Every time a driver starts a journey, there's more at stake than just getting from A to B. Daily walkaround checks are a legal requirement under UK and Irish regulations, designed to keep your drivers, your vehicles, and the public safe.
Failing to carry out proper checks can lead to fines, penalty points, compliance breaches, or worse — a serious safety incident that could’ve been avoided. For operators, it’s not just about risk, it’s about the future of your operator licence.
Yet despite the importance of these checks, many fleets still rely on paper forms that are easily lost, rushed through, or filed away with little oversight. That’s where digital tools (like our Fleet Maintenance Software) are changing the game, offering real-time reporting, proof of compliance, and better safety outcomes.
Here’s what every fleet operator needs to know in 2025.
What Are Driver Walkaround Checks?
Driver walkaround checks are daily safety inspections carried out by drivers before taking a vehicle on the road. These checks are a legal requirement under UK and Irish transport law, ensuring that vehicles are roadworthy, defects are reported, and safety risks are minimised before a journey begins.
Walkaround checks exist to protect:
Your drivers — by identifying faults before they become hazards
The public — by preventing unsafe vehicles from being operated
Your business — by helping you meet O-Licence undertakings and avoid enforcement action
For operators, these checks form part of your wider maintenance and compliance responsibilities. As outlined in the official DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, daily checks must be conducted before a vehicle is used and recorded with clear documentation.
When done correctly, walkaround checks are your first line of defence in maintaining a compliant, efficient fleet and a critical audit-proofing tool if your operation is ever investigated by the DVSA, DVA, or RSA.
What Must Be Checked Daily?
Drivers are legally required to inspect their vehicle before starting each day’s journey. These checks help ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and that any defects are identified and reported immediately.
While the exact checklist may vary by vehicle type (HGV, PSV, van), the DVSA outlines a clear set of items that must be inspected daily.
Here’s a simplified summary of key areas for you to check:
Driver Walkaround Checklist
Brakes – pedal pressure, air leaks, handbrake
Tyres – tread depth, pressure, damage
Lights – indicators, brake lights, number plate lights
Mirrors & Windscreen – condition, alignment, cleanliness
Horn – working and loud enough
Seatbelts – functioning and secure
Warning Lights – dashboard indicators
Steering – no excessive play or stiffness
Suspension – check for leaks or damage
Wipers & Washers – working properly with enough fluid
Bodywork – no loose panels or sharp edges
Load Security – properly restrained and distributed
Registration Plates – clean and visible
Exhaust – no unusual noise or smoke
Doors – open, close, and secure safely
Coupling Devices (for trailers) – securely connected
For the full checklist and official guidance, see the DVSA’s published vehicle inspection checklist here.
What Happens If You Skip It?
Failing to complete daily walkaround checks isn’t just a small oversight — it’s a serious compliance breach with real-world consequences for drivers and operators alike.
Penalty Points and Fines
If a driver is stopped at a roadside check or involved in an incident, and no walkaround check has been done, they could face:
Penalty points on their licence
Fixed penalty notices
Prosecution if the defect results in an accident
In some cases, these penalties apply even if the defect wasn’t obvious. This is because the responsibility to check rests with the driver.
Your O-Licence Could Be at Risk
For operators, missing or incomplete checks are a red flag to regulators. If your operation is audited and you can’t produce records showing daily inspections:
You could face a Public Inquiry
Your O-Licence could be restricted, suspended, or revoked
Reputational damage can follow — impacting contracts, damaging relationships and stalling business growth
Safety, Liability, and Insurance Fallout
Walkaround checks are the first line of defence against avoidable breakdowns and dangerous defects.
Skipping them:
Increases the risk of on-road failures
Raises the likelihood of accidents involving third parties
May lead to insurance claims being challenged or denied due to negligence
The bottom line is that even one missed check can put your driver, your business, and your entire fleet operation at risk. That’s why consistent, traceable walkaround checks are essential.
This highlights the crucial need for fleet maintenance software.
Why Paper Forms Are Holding You Back
While paper-based walkaround checks may still be common, they create far more problems than they solve. This is especially true when your operation depends on accuracy, speed, and traceability.
Hard to Track and Easy to Lose
Paper checklists get misplaced, damaged, or filed away without ever being reviewed. There’s no central system, no alerts, and no way to ensure checks are happening properly — until it’s too late.
Vulnerable to Forgery or Shortcuts
Without digital timestamps or validation, there’s no way to prove whether a check was actually carried out — or just ticked off. This opens the door to corner-cutting and leaves your operation exposed.
Delays in Defect Reporting
If a driver spots an issue, they need to hand-deliver or scan their form — often hours after the fact. That delays your maintenance team from acting and increases the risk of an unsafe vehicle staying on the road.
No Real-Time Proof of Compliance
If DVSA or DVA inspectors ask for inspection records, you’ll need to manually locate the right forms, scan them, and prove the timeline. With paper, you can’t show real-time data or confirm when and how checks were done.
That’s why digital walkaround check tools are becoming the new standard — offering faster reporting, automatic records, and full audit trails from the moment a driver starts their check.
The Smarter Way: Digital Walkaround Check App
Paper checklists slow your fleet down. Fleet Fixation’s digital driver app replaces outdated processes with real-time inspections, instant reporting, and audit-ready records, all from a mobile device.
Built for both compliance and convenience, the app helps you stay ahead of risk, reduce admin time, and ensure that checks are actually getting done — properly, every time.
Time-Stamped Digital Records
Every completed check is logged with the exact time, date, and vehicle ID; creating a secure, traceable record that stands up to audits. No more guessing whether checks happened or chasing after missing paperwork.
Real-Time Defect Alerts
The moment a defect is reported, your maintenance team is notified. That means faster repairs, fewer unsafe vehicles on the road, and complete visibility across your entire operation.
Photo Uploads and Driver Notes
Drivers can attach photos, write comments, and add context to any issue — removing ambiguity and improving accuracy. Your team sees exactly what was flagged and why, no back-and-forth required.
Instant Manager Access
All check data is synced in real time. Fleet managers can access reports from any device, monitor compliance across depots, and act fast when issues arise. No scanning, no delays.
Designed for DVSA Compliance
The app is built with the DVSA’s walkaround check standards in mind, giving you confidence that your drivers are completing checks to the required standard — and that you have the proof to back it up.
Looking to modernise your checks? Our app is designed for DVSA compliance from day one.
Keep Your Drivers Safe and Stay Compliant
Walkaround checks are more than a box-ticking exercise — they’re a legal obligation and your first line of defence against costly repairs, dangerous defects, and licence penalties.
But when you're still relying on paper?
You're opening the door to missed checks, lost forms, and serious compliance risks.
With Fleet Fixation’s Digital Walkaround Check App, you’re giving your team the tools to:
Complete inspections quickly and accurately
Report defects instantly
Stay compliant with DVSA and O-Licence regulations — without the admin chaos
It’s not just safer. It’s smarter.
Book a quick demo to see how our walkaround app makes daily checks faster, safer, and 100% compliant — with full visibility from day one.
No paperwork. No delays. No stress.