Vehicle Condition

Daily walk-round checks, tyre wear, oil leaks and reporting defects.

What this topic covers

Daily walk-round checks, tyre wear, oil leaks and reporting defects. The full PCV Theory Test app contains 97 questions on this topic, drawn from the official DVSA bank.

Worked examples

Here are a few practice questions from this topic. Try answering each before reading the explanation.

Example 1

You are checking your vehicle's tyres before starting a long motorway drive. Each tyre should be checked for

A. air pressure ✓ correct
B. tracking
C. tread wear ✓ correct
D. tread pattern
E. bulges ✓ correct
F. valve clearance

Explanation: All tyres must be properly inflated and in good condition. Sometimes on motorways you can see the remains of tyres that have disintegrated due to a failure that might have been avoided if the tyre had been checked before the journey started.

Example 2

What should you do if the brake pedal becomes hard ?

A. Continue to drive and report it at the end of the day
B. Pump the brake pedal continuously
C. Drain the air tanks and then continue
D. Park and telephone for assistance ✓ correct

Explanation: Don’t take risks. As soon as you detect a fault on your vehicle you must take action. Where the brakes are concerned, always park and get assistance. Always report minor faults as soon as you detect them. Minor faults can become major ones if they aren’t repaired quickly.

Example 3

On motorways you are usually driving at higher speeds for long distances. What effect can this have on your tyres?

A. They may overheat and disintegrate ✓ correct
B. They will be more liable to punctures
C. They will lose air pressure more quickly
D. They will become very slippery

Explanation: Driving at higher speeds and for longer periods, such as on motorways, can cause your tyres to overheat and disintegrate. You should make a point of checking them when you stop for a break.

Example 4

What does this warning light on the instrument panel mean?

A. Low fuel pressure
B. Low oil pressure ✓ correct
C. Low water pressure
D. Low air pressure

Explanation: You should be familiar with all warning lights and buzzers fitted to your vehicle. If you’re driving the vehicle for the first time ensure that you know the function of each. If the brake warning light indicates a fault in the system, stop as soon as it’s safe to do so. Report the fault, and don’t continue until it has been corrected.

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