Vehicle daily inspection checklist

This is a quick check to do before a vehicle goes out for the day: are the tires in good shape, are the engine oil and coolant at the right level, and do the lights work? Print the checklist below, or use the same template on a phone in MintCheck.

How to do each check

Tire pressure and wear

Walk around the vehicle and look at each tire for low pressure, cuts, bulges and worn tread. If a tire looks low, measure it. The right pressure is usually on a label in the driver's door frame or in the owner's manual.

Engine oil and coolant level

On level ground, with the engine off and cool, check that the oil dipstick and the coolant tank are between the minimum and maximum marks. Never open a radiator cap on a hot engine.

Headlights and brake lights

• Normal: all of them work.
• Some faulty: at least one doesn't work.
• All faulty: none of them work.

To check the brake lights on your own, ask a colleague to watch, or back up to a wall or window and look in the mirror.

Notes

Write down anything else, such as how the brakes feel as you move off, warning lights on the dashboard or new damage to the body.

How often to check

This template is set to daily, before the first trip. Rules on driver checks and the records you must keep differ by country and type of vehicle, especially for trucks and buses, so check the rules that apply to your vehicles.

A daily check doesn't replace scheduled servicing or official vehicle inspections.

If something is wrong

1. Mark it on the checklist and describe the problem. A photo helps.
2. Tell the person responsible for the vehicles before it goes out.
3. Don't use the vehicle if the problem could affect safety, such as a damaged tire, faulty brakes or lights that don't work.
4. Check it again after the fix and record the result.

Use this checklist in MintCheck

1. In Checklists, click Add checklist and pick the vehicle template. Its items and daily schedule are filled in, and you can change them before you save.
2. In Assets, click Add asset, pick the vehicle template and link the checklist. One checklist can serve the whole fleet.
3. Click Print QR and put a label where the driver will see it before setting off, such as inside the driver's door.
4. Drivers scan the label, answer the items and mark the result Normal or Abnormal. They can attach photos.

An Abnormal result stays Unresolved until a re-inspection confirms the fix, and the site dashboard shows completed inspections against the planned number, so you can see which daily checks are still to do.

To record each trip as well, add the vehicle log template. It has no schedule, so drivers fill it in every time: plate number, mileage, dispatch or return, and driver.

MintCheck is free for up to 5 assets with no credit card, so you can try this with a few vehicles.

Common questions

What should a daily vehicle check include?

This template covers tires, engine oil and coolant, and headlights and brake lights, with a notes field for anything else. You can add items such as brakes, mirrors or a first aid kit. The rules for your type of vehicle may ask for more.

Who should do the daily check?

Usually the person driving the vehicle that day, because they are there before the first trip and are the first to notice a change. The rules for your type of vehicle may say who must do it.

Does this replace an official vehicle inspection?

No. It is a routine check and a starting point, not a statement of compliance. Official inspections and scheduled servicing are separate.

Can I record mileage as well?

Yes. In MintCheck, the vehicle log template records the plate number, mileage, dispatch or return, and driver each time. See Logbooks.

Can I use one checklist for the whole fleet?

Yes. In MintCheck, one checklist can be linked to many assets, and each vehicle keeps its own QR code and its own records.