How long does a walkaround check take?

A thorough walkaround check should take 5–10 minutes for a van and 10–15 minutes for a larger vehicle. Checks that take 30 seconds are almost certainly not being completed properly. Digital check apps help ensure completeness — the app won't let the driver submit until all items are checked.

What should I do if I find a defect on a walkaround check?

Minor defects (e.g. a damaged door handle, a scuff) should be reported and monitored. Safety-critical defects (e.g. damaged tyre, brake fault, a light not working) should result in the vehicle being taken out of service until the defect is repaired and signed off by a manager or workshop. All defects, however minor, should be recorded.

Can I use a digital app for walkaround checks?

Yes — DVSA accepts digital walkaround check records. Digital records are timestamped automatically, GPS-located, and harder to falsify than paper forms. Many fleet operators find that DVSA inspectors view digital records favourably because they demonstrate a systematic approach.

Compliance6 min read

Walkaround Check Guide for UK Fleet Vehicles

What to check, how to record it, and what DVSA expects — a practical reference guide for fleet drivers and managers.

What is a walkaround check?

A walkaround check (also called a DVIR — Driver Vehicle Inspection Report) is a pre-use inspection that a driver completes before driving a commercial vehicle. The purpose is to identify any defects — mechanical, safety-related, or cosmetic — before the vehicle enters service, so that defects can be reported, assessed, and repaired before they become dangerous or generate a DVSA prohibition.

Tyres

☐Tread depth (minimum 1.6mm, recommend replace at 3mm)
☐Tyre condition — cuts, bulges, or embedded objects
☐Tyre pressure (visual — significantly flat)
☐Wheel fixings — no missing or loose nuts visible

Lights & signals

☐Headlights (main beam and dipped)
☐Brake lights
☐Indicators (all four corners)
☐Hazard warning lights
☐Reverse lights
☐Fog lights (front and rear where fitted)

Brakes

☐Air pressure gauge (air brake vehicles — check before use)
☐Handbrake operational
☐No unusual brake noise or feel on initial move

Vision

☐Windscreen — no cracks or chips in driver's line of sight
☐All mirrors clean and correctly adjusted
☐Wipers and washers operational
☐No obstructions to driver's field of vision

Fluids & engine

☐Engine oil level
☐Coolant level
☐Windscreen washer fluid
☐No visible fluid leaks under vehicle

Bodywork & load

☐Body panels secure — no sharp edges or significant damage
☐Doors and tailgates closing and latching properly
☐Any load properly secured
☐Number plates clean and legible

What to do when you find a defect

Not all defects are equal. The appropriate response depends on severity:

Safety-critical defect (brake fault, severely damaged tyre, lights not working, steering fault) — do not drive the vehicle. Report immediately to the fleet manager. Vehicle remains off-road until repaired and signed off.
Advisory defect (minor bodywork damage, windscreen chip outside driver's line of sight, slightly low fluid levels) — report and document. Can usually continue operating, but defect must be addressed within a defined timeframe.
No defects found — record the check as complete with no defects. This record is still important — it demonstrates the check was completed.

Record keeping

Every walkaround check should be recorded — whether defects were found or not. For O-licence operators, records must be kept for at least 15 months and produced on request during a DVSA inspection. The record should include: date and time of check, vehicle registration, driver name, items checked, any defects found, and driver signature (or digital equivalent).

Paper forms work but create administrative burden and are easily lost. Digital walkaround checks via the FleetGS driver app create an automatic audit trail that's timestamped, GPS-located, and permanently stored.

Paper vs digital walkaround checks

DVSA accepts digital walkaround check records. In practice, digital records often present better in enforcement contexts — they demonstrate that checks were completed systematically, with specific timestamps, rather than retrospectively filled in. For fleet managers, digital checks provide real-time visibility of completion rates and immediate alerts when defects are found.

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Frequently asked questions

For O-licence holders (operators of HGVs over 3.5 tonnes or PSVs), daily walkaround checks are a specific licence condition — records must be maintained for at least 15 months. For LCV (van) operators without an O-licence, there's no explicit legal requirement for daily checks, but it is strongly recommended as a duty-of-care practice. If DVSA stops a vehicle and finds defects, the absence of a checking system reflects poorly on the operator.

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