Free checklist · Grounds & farm
UTV and golf cart inspection checklist (free, printable)
Before each use, walk around the UTV or golf cart and check the tires, the ROPS and seat belts, doors or nets, lights, horn and cargo bed, plus fuel or battery charge and any leaks. Then test the brakes, parking brake and steering at walking speed. A vehicle with a brake, steering, ROPS or seat belt problem stays parked until it's fixed.
- How often
- Before each use
- The rule
- The manufacturer's manual
- Items
- 19 checks
- Takes
- About 5 minutes
By the CheckBadges team · Updated
Layout
UTV and golf cart inspection checklist
Before each use
| Item | OK | Problem | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-around | |||
| Tires and wheelsPressure right; no cuts or bulges; wheel nuts tight. | |||
| ROPS or roll cageNo cracks, bends or loose bolts; not cut, drilled or modified. | |||
| Seat beltsEach seat's belt latches, releases and retracts; webbing not cut. | |||
| Doors or side netsClose and latch; nets not torn. | |||
| Cargo bed and tailgateBed latched down; tailgate holds; load secured and within the rating. | |||
| HitchBall or pin secure; trailer within the towing rating on the label. | |||
| LeaksNo fuel, oil, coolant or brake fluid under the vehicle. | |||
| Fuel or charge levelEnough fuel or charge for the shift; charger unplugged. | |||
| Battery and cablesTerminals tight and clean; hold-down fitted; no corrosion. | |||
| Battery water levelPlates covered on flooded batteries; topped up after charging. | |||
| Driver's seat and test drive | |||
| Seats and handholdsSeats latched; grab handles and hip restraints tight. | |||
| Lights and reflectorsHeadlights, tail and brake lights work; reflectors clean. | |||
| HornSounds. | |||
| Backup alarmSounds in reverse. | |||
| AcceleratorReturns to idle or stop when released; doesn't stick. | |||
| SteeringNo excess play or binding; returns straight. | |||
| Service brakesStops straight and firmly at walking speed. | |||
| Parking brakeHolds the vehicle on a slope. | |||
| Hour meter or odometerWrite the reading. | ________ hours | ||
Problems found and action taken:
If anything is a problem, don't use the machine: tag it out and report it. Free checklist from checkbadges.com — put it on a QR sticker and operators can fill it in on their phone.
What to check on a UTV, item by item
Walk-around
- Tires and wheels — Pressure right; no cuts or bulges; wheel nuts tight.
- ROPS or roll cage — No cracks, bends or loose bolts; not cut, drilled or modified.
- Seat belts — Each seat's belt latches, releases and retracts; webbing not cut.
- Doors or side nets — Close and latch; nets not torn.
- Cargo bed and tailgate — Bed latched down; tailgate holds; load secured and within the rating.
- Hitch — Ball or pin secure; trailer within the towing rating on the label.
- Leaks — No fuel, oil, coolant or brake fluid under the vehicle.
- Fuel or charge level — Enough fuel or charge for the shift; charger unplugged.
- Battery and cables — Terminals tight and clean; hold-down fitted; no corrosion.
- Battery water level — Plates covered on flooded batteries; topped up after charging.
Driver's seat and test drive
- Seats and handholds — Seats latched; grab handles and hip restraints tight.
- Lights and reflectors — Headlights, tail and brake lights work; reflectors clean.
- Horn — Sounds.
- Backup alarm — Sounds in reverse.
- Accelerator — Returns to idle or stop when released; doesn't stick.
- Steering — No excess play or binding; returns straight.
- Service brakes — Stops straight and firmly at walking speed.
- Parking brake — Holds the vehicle on a slope.
- Hour meter or odometer — Write the reading. (reading, in hours)
How often a UTV has to be inspected
Check a UTV or golf cart before each use, or at the start of each shift for vehicles that stay in use all day. In general industry, no OSHA rule names UTVs or golf carts, so the owner's manual sets the pre-ride checks. If your UTVs work on a construction jobsite, OSHA's motor vehicle rule can apply: it covers "vehicles that operate within an off-highway jobsite, not open to public traffic," and says all vehicles in use "shall be checked at the beginning of each shift" (29 CFR 1926.601(a) and (b)(14)). Its list is a good minimum anywhere:
- Service brakes, the parking brake and the emergency stopping system
- Tires, horn and steering
- Coupling devices
- Seat belts
- Operating controls and safety devices
"All defects shall be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service," the same paragraph says.
Side-by-sides tip over on slopes and in sharp turns, and the ROPS only protects people who stay inside it. That's why the seat belts, doors or nets, and handholds are on the checklist, not just the brakes and tires. Golf carts usually have no ROPS or belts, so mark those items N/A and check the hip restraints and handholds instead.
How to do the check
- Park on level ground with the key out, and start the walk-around at one corner.
- Check every tire, look under the vehicle for leaks, and check the bed, tailgate and hitch.
- Check fuel, or the charge gauge on electric units. On flooded lead-acid batteries, check the water level and top up with distilled water after charging, as the manual says.
- Sit in, adjust the seat and fasten the belt. Check each passenger seat's belt latches.
- Turn the key and check lights, horn and backup alarm.
- Roll forward at walking pace and test the brakes and steering, then stop on a slope and set the parking brake.
- Write down the hour meter or odometer reading.
The defects that take it out of service
| Defect | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Brakes pull, fade or need pumping | You can't stop where you mean to |
| Steering binds or has excess play | You can't hold a line on a slope or path |
| ROPS cracked, bent or modified | It may not hold in a rollover |
| Seat belt, door or net missing or broken | Occupants can be thrown out in a tip |
| Cut, bulging or badly underinflated tire | Can blow out or roll off the rim on a turn |
| Accelerator sticks | The vehicle won't slow when you let go |
| Fuel leak or damaged battery cables | Fire risk |
| Lights or horn not working where needed | Others can't see or hear you coming |
What to do when something fails
Take the key, tag the steering wheel, and park it out of the line so it isn't the next one grabbed. A DO NOT OPERATE tag with the problem written on it tells the mechanic what to look at. Never drill or weld a ROPS to fit accessories; most manufacturers say a modified or damaged ROPS is replaced. See what to do when equipment fails inspection.
Keeping the record
No federal rule requires a written UTV or golf cart check outside construction sites. For a fleet that many people drive, such as golf course carts, campus maintenance UTVs or event site buggies, a dated check per vehicle tells you who had it and what they found. See equipment inspection record keeping, and the pages on golf courses and event production.
A QR sticker on the dash lets every driver do this check on their own phone with no app or login. A problem they mark emails you with a photo, and CheckBadges shows it to the next driver who scans that cart until it's fixed. See QR code equipment checklists.
Skip the clipboard
Put this utv inspection checklist on a QR sticker.
- Operators scan the sticker with their own phone's camera. No app, account or password.
- Anything marked Problem emails you right away, with photos, and warns the next operator.
- Every check is saved by machine with who did it and when. Print one or export a CSV.
Free for 3 machines. Every item above is already filled in — edit anything. No card.
UTV 1
UTV inspection checklist
Frequently asked questions
What should you check before riding a side-by-side?
Tires, leaks, fuel or charge, the ROPS, seat belts and doors or nets, lights and horn, then the brakes, steering and parking brake at walking speed. The owner's manual lists the pre-ride checks for your model.
How often should golf carts be inspected?
Give them a quick check before each use or shift, and service them at the intervals in the manufacturer's manual. Carts registered for street use may also have local inspection rules; check with your city or county.
Do UTV passengers need to wear seat belts?
Yes, where the vehicle has them. Manufacturers require every occupant to wear the belt and keep arms and legs inside, because the ROPS only protects people who stay inside it. On construction jobsites, seat belts are on OSHA's start-of-shift vehicle check (29 CFR 1926.601(b)(14)).
Is a golf cart checked the same way as a UTV?
Nearly. The walk-around covers the same tires, brakes, steering, lights, horn and battery or fuel. Golf carts usually have no ROPS or seat belts, which is why those items can be marked N/A; check the hip restraints and handholds instead.
How do you check an electric golf cart's batteries?
Check the charge gauge, that terminals are tight and free of corrosion, that hold-downs are fitted, and that the charger and its cord are undamaged. On flooded lead-acid batteries, keep the plates covered and top up with distilled water after charging, as the manual says.
Keep reading
- Lawn mower inspection checklistFree daily mower inspection checklist for zero-turn, stand-on and walk-behind mowers: blades, deck, discharge chute, seat switch, ROPS, belts, tires and fuel.
- Tractor inspection checklistFree tractor inspection checklist for farms and grounds crews: ROPS, seat belt, PTO shields, hitch, hydraulics, tires, lights, SMV emblem and brakes.
- Vehicle inspection checklistFree daily vehicle inspection checklist for company cars, pickups, vans and work trucks: tires, lights, brakes, fluids, mirrors, load and body damage.
- Golf coursesGolf course equipment inspection checklists on a QR sticker per mower, utility vehicle, sprayer and cart. Staff scan with their own phone before use; no app.
- Event productionEvent production equipment checklists on QR tags for rented scissor lifts, telehandlers, forklifts and generators. Freelance crew scan with their phone; no app.
- FarmsFarm equipment inspection checklists on a QR sticker per tractor, UTV and loader. Seasonal crews scan with their phone, no app or login. Free for 3 machines.
Do your UTV checks by QR code.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.