Vehicle Pre-Trip Inspection Sheet
A pre-trip vehicle inspection checklist — driver/vehicle/odometer details and a grouped walkaround (tires, lights, fluids, brakes, mirrors/glass, interior and safety equipment), with space for defects found and a sign-off.
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VEHICLE PRE-TRIP INSPECTION Vehicle: Ford Transit — Plate ABC-1234 Date: May 23, 2026 Driver: Sample Driver Odometer: 54,210 mi Mark each item OK [check] or note a problem below. TIRES & WHEELS [ ] Tread depth and condition (no cuts/bulges) [ ] Tire pressure (incl. spare) [ ] Lug nuts tight; no missing [ ] Wheels/rims undamaged LIGHTS & SIGNALS [ ] Headlights (low & high beam) [ ] Brake lights & tail lights [ ] Turn signals & hazard flashers [ ] Reverse lights; license-plate light FLUIDS & UNDER HOOD [ ] Engine oil level [ ] Coolant level [ ] Brake fluid [ ] Windshield washer fluid [ ] No visible leaks under vehicle BRAKES & STEERING [ ] Brake feel firm (no fade); parking brake holds [ ] Steering responsive, no excess play [ ] No warning lights on dash MIRRORS & GLASS [ ] Windshield clean, no major cracks [ ] Mirrors clean and adjusted [ ] Wipers work; blades not worn INTERIOR & SAFETY EQUIPMENT [ ] Seat belts function [ ] Horn works [ ] Registration & insurance in vehicle [ ] Spare tire, jack & tools present [ ] Emergency kit / triangle / flashlight ADDITIONAL CHECKS [ ] Toll transponder present [ ] First-aid kit stocked DEFECTS FOUND / ACTION TAKEN - Front-left tire slightly low (added air) - Washer fluid topped up Condition: [ ] Safe to operate [ ] Needs attention before use Inspector signature: _____________________ Date: __________
About this template
A pre-trip inspection is a quick walkaround that catches the small problems — a soft tire, a dead brake light, a low fluid — before they become a breakdown or a crash. The value is in **doing it the same way every time**, so nothing gets skipped, which is why this sheet groups the checks the way a driver actually moves around the vehicle. **Tires and wheels** come first because they are the most common failure point: check tread and condition, pressure (including the spare), and that lug nuts are tight. **Lights and signals** are a legal and safety must — headlights, brake and tail lights, turn signals, hazards — and easy to verify with a helper or a reflection. Under the hood, confirm **fluid levels** (oil, coolant, brake, washer) and look underneath for **leaks**. Test that the **brakes** feel firm and the parking brake holds, that **steering** is responsive, and that no **dashboard warning lights** are on. Round out with **mirrors and glass** (clean, adjusted, wipers working) and the **interior/safety equipment** — seat belts, horn, registration and insurance in the vehicle, and the spare/jack/emergency kit. Note any **defects and the action taken**, and sign off with a clear verdict: safe to operate, or needs attention first. Two notes: this is a **general personal/fleet walkaround**, not a substitute for a mechanic's inspection or scheduled servicing, and **commercial drivers** subject to DOT rules must use the required **Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR)** and follow their company and FMCSA procedures rather than relying on a generic checklist. Do it before every long trip (and daily for work vehicles); the two minutes it takes is the cheapest insurance there is.
When to use it
- Before a long drive or road trip.
- A daily walkaround for a work or fleet vehicle.
- Checking a vehicle before lending or renting it out.
- Documenting condition and any defects with a sign-off.
What to include
- Vehicle, driver, date, and odometer.
- Tires/wheels, lights/signals, and fluids/under-hood checks.
- Brakes/steering, mirrors/glass, and dashboard warnings.
- Interior and safety equipment (belts, horn, documents, emergency kit).
- Defects found, action taken, and a safe/needs-attention sign-off.