correct pressure, no cuts or bulges
- Wheel fixings – all present, no signs of looseness
- Bodywork – no damage that could injure pedestrians or cyclists
- Lights – side repeaters, marker lights working
Rear of vehicle:
- Lights – brake lights, indicators, reversing lights, number plate light
- Reflectors – clean and visible
- Doors – closing and latching properly
- Load security – if loaded, is the cargo secure?
Cab checks
Inside the cab, before starting the engine:
- Seat and seat belt – adjusted correctly, belt functioning
- Mirrors – all adjusted for proper visibility
- Steering – no excessive play
- Warning lights – note any illuminated on ignition
- Horn – working
- Brakes – check service brake and parking brake
Recording and reporting defects
Finding defects is only half the job. What happens next determines whether your system actually keeps vehicles safe.
Immediate action defects
Some defects mean the vehicle should not move. These include brake failure, steering defects, tyres below minimum tread depth, insecure load, and non-functioning lights at night.
Deferred defects
Minor defects that do not affect safety can be deferred to scheduled maintenance. A small chip in the windscreen away from the driver view, or a broken interior light, can wait. But they must still be recorded and scheduled for repair.
Explore the platform: MyVehicleCheck categorises defects automatically and routes them to the right people for action.
Paper versus digital check systems
Many operators still use paper defect report books. They work, but they have limitations:
- Difficult to analyse patterns across the fleet
- Easy to lose or damage
- Hard to prove when checks were done if records are undated
- No automatic alerts when defects need attention
- Time consuming to compile for audits
Digital systems address these issues. Drivers complete checks on a phone or tablet, defects trigger immediate notifications, and management dashboards show fleet-wide compliance at a glance.
MyVehicleCheck works on any smartphone and syncs data instantly. No specialist hardware required.
Common walkaround check failures
DVSA publishes data on the most common defects found during roadside checks. These same issues appear repeatedly: tyres (insufficient tread, incorrect pressure), brakes (imbalance, worn components), lights (blown bulbs, cracked lenses), and load security.
The frustrating thing is that every one of these should be caught by a proper daily check. Vehicles do not develop dangerous defects overnight – they deteriorate gradually, giving multiple opportunities to spot problems before they become prohibitions.
FAQs: vehicle walkaround checks
How often must walkaround checks be done?
For commercial vehicles used under an operator licence, checks must be completed at least once every 24 hours when the vehicle is in use.
Who is responsible for walkaround checks?
The driver is responsible for conducting the check and reporting defects. The operator is responsible for ensuring drivers are trained, providing a suitable checking system, and acting on defect reports.
Can I use a smartphone app for walkaround checks?
Yes. DVSA accepts digital records provided they capture the same information as paper systems: vehicle identification, date and time, items checked, defects found, and driver signature.
Making walkaround checks work for your fleet
Daily vehicle walkaround checks are the foundation of fleet safety and compliance. They are not bureaucracy – they are the process that catches problems early, prevents breakdowns, and protects your operator licence.
Ready to digitise your walkaround checks? Join the Founding Partner waitlist to see how Compliance Cover makes daily checks simple, trackable, and audit-ready.