The DVSA Daily Walkaround Check List (Free PDF + App)
The full DVSA-aligned daily walkaround check list for HGVs, vans and PCVs — free to download, plus how to run it in two minutes on a phone.
Every driver of an HGV, PCV or van must complete a daily walkaround check before the vehicle is first used — and keep a record of it. This is the full DVSA-aligned check list, plus how to run it in about two minutes on a phone.
Is a daily walkaround check a legal requirement?
Yes. Under DVSA's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, a responsible person must carry out a walkaround check before a commercial vehicle is first used each day. Drivers must report any defect promptly, and knowingly using a vehicle with a roadworthiness defect is a prosecutable offence that puts your operator's licence at risk.
The check is a pre-use inspection of everything that affects roadworthiness. It applies to HGVs, PCVs/PSVs and vans used in a business.
The DVSA daily walkaround check list
Work around the vehicle in the same order every time so nothing is missed. These are the standard items a walkaround should cover.
Lights and indicators
- Headlights, sidelights and tail lights
- Indicators and hazard warning lights
- Brake lights
- Reversing lights
- Number plate lights
Tyres and wheels
- Tyre condition — no deep cuts, bulges or exposed cords
- Tyre pressure (visual)
- Tread depth — at least 1mm for HGVs and PCVs, or 1.6mm for vans up to 3.5 tonnes
- Wheel fixings secure — check the position of any wheel-nut indicators
Mirrors, glass and washers
- Mirrors present, clean and correctly adjusted
- Windscreen and windows free of dangerous cracks or chips
- Wipers and washers working, with fluid topped up
Brakes
- Service (foot) brake
- Parking / secondary brake
- Air build-up and low-pressure warnings, where fitted
Under the vehicle and fluids
- No oil, fuel, coolant or air leaks
- Engine oil, coolant and washer levels
- Fuel and AdBlue level
Body, load and coupling
- Bodywork and doors secure, with no dangerous damage
- Load properly secured — curtains, straps or chains
- Coupling / fifth wheel and landing legs secure on articulated vehicles
Cab and safety equipment
- Tachograph working and set to the correct mode
- Horn working
- Seatbelt condition and operation
- Number plates clean, secure and legible
- Fire extinguisher and warning triangle present and in date
Buses and coaches (PCVs) also cover passenger doors, emergency exits, interior condition and a stocked first-aid kit. See walkaround checks by vehicle type for the differences.
Report defects — don't just note them
Finding a defect is only half the job. DVSA wants evidence that every defect was reported, assessed, repaired and signed off — a closed loop. A note in a book that nobody actions is exactly what an examiner looks for. That's what defect management is for.
How long must you keep the records?
Walkaround reports, defect reports and the record of the repair must be kept for at least 15 months. There's more detail in the complete walkaround checks guide.
Get the checklist — or skip the paper altogether
Free DVSA walkaround checklist
A practical pre-use checklist for HGV, PCV and van drivers. We’ll email it over.
Paper sheets get lost, soaked and back-dated. HaulGuard turns the whole list above into a guided two-minute check on a phone — with photo, GPS and signature evidence, defects routed straight to a mechanic, and every record kept for the full 15 months automatically.