Key facts
- Councils requiring daily roadworthiness checks (taxis)
- 153 of 289 (2026)[1]
The daily checklist
Print it or copy it into your driver app's vehicle check; keep the signed sheets with your records.
Vehicle reg: ________ Plate/licence no.: ________ Date: ________ Driver: ________ Odometer: ________ OUTSIDE OK FAULT Tyres: tread, pressure, damage [ ] [ ] Lights: head, tail, brake, indicators, hazard [ ] [ ] Mirrors and windows: clean, no cracks [ ] [ ] Wipers and washers [ ] [ ] Body: new damage noted [ ] [ ] Licence plate / door signs fitted and clean [ ] [ ] UNDER THE BONNET / DASH OK FAULT Oil, coolant, washer fluid levels [ ] [ ] Warning lights on dashboard [ ] [ ] Fuel / charge enough for the shift [ ] [ ] INSIDE OK FAULT Seats and seatbelts work [ ] [ ] Interior clean, no smell, no rubbish [ ] [ ] Driver ID badge displayed [ ] [ ] Taximeter sealed and working (if fitted) [ ] [ ] First aid kit / fire extinguisher (if required) [ ] [ ] No-smoking and licence notices displayed [ ] [ ] ACCESSIBILITY (if fitted) OK FAULT Ramp / lift works [ ] [ ] Wheelchair restraints and belts present [ ] [ ] Faults found and reported to: ______________________ Vehicle safe to use? YES / NO Signature: ____________
What should the owner check weekly?
Tyre condition and pressures, brake feel, servicing dates, licence and insurance expiry, vehicle test date, and the driver's daily sheets for repeated faults. Keep the record: licensing officers can stop and inspect vehicles.
TaxiDex records each driver and vehicle document with its expiry date and counts what has expired or is about to on the permits page; servicing is tracked under vehicles and maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Is a daily vehicle check a legal requirement for taxis?
In many areas it is a licence condition: 153 of 289 councils in England and Wales required daily roadworthiness checks for taxis in 2026. Where it is not required, it is still the cheapest way to catch faults early.
How long should a daily check take?
A few minutes with a checklist; the point is consistency, so do it before the first job of every shift.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.