Vehicle Safety, Inspection, and Equipment Requirements
This domain tests your ability to keep a training car legal and safe before every session. Examiners look for a systematic pre-trip inspection and for knowing which defects take a vehicle out of service.
Pre-trip walk-around
Check tires for tread, pressure, and sidewall damage; test headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazards; clean glass and set mirrors; test wipers and washer; sound the horn; inspect seat belts for fraying and function; check fluid levels and look for leaks.
Before each student
Test the dual brake with the engine running, confirm the instructor mirror, and verify the passenger seat belt works. In cold weather, clear all glass and the roof of snow and ice; obstructed windows are a hazard and a citable condition.
Minnesota equipment notes
Required equipment includes headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, a horn, rearview mirror, working muffler, and seat belts. Minnesota law requires an approved child restraint for children under age 8 - a seat belt alone is not enough. Studded tires are permitted seasonally. Carry a winter kit: scraper, blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, and a charged phone.
Worked example
Before a session the instructor finds the left brake light dark. The car is out of service. The defect is logged, repaired, and re-verified with an assistant pressing the pedal before any student is scheduled.
Traps
Relying on dashboard warnings alone; ignoring tire pressure drop in cold weather; skipping the dual-brake test because the last session was fine; assuming a car that passes an annual inspection is fit today.