Daily vehicle check before driving

A short daily vehicle check before you start the car can prevent everything from expensive workshop bills to collisions. In three minutes, you can check tyres, lights, fluids and warning lamps. It is also the basis for the safety questions on the practical test.

Why do a daily check?

Risk	Consequence without a check
Low tyre pressure	Puncture, higher fuel use, longer stopping distance
Brake light out	Rear-end collision, fine
Low engine oil	Engine damage
Misalignment	Tyre wear, vague steering
Dirty mirrors or windows	Reduced visibility, more glare

It is also the driver’s duty under the Vehicle Regulations to make sure the car is in roadworthy condition.

The 3-minute routine

Outside the car (90 seconds)

Walk around the car and check for visible damage, leaks or loose parts.
Tyres: visual check for cuts, bulges or low pressure.
Front lights: dipped beam, indicators and parking lights.
Rear lights: brake lights (ask someone to help, or use a wall), indicators and tail lights.
Number-plate light: does it work?
Wiper blades: are they fitted correctly and undamaged?

Inside the car (90 seconds)

Sit down and adjust the seat and mirrors.
Fasten the seatbelt.
Turn on the ignition and check that all warning lights come on and then go out.
Test the horn with one short press.
Test wipers and washers.
Look at the fuel gauge and temperature.
Check that navigation and other essential systems are ready if needed.

The extended weekly check

Once a week, do a slightly deeper inspection:

Check	Where	Requirement
Engine oil	Dipstick in the engine bay	Between min and max
Brake fluid	Reservoir marked with ! or MIN/MAX	Above MIN
Washer fluid	Reservoir with washer symbol	At least half full
Coolant	Expansion tank	Between MIN and MAX
Tyre pressure	Valve with pressure gauge	As stated on the door frame
Spare wheel or repair kit	Luggage compartment	Ready to use

See Technical parts of the car for names and locations.

Special conditions

Winter

Remove ice from all windows and the headlights.
Check the anti-freeze level in the washer fluid (-25 C recommended).
Test the defroster for both front and rear windows.
Consider starting the engine 1-2 minutes before driving.

See Winter tyres and chain use for Class B .

Summer

Check the air conditioning.
Check tyre pressure, because heat raises pressure.
Look out for insect residue or dirt on the windscreen.

Warning lights - what do they mean?

Colour	Meaning
Green	Information, everything normal
Yellow/orange	Warning, inspect soon
Red	Stop as soon as it is safe

Examples:

Engine warning light (yellow): drive to a workshop soon
Oil pressure (red): stop immediately
Brake warning light (red): handbrake on or brake fault
ABS (yellow): ABS is unavailable, but basic braking remains
Airbag (red): the airbag system may not deploy correctly

Check after long storage

If the car has been standing still for more than two weeks, add these:

Check the 12V battery with a voltmeter (12.5-12.7 V)
Listen for unusual sounds during the first 5 minutes
Check tyre pressure - it can drop by 0.2 bar per month
Test the brakes at low speed before entering normal traffic

For EVs after long storage, see EV winter range and heat pump .

What about the roadworthiness inspection?

The periodic roadworthiness inspection does not replace daily checks. It is carried out every year or every 2 years depending on the car’s age and finds larger faults. Read more in Periodic roadworthiness inspection .

Consequences of poor checks

Roadside inspection: the car may be removed from service
Insurance: cover may be reduced if maintenance is clearly inadequate
Liability after a collision: poor checks can increase your share of blame

The daily check takes three minutes, which is shorter than cleaning out a coffee cup. Make it a habit and you are more likely to discover problems before they become serious.