Are paper walkaround checks still legal?

Yes — the law requires the check to be done and recorded, not that it be digital. But paper makes proving compliance harder, especially reconstructing 15 months of records for an audit.

What does digital add over paper?

A timestamp, GPS and signature on every check, automatic 15-month retention, defect routing to a mechanic, and a one-click evidence pack — the things that turn a check into audit-proof evidence.

Is going digital disruptive?

No. Drivers use a guided app on a phone, there's no hardware, and most fleets are running checks the same day they start a trial.

Compare

Digital vs paper walkaround checks

The daily walkaround check itself doesn't change when you go digital — but how you evidence it does, and that's exactly what a DVSA examiner scrutinises.

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In short

Paper walkaround books still work fine right up until the moment you need them: a roadside stop, an audit, or a public inquiry, sometimes more than a year after the check. This page compares paper and digital walkaround checks on the things that actually decide whether you can prove compliance.

Side by side

What a DVSA auditor actually wants to see

Paper walkaround sheets

Lost, soaked or illegible sheets
No proof of when a check happened
Defects missed or never followed up
Back-dated or skipped checks
Hours spent reconstructing records

With HaulGuard

Every check stored for 15 months
Timestamp, GPS and signature on each check
Defects tracked to sign-off
Real-time view of missed checks
Audit-ready evidence pack in one click

What to look for

How to compare the options

Can you retrieve 15 months of records?

DVSA can ask to see walkaround, defect and repair records going back at least 15 months. Paper has to survive, legibly, that whole time; digital records are searchable in seconds.

Is there proof the check happened?

A tick in a book proves nothing about when or where. A digital check captures a timestamp, GPS location and signature on every inspection.

Do defects get followed up?

Paper defect slips get lost between driver and workshop. A digital system routes each defect to a mechanic and records the repair — the closed loop DVSA wants to see.

How fast is an audit response?

Reconstructing paper records for an audit takes hours or days. A digital evidence pack exports in one click.

Where HaulGuard fits

What HaulGuard gives you

Every check stored for the full 15-month retention window
Timestamp, GPS and signature on each inspection
Defects tracked from fault to fix to sign-off
One-click evidence pack for audits and roadside checks
Works offline in the cab or at the depot

FAQ

Questions, answered

Keep reading

Walkaround checksThe DVSA daily walkaround check app for every vehicle type.PricingSimple per-active-vehicle pricing with a 14-day free trial.All comparisonsSee how HaulGuard compares to paper and other apps.

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