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Vehicle inspection checklist
The daily inspection for a company car, van or pickup, item by item, with what to look for on each one: a walk-around before you get in, then checks from the driver’s seat. Print it and keep it in the glove box.
Other equipment: forklift checklist · scissor lift checklist
Who requires it
Cars, vans and pickups under 10,001 pounds are usually not commercial motor vehicles under the federal rules, so the DOT driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) does not apply to them. A daily check on a company vehicle is set by company policy, and your fleet insurer may ask for one.
A written record is what shows a driver was handed a safe vehicle, and when a problem was first reported.
Walk-around
Before you get in.
No fluid leaks under vehicle
Look where it was parked: no fresh puddle of oil, coolant, brake fluid or fuel. A few drops of clear water from the air conditioning are normal.
Windshield and glass Out of service
No crack, chip or star in the area the wipers sweep in front of the driver; side and rear glass intact.
Mirrors intact, adjusted
Driver-side, passenger-side and interior mirrors present, unbroken, tight on the mount, and set for this driver before moving.
Seat belts all seats Out of service
Driver's belt latches, holds under a sharp tug, and retracts; a working belt exists for every seat that will be occupied.
Tread depth and pressure
Tread at least 2/32" (penny test: Lincoln's head covered) on all four; pressure matches the door-jamb placard, not the sidewall, checked cold.
Spare tire and jack
Spare present and holds air; jack, handle and lug wrench in the vehicle. Check the spare's pressure with the others.
Washer fluid level
Washer reservoir at least half full (winter: rated for freezing temperatures).
Plates and sticker current
Plates attached (front and rear where the state issues both), clean and legible; registration sticker present and not expired.
Insurance card in vehicle
Proof of insurance (paper or electronic) in the vehicle and not expired.
Warning triangles / flares
Three reflective triangles or flares in the vehicle. Required by 49 CFR 393.95 on CMVs only; for cars this is company policy.
First aid kit stocked
First aid kit in the vehicle, sealed or fully stocked, not expired.
Cargo secured in van/bed
Nothing loose in the cargo area or bed that can slide, fall out, or strike the driver; tarps and straps tight.
Doors and latches
Every door, including sliding and rear cargo doors, closes fully and latches; no door-ajar warning after closing.
Interior clean, view clear
Windows clear inside and out; nothing on the dash, floor or hanging from the mirror that blocks the view or can roll under the pedals.
In the driver’s seat
Engine on, before you pull out.
Gauges and warning lights Out of service
All gauges read normal. No warning or fault lamps stay lit after startup.
Horn Out of service
Sounds clearly.
Steering Out of service
Smooth through full travel. No excessive play, binding, or wandering.
Wipers and washer
Both blades clear the glass without streaking or skipping; washer sprays on both sides and reservoir is not empty.
Brake, signal, hazard lights
With a helper or reflection: both brake lights and the center high-mount light come on; left and right turn signals flash front and rear; hazard flashers work; reverse lights come on in reverse.
Brakes Out of service
Pedal firm, not soft or sinking. The vehicle stops straight with no pull, grinding or squeal, and no brake warning light.
Parking brake holds Out of service
Set, the parking brake holds the vehicle still on a slope; released, the warning light goes out.
Odometer reading
Enter the miles on the odometer.
Unusual noises, smells, or vibration Out of service
Anything that was not there yesterday.
Anything else to report
Optional. Leave blank if nothing.
Depending on what it runs on
Only the section for your vehicle’s power source applies.
Gas or diesel
Engine oil and coolant
Oil on the dipstick between the marks; coolant in the overflow tank at or above the cold line. Do not open a hot radiator cap.
Fuel level adequate
Fuel gauge shows enough for the day's route with reserve; refuel before returning per company policy.
Exhaust and muffler
No rattling, dragging or unusually loud exhaust and no fume smell in the cab.
Electric
Charge enough for the day
Battery charge or range on the dash covers the day's route with reserve. Plug in on return per company policy.
Charging cable unplugged and stowed
Cable disconnected from the vehicle and the charger, not cut or crushed, and stowed where it cannot be driven over.
Why these checks matter
Most of what goes wrong on a company vehicle is visible in a minute from the parking lot: a low tire, a cracked windshield, a light out. Found there, it is a work order. Found on the highway, it is a breakdown or a ticket.
Shared vehicles need the check most. The driver who notices a problem is rarely the one who caused it, and without a record nobody knows when it started.
Items marked Out of service take the vehicle out of service when they fail. The rest still need reporting, but they do not necessarily stop the shift. The manufacturer’s manual is the final word on what to check on your model.