Digital Vehicle Inspection Checklist
This is a complete, categorised vehicle inspection checklist covering the areas most fleets need to check before and after every trip. Use it as a reference, or as the starting point for a configurable digital checklist tailored to your vehicle types.
The Complete Checklist
Lights & Signals
- Headlights — low & high beam
- Brake lights
- Indicators — left & right
- Reverse light
- Hazard lights
Tyres & Wheels
- Tread depth — all tyres
- Tyre pressure
- Spare tyre condition
- Wheel nuts & locking
- Rim damage
Fluids & Engine
- Engine oil level
- Coolant level
- Brake fluid level
- Windscreen washer fluid
- Visible oil leaks
Brakes & Steering
- Brake pedal feel & travel
- Handbrake / parking brake
- Steering play & response
- ABS warning light
Body & Structure
- Windscreen — cracks & chips
- Mirrors — condition & adjustment
- Doors — operation & sealing
- Visible body damage
Documents & Safety Equipment
- Licence disc — valid & displayed
- Fire extinguisher — present & charged
- Warning triangles — present
- First aid kit — present & stocked
How to Digitise This Checklist
Every item above can be configured as a Pass / Fail / N/A field in a digital checklist, with photo capture and free-text notes for anything flagged. The key is making sure a 'Fail' doesn't just sit in a report — it should automatically create a work order and, for critical items like brakes or steering, apply a vehicle hold until it's resolved. See our full Digital Vehicle Inspection Sheet page for how that escalation workflow works in practice.
📌 See This in a Real Platform
FleetFabric©'s Digital Vehicle Inspection Sheet (DVIR) puts everything on this page into practice — configurable checklists, automatic defect escalation, and vehicle hold controls. See the full DVIR platform →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this checklist be shortened for smaller vehicles?
Yes — light vehicles typically need a subset of this list, while heavy commercial vehicles and specialist equipment need additional items. A configurable digital checklist lets you maintain different versions per vehicle type without managing separate paper forms.
How often should this checklist be completed?
Most fleets run a version of this checklist before every trip (pre-trip) and a shorter version after (post-trip). See our dedicated Pre-Trip and Post-Trip checklists for the trip-specific breakdown.
Should every item trigger a vehicle hold if it fails?
No — only safety-critical items (brakes, steering, tyres, lights) should typically trigger an automatic hold. Less critical items can still generate a work order without blocking dispatch, depending on your risk tolerance.
Related Reading
← Back to the Complete Guide to Digital Inspections for African Fleets
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