Free checklist · Vehicles & fleet
Daily vehicle inspection checklist for company vehicles (free, printable)
A daily vehicle inspection is a few minutes' check by the driver before the first trip: walk round for damage, tires, wheels and lights, check the fluids under the hood, then from the seat test the brakes, steering, horn, wipers, mirrors and seat belts, and note the odometer and fuel. Anything that affects safe driving is reported and fixed before the vehicle goes out.
- How often
- Daily, before the first trip
- The rule
- OSHA 1926.601(b)(14) on jobsites
- Items
- 27 checks
- Takes
- About 7 minutes
By the CheckBadges team · Updated
Layout
Daily vehicle inspection checklist for company vehicles
Daily, before the first trip
| Item | OK | Problem | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkaround | |||
| Body damageAny new dents, scrapes or broken parts noted and photographed | |||
| Tires and treadNo cuts or bulges; tread above the wear bars; none look low | |||
| Wheels and lug nutsNo missing lug nuts or cracked wheels | |||
| Lights and reflectorsHeadlights, tail, brake, turn and hazard lights all work | |||
| Windshield and windowsNo cracks in the driver's view; glass clean | |||
| MirrorsIn place, not cracked, adjusted | |||
| Leaks under the vehicleNo fresh oil, coolant, fuel or brake fluid on the ground | |||
| Hitch and trailer connectionCoupler latched and pinned, chains crossed, trailer lights work | |||
| Load and tie-downsCargo secured; nothing loose in the bed, cab or roof rack | |||
| Under the hood | |||
| Engine oil levelBetween the marks on the dipstick | |||
| Coolant levelBetween the marks in the reservoir, checked cold | |||
| Brake fluid levelBetween the marks in the reservoir | |||
| Washer fluidReservoir topped up | |||
| Belts and hosesNo cracks, fraying or leaks | |||
| In the driver's seat | |||
| Odometer reading | ________ miles | ||
| Fuel or charge level | ☐ Full ☐ 3/4 ☐ 1/2 ☐ 1/4 ☐ Low | ||
| Dashboard warning lightsNone left on after start: engine, ABS, airbag, oil, brake | |||
| Seat beltsEvery belt latches and retracts; no cuts | |||
| HornWorks | |||
| Wipers, washers and defrosterClear the windshield; washers spray; defroster blows | |||
| SteeringNo excess play, pulling or noise | |||
| Service brakesPedal firm; vehicle stops straight at low speed | |||
| Parking brakeHolds the vehicle | |||
| Backup alarm or cameraAlarm sounds in reverse, or camera shows a clear picture | |||
| Fire extinguisherMounted, gauge in the green, pin in place | |||
| First aid kit and warning trianglesPresent and stocked | |||
| Registration and insurance cardIn the vehicle and current | |||
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 vehicle, item by item
Walkaround
- Body damage — Any new dents, scrapes or broken parts noted and photographed
- Tires and tread — No cuts or bulges; tread above the wear bars; none look low
- Wheels and lug nuts — No missing lug nuts or cracked wheels
- Lights and reflectors — Headlights, tail, brake, turn and hazard lights all work
- Windshield and windows — No cracks in the driver's view; glass clean
- Mirrors — In place, not cracked, adjusted
- Leaks under the vehicle — No fresh oil, coolant, fuel or brake fluid on the ground
- Hitch and trailer connection — Coupler latched and pinned, chains crossed, trailer lights work
- Load and tie-downs — Cargo secured; nothing loose in the bed, cab or roof rack
Under the hood
- Engine oil level — Between the marks on the dipstick
- Coolant level — Between the marks in the reservoir, checked cold
- Brake fluid level — Between the marks in the reservoir
- Washer fluid — Reservoir topped up
- Belts and hoses — No cracks, fraying or leaks
In the driver's seat
- Odometer reading (reading, in miles)
- Fuel or charge level (Full / 3/4 / 1/2 / 1/4 / Low)
- Dashboard warning lights — None left on after start: engine, ABS, airbag, oil, brake
- Seat belts — Every belt latches and retracts; no cuts
- Horn — Works
- Wipers, washers and defroster — Clear the windshield; washers spray; defroster blows
- Steering — No excess play, pulling or noise
- Service brakes — Pedal firm; vehicle stops straight at low speed
- Parking brake — Holds the vehicle
- Backup alarm or camera — Alarm sounds in reverse, or camera shows a clear picture
- Fire extinguisher — Mounted, gauge in the green, pin in place
- First aid kit and warning triangles — Present and stocked
- Registration and insurance card — In the vehicle and current
How often a company vehicle has to be inspected
Check each company vehicle every day it's used, before the first trip. Whether a rule requires it depends on the vehicle and where it's driven:
| Vehicle | Rule | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles working on an off-highway construction jobsite not open to public traffic | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(14) | Checked "at the beginning of each shift": brakes, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, controls and safety devices; defects corrected before use |
| Commercial motor vehicles: 10,001 lb or more GVWR or GCWR in interstate commerce, some passenger vehicles, placarded hazmat | 49 CFR 392.7 and 396.13 | Driver must be satisfied the vehicle is safe before driving; a written report when defects are found |
| Cars, vans and light pickups on public roads | No federal daily inspection rule | Your fleet policy, your insurer and the owner's manual |
The weight line catches people out. The federal definition of a commercial motor vehicle (49 CFR 390.5) counts the gross combination weight rating, so a heavy-duty pickup towing an equipment trailer can reach 10,001 pounds and become a CMV when it's used in interstate commerce. States set their own rules for trucks that never leave the state, so check yours. Those vehicles need a DOT pre-trip: use the truck pre-trip inspection checklist and read DVIR requirements.
How to do the walkaround
A daily vehicle check takes a few minutes once it's a habit:
- Before getting in, walk all the way round. Look for new damage, leaks on the ground, low tires and anything hanging loose.
- Check the tires properly: sidewalls for cuts and bulges, tread against the wear bars, and that none looks lower than the others.
- Switch on the headlights and hazard lights, then walk round again. Check the brake lights with a helper or against a wall or window.
- Open the hood with the engine off, ideally cold: oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid.
- Check the load and any trailer: cargo tied down, tools secured away from the cab, hitch latched and pinned, safety chains crossed.
- From the seat: seat belt, mirrors, warning lights after start, horn, wipers, and the brakes in the first few yards.
- Record the odometer and fuel, note any problem and sign.
The defects that take a vehicle out of service
If any of these turns up, the vehicle stays parked until it's fixed:
| Defect | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Soft, grinding or pulling brakes | Longer stops and loss of control |
| Tire with cords showing, a bulge, or tread at the wear bars | Blowouts and poor grip in the wet |
| Brake lights, headlights or turn signals out | Other drivers can't see what you're doing |
| Excess steering play or pulling | Loss of control at speed |
| Crack in the driver's line of sight | Distorted view, and it can spread suddenly |
| Seat belt that won't latch | No protection in a crash |
| Brake fluid or fuel leak | Brake failure or fire |
What to do when something fails
Don't drive it. Leave the keys with the person in charge, hang an out-of-service tag on the steering wheel, and report the problem with a photo. On construction jobsites, OSHA's rule is direct: "All defects shall be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service." For commercial motor vehicles, the carrier must repair defects that affect safety and certify the repair before the vehicle runs again. What to do when equipment fails inspection covers the steps.
Keeping the record
No federal rule requires a written daily check for ordinary company cars, but a dated record of who drove and checked each vehicle settles damage disputes, backs up mileage logs and shows your insurer you have a process. For commercial motor vehicles, driver vehicle inspection reports must be kept for three months. Equipment inspection record keeping covers what to keep.
To do it on a phone, put a QR sticker on each vehicle's dash or door pillar. With a vehicle inspection app like CheckBadges, drivers scan it with their own camera, record the odometer, attach photos of any damage, and problems email you straight away and warn the next driver until they're fixed.
Skip the clipboard
Put this vehicle 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.
Vehicle 1
Vehicle inspection checklist
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a daily vehicle inspection checklist?
Tires and wheels, lights, windshield and mirrors, leaks, fluid levels, brakes, steering, horn, wipers, seat belts, warning lights, the load and any trailer hitch, plus the odometer and fuel level. Add the checks in each vehicle's owner's manual and anything specific to your work trucks.
Do company cars legally need a daily inspection?
Usually not under federal law: ordinary cars and light vans on public roads have no federal daily inspection rule. Commercial motor vehicles and vehicles working on off-highway construction jobsites do, and many fleets require a daily check anyway as policy.
When is a pickup truck a commercial motor vehicle?
Under 49 CFR 390.5, when it's used in interstate commerce and its gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating (truck plus trailer) is 10,001 pounds or more, among other tests. A heavy-duty pickup towing an equipment trailer often crosses that line.
Who should do the daily vehicle inspection?
The driver who's about to use it. With pool vehicles shared between drivers, have each driver check at the start of their shift, so new damage or a new problem is tied to the right shift.
Should drivers photograph damage during a vehicle inspection?
Yes. A dated photo of each new dent or crack, taken before the vehicle moves, shows when the damage appeared and who reported it, which ends most arguments about whose shift it happened on.
Keep reading
- Vehicle inspection appA vehicle inspection app for pre-trip checks: drivers scan a QR sticker in the cab and check on their own phone, with no app or login. Defects email you.
- Pre-trip inspection checklistFree truck pre-trip inspection checklist in CDL order: engine compartment, cab and air brake checks, lights, tires, brakes, coupling and emergency equipment.
- DVIR requirementsA DVIR is required at the end of each day's work only when a defect is found. Repairs must be certified and reports kept 3 months. The FMCSA rules for 2026.
- Vehicle fleetsFleet vehicle inspections with no app to install: drivers scan a QR sticker in each van or truck with their phone and do the pre-trip check. Defects alert you.
- Trailer inspection checklistFree trailer inspection checklist for equipment, utility and semi-trailers: hitch, safety chains, breakaway, lights, brakes, tires, ramps and tie-downs.
- The best vehicle inspection apps in 2026The best vehicle inspection apps of 2026 for pre-trip checks and DVIRs: how drivers do them, app and login needs, and what 10, 25 or 50 vehicles cost a month.
Do your vehicle 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.