Checking a van before driving: a quick routine

Checking a van before driving starts on the outside

Checking a van before driving takes five minutes and pays off every time. It doesn't only apply to a rental van. A walk around the vehicle will reveal most of the things that would otherwise stop you on the road. Always follow the same routine so you don't forget anything.

A walk around the van

Go all the way round in one direction. Look at the bodywork, bumpers, sills and mirrors. Damage you notice now is damage you won't have to deal with at the return.

Look under the vehicle. A stain where the vehicle was parked means a leaking fluid. Water from the air conditioning is fine; oil or coolant is not.

Tyres

Check the pressure, not just the appearance. An under-inflated tyre on a loaded van heats up and increases consumption. The recommended values are usually on a label in the door frame, often separately for an empty and a loaded vehicle.

Inspect the sidewall of the tyre. Cracks, bulges or cuts are serious defects. Also check the tread depth and whether the tyre is wearing only on one side.

Don't forget the spare. Check whether there's a spare wheel or a repair kit in the vehicle and whether there's a wrench and a jack with it. Searching for them by the roadside in the dark when you have a puncture isn't ideal.

Lights and visibility

Go through all the lights. Side lights, dipped headlights, brake lights, indicators and reversing lights. On a van without windows, a working reversing light is more important than on a car.

Check the wipers and washers. A smeared windscreen on a large vehicle restricts visibility more than you'd expect, because you rely mainly on the mirrors.

Clean the windscreen and mirrors. It takes a minute and makes a big difference when driving into the sun.

Fluids

Check the oil and coolant levels. Both are checked with the engine cold and the vehicle standing on level ground. The level should be between the marks, not at the lower limit.

Top up the screenwash. On a van the windscreen gets dirty faster than on a car, because you sit higher and the windscreen is large.

In winter, think about diesel and frost. Winter diesel is sold automatically in the usual months, but a vehicle that has been standing outside for a long time needs longer to warm up. Let the engine run for a moment after starting before you set off.

The cargo area, the cab and pick-up

The cargo area

Look inside before you start loading. Leftover sand, nails or a wet floor can damage your load. The space must be empty and clean.

Check the tie-down points and doors. The eyelets in the floor must be firm and undamaged. Test whether the rear doors and the side sliding door close fully and lock.

The driver's seat

Adjust the seat and mirrors while you're still parked. A van has no interior rear-view mirror, so the exterior mirrors are your only view behind. Set them so that a small part of the side of the vehicle is visible in each.

Find out the vehicle's height. It's usually given in the cab or in the registration document. Remember it for underpasses, underground car parks and ramps.

Go through the controls. Lights, wipers, air conditioning, engaging reverse. Our vans have a manual gearbox and a diesel engine, so try finding reverse before you have to back up between cars.

Pick-up via the app

You pick up the vehicle yourself via the web app. You unlock the van with your phone and photograph it following the instructions. The keys are in the passenger-side compartment. It works around the clock, so you can pick up the van even at night or at the weekend.

Take your photos properly. Photograph all four sides, the wheels, the front and rear bumpers and the cargo area. If you see a scratch somewhere, take a separate close-up of it. It protects both sides.

Check the documents in the vehicle. The registration certificate and proof of insurance should be in the cab. They also give the weights and dimensions, which come in handy when planning your load.

Before you head off

Test the brakes right there in the car park. A loaded vehicle brakes differently from an empty one and it's better to find out calmly than at a junction.

Listen for anything moving around in the cargo area. The sound of the load shifting the first time you brake is a clear sign to stop and secure it properly.

You return the van with a full tank to the same location. We describe the other conditions in the FAQ, and specific vans in our fleet.