Do vans legally need a daily walkaround check?

If the van is used in a business, a driver defect reporting and daily check system is expected as part of maintaining roadworthiness — and it protects you if the vehicle is ever stopped or in an incident.

What tread depth is legal for a van?

1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes — the same as a car, and more than the 1mm HGV limit.

Can drivers do the check offline?

Yes — HaulGuard is an offline-first app, so checks complete with no signal in a car park or on the road and sync automatically.

Van walkaround checks

Van daily walkaround checks that take two minutes

Van fleets carry the same duty of care as HGVs but often skip the paperwork. HaulGuard gives light-commercial drivers a fast, guided daily check they'll actually complete — before the van leaves the yard.

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In short

A van walkaround check is the pre-use roadworthiness inspection for light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. There's no coupling or air-brake system to check, but the fundamentals — tyres, lights, brakes, mirrors, leaks and load security — matter just as much, and DVSA expects the same recorded evidence.

The check list

What a Van walkaround covers

Lights & indicators

Headlights, sidelights & tail lights
Indicators & hazard lights
Brake lights
Reversing lights
Number plate lights

Tyres & wheels

Tyre condition (cuts, bulges)
Tyre pressure (visual)
Tread depth ≥ 1.6mm
Wheel fixings secure

Mirrors, glass & washers

Mirrors present, clean & adjusted
Windscreen & windows (cracks, chips)
Wipers & washers working, fluid topped up

Brakes

Service (foot) brake
Parking brake

Leaks & fluids

No oil, fuel, coolant or air leaks
Engine oil, coolant & washer levels
Fuel & AdBlue level

Body & load

Bodywork & doors secure
Load secured & not overloaded
Bulkhead & rear doors sound

Cab & controls

Horn working
Seatbelt condition & operation
Warning lamps clear

What we see

Typical Van defects HaulGuard catches

Bald or under-inflated tyres

Overloading beyond the plated weight

Blown bulbs and cracked lenses

Unsecured loads in the load area

Other vehicles

Walkaround checks by vehicle type

HGV walkaround checks PCV walkaround checks Coach walkaround checks Minibus walkaround checks Tipper walkaround checks Trailer walkaround checks

FAQ

Van walkaround checks, answered

Keep reading

Walkaround checksThe DVSA daily walkaround check app for every vehicle type.Defect managementTurn a failed check item into a tracked, signed-off repair.The complete guideWhat a DVSA walkaround check is and the duties behind it.

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Set up your first vehicle and run a compliant DVSA walkaround in under 5 minutes.

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