DVSA walkaround check list: printable checklist for vans and HGVs

By the Smart Strix team · Updated 15 July 2026

A complete walkaround check list you can print and hand to drivers today — van and HGV versions — plus what DVSA expects when a defect turns up.

In short: a walkaround check is a short daily inspection before a vehicle's first use, covering lights, tyres, mirrors, bodywork, cab and load area. DVSA's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness sets the expectation for HGV and PSV operators; van fleets widely treat it as best practice. The lists below are ready to print. Published by Smart Strix, a UK-first fleet platform for 2–50 vehicle fleets — the rules come from DVSA and gov.uk, so always confirm current official guidance.

What is a DVSA walkaround check?

A walkaround check is a first-use inspection: the driver walks around the vehicle and confirms it is safe before setting off. DVSA's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness makes drivers of O-licensed vehicles responsible for their vehicle's condition on the road, with a documented daily check as the accepted evidence. Vans under 3.5 tonnes carry no O-licence obligation, but employer duty-of-care law leads most van fleets to adopt the same routine — see our guide on whether daily vehicle checks are a legal requirement.

What should a van walkaround check include?

Work around the vehicle in one consistent direction so nothing gets skipped. The check splits into exterior, cab and load area — print the lists as they stand or adapt them to your fleet.

Exterior

Item	What to look for
Lights and indicators	All lamps work, lenses clean and uncracked, correct colour
Tyres and wheels	Tread above the 1.6 mm legal minimum, no cuts or bulges, inflation looks right, wheel nuts present
Windscreen and wipers	No cracks in the driver's view, blades clear the screen, washers deliver fluid
Mirrors and glass	All mirrors fitted, secure, adjusted and unbroken
Bodywork and doors	Panels secure, nothing sharp or dangling, every door opens and shuts properly
Number plates	Present, clean and legible front and rear
Fluid leaks	No fresh oil, fuel or coolant on the ground under the vehicle
Exhaust	Secure, not excessively smoky or noisy on start-up

Cab

Seatbelts extend, retract and latch on every seat
Horn sounds when tested
Steering feels normal with no excessive play
Brakes: pedal firm, handbrake holds, no warning lamp lit
Dashboard warning lights extinguish after start-up
Driver's view unobstructed — no clutter on the dash or stickers in the swept area
Wipers, washers, demister and heater all function

Load area

Load restrained so it cannot move in transit — straps, rails or bulkhead in good order
Rear and side doors close, latch and lock
Tail lift (if fitted) operates correctly and platform is secure for travel
Weight within the plated limit and distributed sensibly over the axles
No unsecured tools, cylinders or fuel cans loose in the back

What extra items does an HGV walkaround check cover?

Everything above still applies to an HGV, and DVSA's guidance adds items specific to larger vehicles and trailers. Add these to the printed sheet for anything over 3.5 tonnes:

Brake lines and air build-up — no audible leaks, gauges reach operating pressure
Coupling security — fifth wheel or drawbar locked, dog clip in place, electrical and air lines connected
Trailer parking brake applied and released correctly
Curtains, straps, chains and load restraint rated for the load carried
Marker lamps, side reflectors and conspicuity markings clean and intact
Spray suppression flaps fitted and undamaged
Sideguards and rear under-run protection secure
Wheel nut indicators aligned; re-torque markers undisturbed
Height marker in the cab matches the actual travelling height
Tachograph working, correct mode selected, driver card inserted
AdBlue level sufficient and emissions system showing no faults

What happens when the driver finds a defect?

The defect flow DVSA expects is simple and must be followed every time:

Record it — the driver writes the defect on the report (or logs it digitally) with the date, registration and their name.
Report it — the defect goes to whoever controls maintenance before the vehicle moves.
Assess it — a responsible person decides whether the vehicle is safe to use; anything affecting roadworthiness takes it off the road.
Rectify it — the repair is carried out and documented, including who did the work and when.
Close the loop — the rectification is signed off against the original defect report, so an auditor can trace fault to fix.

Mid-shift defects follow the same path: stop where safe, log it, get a decision before continuing. Our guide to vehicle defect reporting requirements covers the nil-defect debate and rectification evidence in depth.

What records does DVSA expect you to keep?

DVSA guidance says maintenance records — including driver defect reports and their rectification — should be retained for at least 15 months. Records can be paper or digital provided they are complete, legible and retrievable at an inspection or public inquiry; there is more detail in our guide to fleet maintenance records. Whichever format you choose, an auditor wants to see checks happening every day a vehicle is used, defects traced through to repair, and no gaps.

Print this page for the checklist itself, then keep the completed records, defect photos and repair documents organised in Smart Strix — drivers capture check-in and check-out photos in the app, and the paperwork stays searchable for the full retention period. See vehicle checks in Smart Strix, or compare approaches in paper vs app vehicle checks.

How long should a walkaround check take?

Allow around 10–15 minutes for a van, longer for an artic with a trailer swap. The time must be paid, rostered and genuinely available — a check "completed" at 06:00 on a vehicle already moving at 05:58 is exactly the pattern examiners look for. Build it into the shift start and it will actually happen.

Frequently asked questions

Is a walkaround check a legal requirement for vans?

Not by a specific statute under 3.5 tonnes, but employers owe a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and driving an unroadworthy vehicle is an offence at any weight. For O-licensed HGVs and PSVs, daily checks are an expectation of the licence undertakings — check current gov.uk guidance.

Who is responsible if a defect is missed on a walkaround check?

Both ends: the driver for the condition of the vehicle they take out, the operator for having effective systems. A missed defect usually prompts DVSA questions about training, time allowed for checks and follow-up of reports.

Does DVSA provide an official walkaround check form?

No single mandatory form exists. DVSA publishes guidance, example checklists and a walkaround video series; any format capturing the items, driver, date and defects found is acceptable.

Can walkaround checks be recorded on a phone instead of paper?

Yes. DVSA accepts electronic records as long as they are tamper-evident, retrievable and kept for the required period. Photos add useful evidence of the vehicle's condition at the time of the check.

Do I need to do a walkaround check on every journey?

One full check before first use each day is the expectation, not one per trip. A driver taking over mid-day should still satisfy themselves the vehicle is roadworthy, and mid-shift defects must be reported immediately.

How long must completed walkaround check records be kept?

At least 15 months per DVSA guidance for defect reports and maintenance records; many operators keep them longer for trend analysis and audits such as FORS.

What is the difference between a walkaround check and a safety inspection?

The walkaround is the driver's daily check of obvious safety items; a safety inspection is a deeper scheduled examination by a competent person. DVSA expects both — neither replaces the other.