Vehicle Condition and Maintenance
This domain tests whether you can keep a taxi roadworthy day to day, spot defects before they become breakdowns, and understand the NTA periodic inspection and your own pre-departure checks.
Daily walk-around
- Tyres: tread at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters, no cuts or bulges, pressures checked cold, spare inflated.
- Lights: headlights, dip, indicators, brake lights, reversing lights, number-plate lamp, hazard lights.
- Fluids: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, screen wash; look for leaks under the vehicle.
- Brakes and steering: pedal feel, no pulling, no unusual noises.
- Wipers, horn, mirrors, seat belts, doors and child locks all working.
- Equipment: jack, wheel brace, warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, spare wheel.
Defects and inspections
- Any warning light that stays on after start-up is a defect until proven otherwise.
- Record defects and report them; do not carry passengers in a defective vehicle.
- Present the vehicle for NTA inspection on time and keep the certificate in the vehicle.
Worked example
The red brake warning light stays on after you start the engine. A booking is waiting.
Reasoning: the light can mean low brake fluid, a leak or a failed system. Brakes are safety-critical, so you park safely, check the fluid level, look for leaks and call for assistance. You cancel or reassign the booking and record the defect. Driving "just this once" risks a total brake failure.
Traps that cost marks
- Checking tyre pressures when hot and assuming they are correct.
- Ignoring a slow puncture or a bulging sidewall.
- Overloading the boot or roof rack.
- Treating the inspection certificate as a substitute for daily checks.