Van Walkaround Check Checklist for UK Drivers

What a walkaround check is

A walkaround check is a visual and practical check the driver does before setting off. You look at the parts of the van that most often cause trouble on the road (lights, tyres, mirrors, brakes, fluids, the load) and test the things you can operate from the seat.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publishes guidance on van daily walkaround checks for England, Scotland and Wales, with a downloadable diagram of the main checks. The checklist below covers the same ground, grouped into what you can check from the cab, what you check outside, and what sits under the bonnet. Treat it as a base and add anything your vans carry, such as a tail lift, racking or a crane.

Who is responsible

DVSA's van guidance says the driver is responsible for making sure the van is safe to drive, and that the check should happen before the journey. Where the business holds an operator licence, drivers must also record and report any defects they find.

Employers have duties as well. HSE's guidance on keeping work vehicles safe says any vehicle used for the business should be safe and stay safe. It expects employers to make sure workers carry out and record daily checks, to have a way of reporting defects, to get defects put right promptly, and to have a clear policy that unsafe vehicles are not driven.

For vans run under an operator licence, DVSA's Guide to maintaining roadworthiness adds that drivers share responsibility for roadworthiness with the operator.

Inside the cab

Start in the driver's seat with the ignition on.

Windscreen and view. The glass is undamaged and clear. Nothing blocks your view or sits where the wipers sweep.
Mirrors and cameras. Every mirror is there, secure, clean and unbroken. Any cameras are fitted and give a picture.
Wipers and washers. Both work, and the blades are in good condition.
Warning lights. The dashboard lamps work, including the ABS and airbag lights and any braking, steering or stability control lights the van has, plus main beam and parking brake.
Steering. The wheel turns freely without sticking or too much play. Power assistance works, and the column does not lift or move more than it should.
Horn. It sounds when you press it.
Brakes. Nothing in the footwell can get under the pedals. The foot brake and handbrake both work without travelling too far.
Seats and seat belts. Seats are secure. Belts have no damage, lock into the buckle and wind back in properly.

Outside the van

Walk round the van in the same direction every time so you don't miss a side.

Lights and indicators. All lights and indicators work. Lenses are fitted, clean and the right colour. The brake lights come on with the pedal (use a reflection or ask someone to watch), and any marker lights work.
Tyres and wheels. Wheels and trims are secure and undamaged. Tyres have legal tread and the right pressure, with no deep cuts, damage or cord showing. DVSA notes that each unsafe or illegal tyre can bring 3 penalty points.
Bodywork and doors. Doors shut and latch. No loose panels, damage or sharp edges.
Number plates. The right type, fixed on securely and easy to read.
Exhaust. No leaks, and no excessive smoke or noise once the engine is running.
Leaks underneath. The fuel cap is on and secure. Look under the van for drips of fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid or power steering fluid, and look again with the engine running.

Under the bonnet

Fluid levels. Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and screenwash are all at the right level.
Battery. Held down securely, in good condition and not leaking.
AdBlue. On diesel vans that use it, check there is enough diesel exhaust fluid and top it up if needed.
Alternative fuel systems. If the van has one, know where the isolation switch is, and check for leaks and the condition of any parts you can see.

Load, towing and equipment

Load. The load is secured with the right restraints and cannot shift. Rear doors, side boards and the tailgate lock properly. The body, bulkhead and floor are sound.
Tow bar and trailer. The tow bar is secure, the trailer is coupled correctly, its lights and electrics work, and a breakaway cable is fitted.
Other equipment. Anything specific to the van, such as a tail lift, is secure, undamaged and works as it should.

If something fails

Report the problem straight away to whoever deals with defects in your business, with enough detail for them to act on it. Say how serious you think it is. A blown sidelight bulb and a brake warning light need very different responses, and the person fixing it needs to know which one they are dealing with.

If the defect makes the van unsafe, it should not go out until it is fixed. HSE expects employers to make that a clear rule.

If you notice a defect during a journey, DVSA's guidance says to stop somewhere safe, assess it and report it. A dangerous defect has to be fixed before you carry on.

What happens at the roadside. Police and DVSA officers can stop vans and inspect them. DVSA can stop a dangerous van being used until it is repaired, and drivers can be fined, prosecuted or given penalty points. DVSA's guidance says using a van in a dangerous condition can lead to an unlimited fine and a prison sentence.

Recording the check

DVSA's van guidance says drivers working for a business with an operator licence must record and report the result of each check, including defects they notice while driving. For each check, the record should show:

the van's registration or identification mark
the date
the defects or symptoms found
your assessment of each defect, for example whether it is dangerous
your name
who you reported the defect to

DVSA suggests a form that lists every item checked each day, with "nil" recorded when nothing is wrong. You can use DVSA's template or your employer's own system, paper or electronic. The Guide to maintaining roadworthiness includes an example defect report for light goods vehicles, and its version of the record also has space for the repair carried out and the date it was done.

Keep the records somewhere you can find them. DVSA can ask to see a check record at a roadside check. For operator licence holders, the Guide to maintaining roadworthiness says drivers' defect reports and the repair records that go with them must be kept for at least 15 months, and electronic records are acceptable.

Even if your vans sit outside operator licensing, a written record of each check is the simplest way to show that checks happen and that defects get fixed.

How long a check takes

Neither DVSA's van guidance nor the Guide to maintaining roadworthiness gives a number of minutes. The roadworthiness guide says operators should allow enough time for walkaround checks to be done. The honest answer is that it depends on the van, the load and anything towed, so time a few checks on your own vehicles and build that time into the start of the shift. A check squeezed into the last minute before leaving is the one most likely to miss something.

Doing the check on a phone

Paper sheets work, but they tend to arrive at the office late, or not at all, and a defect written on one has no owner until someone reads it. VCT's walkaround check app puts the checklist on the driver's phone, in the web browser. Drivers mark each item green, amber or red and add a note. Anything red or amber goes straight into a work queue at the office with an owner, and it only clears when a later check marks the same item green. You can edit the checklist to match DVSA's van guidance and your own vehicles. VCT follows DVSA's walkaround check guidance; it is not approved or accredited by DVSA.

Sources

Checked on 14 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Van walkaround check checklist: what to check before every journey