Walkaround checks are a legal and essential part of operating heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in the UK. Every professional driver must ensure their vehicle is roadworthy before beginning each journey. This daily vehicle inspection isn’t just good practice — it’s a DVSA legal requirement. In this guide, we’ll explain what walkaround checks are, what you need to inspect, how long they should take, and how to stay compliant.
What Are HGV Walkaround Checks?
A walkaround check is a full inspection of your HGV (and trailer, if attached) before driving. This inspection confirms the vehicle is safe, compliant, and free of defects that could compromise safety or performance. You must also continue to monitor the vehicle during service. The DVSA can request proof of these daily vehicle checks at any time, especially during roadside inspections. Failure to produce these records can result in fines or a prohibition notice.
Is It a Legal Requirement to Perform Walkaround Checks?
Yes — walkaround checks are a legal requirement. All HGV drivers must carry them out each day before driving, even if the vehicle was checked earlier that day by another driver. If multiple drivers use the same vehicle, each must perform their own inspection. These legal requirements ensure that LGV vehicle checks and lorry checks remain consistent and thorough.
What Is Included in a Daily HGV Walkaround Check?
The HGV walkaround check covers both interior and exterior aspects of the vehicle. Here’s what you need to inspect according to UK government:
Interior Checks:
- Mirrors, cameras, and glass
- Windscreen wipers and washers
- Dashboard lights and gauges
- Steering functionality
- Horn accessibility
- Height marker display
- Seatbelts and cab condition
Exterior Checks:
- Lights and indicators
- Fuel/oil leaks and AdBlue levels
- Battery condition
- Security of body, doors, wings
- Tyres (condition, tread depth, inflation)
- Spray suppression flaps
- Brake lines, coupling security
- Electrical connections
- Load security and number plates
- Reflectors and warning markings
Knowing what lights are checked during a walk-around inspection is important — ensure all lights, including brake, reverse, and fog lights, are working correctly.
How Long Should an HGV Walkaround Check Take?
A proper walkaround check should take at least 15 minutes. It’s often referred to as the 15-minute vehicle check because that’s the minimum time you need to inspect everything properly. Rushing through daily walk around checks could lead to missed defects and legal consequences.
Why Are Daily Vehicle Checks So Important?
Failing to complete vehicle daily checks can result in dangerous driving conditions, penalties during inspections, loss of your Operator’s Licence, or even criminal charges in severe cases. Many HGV incidents on UK roads stem from missed issues that HGV daily checks would have caught — including bridge strikes due to drivers not checking vehicle height displays.
How to Record Walkaround Checks
Drivers are expected to record daily walk around checks accurately. This can be done using:
- Paper-based daily walk around check sheets
- Digital HGV vehicle check sheet templates (often free or provided by fleet apps)
Using digital apps makes it easier to stay compliant and flag defects in real-time, ensuring issues are resolved quickly. Whether you’re using a traditional form or a free HGV vehicle check sheet template, the goal is always the same: keep your vehicle roadworthy and your records up to date.
What Should You Do When No Defects Are Found?
When performing a walkaround check and no defects are found, you should record a nil defect report. This proves the inspection was completed and no issues were identified. It’s a common part of daily vehicle checks law and supports your defence in the event of any roadside inspections.
What Is the Purpose of a Walkaround Inspection?
You might wonder, what is a walkaround inspection really for? The two basic purposes of performing a walk-around inspection are:
- Ensuring the vehicle is safe to drive
- Confirming compliance with UK road safety laws
Ultimately, these checks help prevent incidents, protect your licence, and maintain public safety on the road.
Who Is Responsible for Walkaround Checks?
While transport managers have a duty to provide systems and training for compliance, it’s the driver’s responsibility to carry out walk around checks every day. Failing to do so could result in penalties, points on your licence, or disciplinary action.
Conclusion
Performing daily HGV walkaround checks isn’t optional — it’s your legal duty as a driver. Every day you must inspect your vehicle, report defects, and keep a clear record of the check. Whether you’re doing lorry checks, LGV vehicle checks, or operating a fleet of commercial vans, staying compliant protects your career, your licence, and everyone on the road.
Take 15 minutes to perform your checks and use a reliable system — paper or digital — to log them. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, never underestimate the importance of walkaround inspections. They save lives, protect reputations, and ensure the wheels of the UK’s logistics sector keep turning safely.
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