Vehicle Daily Check
Do taxi and PHV drivers need daily vehicle checks?
Short answer: expect a walkaround before you go out — often as DfT best practice and local licensing conditions — not as one UK-wide statute that looks the same everywhere. Always check your licensing authority.
What the UK picture actually looks like
This page is guidance for operators and drivers, not legal advice. Rules and wording differ by authority.
DfT best practice, not one national form
National guidance emphasises keeping licensed vehicles roadworthy. That supports a daily or pre-use walkaround culture — it is not the same as a single statute that names one app or paper sheet for every UK taxi and PHV.
Local licensing conditions matter most
Your council (or TfL in London) sets the conditions attached to driver and operator licences. Some authorities require recorded checks; others expect roadworthiness without prescribing the format. Read your conditions and operator policies.
Operators still need a clear record
Even where recording method is flexible, operators often need to show that checks happen. Paper pads, WhatsApp and Excel break down at scale. A dated digital record is easier to produce for a specific day.
London and other authorities can differ
TfL and London licensing may use different language and processes from a district council elsewhere in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Some councils mandate recorded daily or pre-shift checks; others focus on roadworthiness without naming a specific recording method. Treat “what my friend in another borough does” as a hint, not a rule — check the conditions that apply to you.
- Read driver and operator licence conditions from your licensing authority.
- Ask your operator what evidence they expect if compliance or insurers ask for a date.
- Daily checks do not replace MOT or council vehicle tests — see also how to prove a daily check.
Common questions
- Do taxi and PHV drivers need a daily vehicle check in the UK?
- There is no single UK-wide statute that forces every taxi or PHV driver to keep a recorded daily check in the same way. Department for Transport best practice expects vehicles to be roadworthy, and many local licensing authorities set conditions that require or strongly expect a walkaround before use. Always check your own licensing authority.
- Is a daily check required by every council?
- No. Requirements vary by licensing authority. Some councils mandate recorded daily or pre-shift checks; others expect roadworthiness without prescribing the exact form. TfL and London arrangements can differ from district councils elsewhere. Confirm the conditions on your licence and operator’s licence.
- Do daily checks replace MOT or council vehicle tests?
- No. A daily walkaround is a condition check before the vehicle goes out. It does not replace the MOT, council vehicle tests, or other inspections your vehicle still needs.
- Does Vehicle Daily Check create a new council mandate?
- No. It helps drivers and operators record and prove the checks they are already expected to do. It does not create a new legal requirement.
Related: Taxi & PHV daily inspection · Daily checklist guide · For licensing authorities
Keep a clear record when checks are expected
Vehicle Daily Check helps drivers and fleets record a guided walkaround with locked timestamps and PDF proof — without inventing a new council mandate.