Free 50-point vehicle inspection checklist (printable PDF)
The same 50 checkpoints Gearboxly shops use, in the order a technician walks the car. Download the PDF, print this page, or read it here. Free, no signup, no email.
What a multi-point inspection is, and why shops do one
A multi-point inspection is a set list of things a technician checks on every car, in the same order, and writes down. Instead of looking at whatever the customer mentioned and nothing else, the tech looks at the whole vehicle: lights, fluids, belts, tires, brakes, steering and suspension, exhaust. Each item gets a simple mark, and anything that is not fine gets a note or a photo.
Shops do them for three plain reasons. First, they find work the customer can say yes or no to, before it becomes a breakdown. Second, a written list with photos is easier to trust than a verbal “you need brakes”, because the customer can see what you saw. Third, looking at the same things every time can help catch problems before they turn into comebacks. A checklist does not guarantee any of these. It gives the shop a consistent way to look and a record of what it found.
This checklist is a shop’s own inspection form. It is not a state safety inspection, an emissions test or a legal certification of any kind, and it should not be presented to customers as one.
How to use the colour codes and what to measure
Mark every item with one of four codes. The same codes are used in the PDF, so a paper form and a screen tell the customer the same story.
- Green. Checked and fine. Nothing to do now.
- Yellow. Worth watching or doing soon. Gearboxly shows this one as orange. Note it and tell the customer when to expect it.
- Red. Needs attention now, or is unsafe or failing. Add a photo and a clear note.
- N/A. The car does not have it, for example no spare or no cabin filter, or it cannot be checked.
Where an item says to measure, write the number down instead of just a colour: tread depth for each tire in 32nds of an inch, tire pressure in psi, brake pad thickness in millimetres, rotor thickness, battery volts and cold cranking amps (CCA), charging output in volts, and vent temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. The number is what turns an opinion into something the customer can understand.
Common thresholds
These are common shop guidelines, check the manufacturer spec. They are rules of thumb, not legal advice, and a vehicle’s own service information always wins.
| Measurement | Common guideline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tire tread depth | 4/32 inch and below: commonly recommended to replace soon. 2/32 inch: the legal minimum in most US states. | Both numbers are widely published by tire makers and consumer safety groups. Confirm your state's rule. Some tires and some uses call for more tread. |
| Brake pad thickness | 3 mm or less: commonly flagged for the customer. 2 mm or less: commonly treated as replace now. | A common shop rule of thumb, not a legal limit. Pads vary by make and some manufacturers publish their own minimum. |
| Charging output (engine running) | About 13.5 to 14.8 volts at the battery. | The typical range in the Gearboxly template's hint. A reading well outside it is a reason to test the charging system further. |
In Gearboxly, the template prompts a photo at 4/32 inch or less of tread and at under 4 mm of brake pad.
The 50-point checklist
8 sections in the order a technician walks the car: key on and lights on the ground, under the hood, tires on the ground, then wheels off and the car in the air for brakes, steering and the underbody.
50-Point Vehicle Inspection Checklist
Mark each item G (green, good), Y (yellow, watch or soon), R (red, needs attention now) or N/A. Write measurements where shown.
1. Cabin, HVAC and wipers5 items
1.Warning lights on the dash
Key on, engine off, then running. Photo of any light that stays on.
2.Wiper blades
Streaking, splitting, chatter. Photo if torn.
3.Washer spray and windshield
Spray aim, chips and cracks in the driver view. Photo any chip.
4.A/C and heat, vent temperature
Center vent at idle with A/C on. Record the temperature.
Measure: Vent temp (F)
Vent temp (F): ______________
5.Cabin air filter
Photo if dirty or clogged. Mark not applicable if the car has none.
2. Lights and electrical6 items
6.Headlights, low and high beam
Aim, dim or yellowed lenses, burned out bulbs.
7.Brake lights and turn signals
Every bulb, front and rear, including hazards.
8.Tail, reverse and plate lights
Check each one. Photo any that are out.
9.Battery test: volts and CCA
Record volts, rated CCA and tested CCA. Photo the tester result.
Measure: Volts / rated CCA / tested CCA
Volts / rated CCA / tested CCA: ______________
10.Battery terminals, cables and hold-down
Corrosion, loose clamps, cracked case. Photo corrosion.
11.Charging system output
Engine running. Record volts at the battery. Typical range is about 13.5 to 14.8 V.
Measure: Volts, engine running
Volts, engine running: ______________
3. Under the hood and fluids10 items
12.Engine oil, level and condition
Level on the dipstick, color, and any fuel or coolant smell.
13.Coolant level and condition
Check cold only. Color, rust or oil in the reservoir. Photo if dirty.
14.Transmission fluid
Level and condition where it can be checked. Not applicable if sealed.
15.Power steering fluid
Level and condition. Not applicable on electric steering.
16.Washer fluid level
Top it off if low.
17.Engine air filter
Photo if dirty or oily.
18.Radiator and condenser, fins and debris
Bent fins, leaves, bugs, seepage at the tanks.
19.Oil and fluid leaks, top side
Valve cover, front cover, hoses, reservoirs. Photo anything wet.
20.Engine and transmission mounts
Cracked or collapsed rubber, excess movement.
21.Wiring and connectors
Chafed or melted wires, loose connectors, rodent damage. Photo damage.
4. Belts and hoses3 items
22.Drive belt, cracks and glazing
Cracks across ribs, fraying, glazed sides. Photo if cracked.
23.Belt tensioner and pulleys
Wobble, noise, rough bearings, tensioner arm position.
24.Radiator and heater hoses
Soft, swollen, cracked, damp clamps. Squeeze when cold.
5. Tires and wheels8 items
25.Left front tire, tread depth
Measure at the shallowest groove. Photo at 4/32 or less.
Measure: Tread depth (32nds)
Tread depth (32nds): ______________
26.Right front tire, tread depth
Measure at the shallowest groove. Photo at 4/32 or less.
Measure: Tread depth (32nds)
Tread depth (32nds): ______________
27.Left rear tire, tread depth
Measure at the shallowest groove. Photo at 4/32 or less.
Measure: Tread depth (32nds)
Tread depth (32nds): ______________
28.Right rear tire, tread depth
Measure at the shallowest groove. Photo at 4/32 or less.
Measure: Tread depth (32nds)
Tread depth (32nds): ______________
29.Tire pressure, as found
Record the lowest as found, then set to the door placard.
Measure: Lowest psi as found
Lowest psi as found: ______________
30.Tire sidewalls and wear pattern
Bulges, cuts, cracking, wear on one edge. Photo uneven wear.
31.Wheels, lug nuts and valve stems
Bent or cracked wheels, missing nuts, leaking stems.
32.Spare tire or inflator kit
Condition and pressure. Mark not applicable if the car has none.
6. Brakes8 items
33.Front brake pads, measure mm
Thinnest pad. Photo anything under 4 mm.
Measure: Thinnest pad (mm)
Thinnest pad (mm): ______________
34.Rear brake pads or shoes, measure mm
Thinnest pad or shoe. Photo anything under 4 mm.
Measure: Thinnest pad (mm)
Thinnest pad (mm): ______________
35.Front rotors, thickness and surface
Thickness against the minimum, scoring, lip, rust. Photo damage.
Measure: Thickness (mm)
Thickness (mm): ______________
36.Rear rotors or drums
Thickness or diameter against the minimum, scoring, rust.
Measure: Thickness (mm)
Thickness (mm): ______________
37.Brake fluid, level and condition
Level and color. Photo if dark. Test strip or tester reading in the note.
38.Brake hoses and hard lines
Cracks, bulges, rust, rubbing. Photo any damage.
39.Calipers, slides and boots
Sticking, uneven pad wear, torn boots, leaks.
40.Parking brake
Holds on a grade, lever or pedal travel, cable condition.
7. Steering and suspension8 items
41.Front shocks or struts
Leaks, bounce, worn mounts. Photo a wet or leaking unit.
42.Rear shocks or struts
Leaks, bounce, worn mounts. Photo a wet or leaking unit.
43.Control arm bushings and ball joints
Cracked rubber, play, clunks. Photo torn bushings.
44.Tie rod ends and steering linkage
Play at the tie rod ends, torn boots, loose parts.
45.Steering rack or gear, leaks and play
Wet boots or seals, looseness in the wheel.
46.Sway bar links and bushings
Broken or loose links, split bushings.
47.Wheel bearings, play and noise
Rock the wheel and spin it by hand. Listen for growl.
48.CV boots and axles
Torn boots, grease thrown around, clicking on turns. Photo a torn boot.
8. Exhaust and underbody2 items
49.Exhaust system, leaks and hangers
Rust holes, loose joints, broken hangers, rattles. Photo leaks.
50.Underbody leaks and damaged shields
Oil, transmission fluid, coolant or fuel. Photo anything wet.
Do it on your phone instead
Paper works, but you have to type it up afterwards. In Gearboxly the technician runs this same 50-point list on a phone in the browser, with no app to install.
- Tap green, orange or red on each point, and mark N/A where it does not apply
- Add photos and enter measurements such as tread depth and pad thickness
- Send the customer a link they can read on their phone, with every photo and finding
- Turn flagged findings into estimate jobs, and the customer approves or declines each job from their phone
14-day free trial. No credit card.
Questions about the 50-point inspection
What is a 50-point inspection?
It is a shop's own multi-point inspection: a technician walks the vehicle and checks 50 listed items, such as lights, fluids, belts, tires, brakes, steering and suspension, and exhaust, and marks each one good, worth watching, or needing attention. It is a form the shop uses to find and explain work. It is not a state safety inspection.
How long does a 50-point inspection take?
It depends on the vehicle, how easy it is to get at, and how practiced the technician is. The version we use in Gearboxly is set up for about 20 minutes, with the car on the ground for the first part and in the air for brakes, steering, suspension and the underbody. Plan more time for the first few runs, and for cars with a lot of findings that need photos.
How often should a shop do a multi-point inspection?
Many shops do one on every car that comes in for paid work, and some do a lighter version on oil changes. The point is to look at the whole car the same way every time. Pick a rhythm you can keep up with, and make sure the findings are written down and shown to the customer.
What should a shop charge for a 50-point inspection?
There is no single right answer, and we are not going to give you a number. Some shops include the inspection with any paid visit, some charge a flat fee that is credited toward approved work, and some sell it as a stand-alone service such as a pre-purchase inspection. Look at your local market, your labor rate and your state's rules, then decide.
Is a 50-point inspection required by law?
No. This is not a state safety or emissions inspection and it does not replace one. It is a shop's own inspection form, and the items are the ones we think are worth checking. Do not describe it to a customer as a state, DOT or legal inspection.
Can I edit this checklist or use it in my shop?
The PDF is for shop use. You can print it, copy it and hand it to your technicians as often as you like, with no signup. If you want to change the items, copy them into your own form. Credit to Gearboxly is appreciated but not required. If you would rather not use paper, Gearboxly lets you edit the same list and fill it in on a phone.