Vehicle Knowledge and Basic Maintenance
Vehicle Knowledge and Basic Maintenance tests the checks a driver must make before and during a journey, and what to do when a warning appears.
Daily or pre-trip walk-around
- Tyres: pressure checked cold, tread at least 1.6 mm, no cuts or bulges; check the spare.
- Lights: head, tail, brake, indicators, hazard and number-plate lamp.
- Fluids: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, screen washer; check for leaks under the vehicle.
- Visibility: mirrors, wipers, demister, clean windscreen.
- Brakes: pedal feel and handbrake travel.
Warning lights
Red means stop safely and investigate: oil pressure, battery, brake, coolant temperature. Amber means check soon. Never open a radiator cap while the engine is hot.
Worked example
The oil-pressure light stays on after you start the engine. This is not a low-oil reminder; it means oil pressure has failed. Stop the engine immediately, check the oil level when cool, and do not drive on. Continuing can destroy the engine in minutes.
Traps
Checking tyre pressure when hot and then releasing air. Topping up coolant with cold water on a hot engine. Ignoring a brake warning light because the pedal still feels normal. Using the handbrake as a parking brake on a steep slope without checking it holds.