1. Purpose
This policy sets out how the Service keeps ambulance vehicles roadworthy, records pre-shift checks, manages defects and tracks MOT, tax, insurance and patient-handling equipment.
The Service must verify this policy against current Road Traffic Act, MOT, DVSA and CQC source material before adoption. The policy is written for independent ambulance services providing planned transport, high-dependency transfer, event medical cover or private ambulance response.
2. Sources to verify before adoption
- Road Traffic Act 1988: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/contents
- Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/1694/contents
- DVSA, guide to maintaining roadworthiness: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-maintaining-roadworthiness
- DVSA, guide to maintaining roadworthiness, current HTML version: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-maintaining-roadworthiness/guide-to-maintaining-roadworthiness-commercial-goods-and-passenger-carrying-vehicles
- GOV.UK, MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles/
- GOV.UK, check vehicle tax: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax
- CQC, check if you need to register your ambulance service: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/check-if-you-need-register-your-ambulance-service
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 12: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2936/regulation/12
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 17: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2936/regulation/17
3. Scope
This policy applies to:
- all vehicles used by the Service for regulated ambulance activity
- emergency, urgent, high-dependency, planned and event-cover vehicles where the Service operates them
- daily pre-shift checks completed by Crew
- vehicle MOT, service, tax and insurance tracking
- clinical equipment carried on vehicles, including stretchers, carry chairs, wheelchair restraints, tail-lifts, ramps, suction and oxygen fixtures
- defects identified before, during or after a job
- hired, leased, loaned or temporary replacement vehicles used by the Service
This policy does not replace the manufacturer's instructions, MOT requirements, insurance terms, operator-licence duties or any vehicle-specific legal duty that applies to the Service.
4. Vehicle roadworthiness process
The Service keeps a live vehicle register and uses it to plan, check and evidence roadworthiness.
4.1 Vehicle register
The Fleet Lead maintains a register for each vehicle.
The register records:
- registration number
- make, model and conversion type
- vehicle class and weight category
- registered activity the vehicle supports
- MOT expiry date
- service schedule
- insurance cover
- vehicle excise duty status
- patient-handling equipment assigned to the vehicle
- oxygen, suction and clinical-equipment fixture arrangement where applicable
- tail-lift, ramp and wheelchair-restraint service dates
- date removed from service and reason where applicable
The Fleet Lead checks the register before the Operations Manager allocates a vehicle to rota or standby duty.
4.2 Pre-shift defect check
Crew complete a pre-shift vehicle check before the vehicle leaves the operating base or starts standby duty.
The check covers:
- lights, indicators, horn and mirrors
- tyres, wheel fixings and visible damage
- windscreen, wipers and washers
- brakes, warning lights and dashboard alerts
- emergency lighting and warning equipment where fitted and lawful to use
- fuel or charge level
- cleanliness and infection prevention readiness
- stretcher, carry chair and wheelchair-restraint equipment
- tail-lift, ramp and floor tracking
- oxygen bracket, suction bracket and equipment mountings where fitted
- clinical kit storage, seals and expiry indicators where applicable
- patient comfort items needed for planned work
Crew record the check against the vehicle, shift, date, time and checker. The platform records the check as an assurance task. Staff record an incident only when the check fails or a defect creates a patient-safety, staff-safety, public-safety or service-continuity risk.
4.3 Defect grading
The Service grades each defect before the vehicle is used.
- Critical defect: the vehicle is removed from service immediately. It is not used for patient transport, standby or response until the Fleet Lead confirms repair and release.
- Major defect: the Fleet Lead decides whether the vehicle can complete any current safe movement, such as return to base or movement to repair, before further use.
- Minor defect: the Fleet Lead records the defect, sets a repair date and confirms that the vehicle remains safe for the planned job or standby arrangement.
Crew do not override a critical defect because a job is delayed or cover is thin. The Operations Manager arranges a replacement vehicle, subcontracted transport where approved or a safe rebooking route.
4.4 Defect repair and release back to service
The Fleet Lead keeps a repair record for each defect.
The record includes:
- defect description
- person who identified it
- date and time reported
- photographs where helpful
- immediate action taken
- whether the vehicle was removed from service
- repair provider
- repair completion evidence
- person who authorised release back to service
The vehicle returns to service only when the Fleet Lead or delegated competent person records that the defect has been corrected or controlled.
4.5 Clinical and patient-handling equipment
The Service treats clinical and patient-handling equipment as part of vehicle readiness.
Staff check that:
- equipment matches the vehicle and patient group
- stretchers, carry chairs, ramps and tail-lifts are within service date
- wheelchair restraints and tracking are clean, complete and functional
- bariatric equipment is available where the job requires it
- oxygen, suction and monitoring equipment are secured and ready where carried
- equipment defects are linked to the vehicle record and removed from use where needed
The Service does not dispatch a vehicle where essential clinical or patient-handling equipment is missing, damaged, out of service date or unsuitable for the planned patient group.
5. MOT, service, insurance and tax control
The Fleet Lead keeps expiry-date control for each statutory and service record.
The Service records:
- MOT expiry date and certificate
- planned service date
- safety inspection date where the vehicle falls within the Service's local safety-inspection programme
- insurance certificate and renewal date
- vehicle excise duty status
- roadside-assistance cover where used
- driver licence category needed for the vehicle
The Service does not allocate a vehicle where MOT, insurance or tax evidence is missing, expired or uncertain. Staff use GOV.UK check routes and the Service's own records to verify the position before a vehicle is dispatched.
6. Response to an unfit vehicle dispatched
If Staff identify that a vehicle was dispatched while unfit for use, they record an incident immediately.
The Registered Manager or Fleet Lead:
- makes the patient, Crew and public safe
- decides whether the current journey can continue safely or must stop
- arranges replacement transport or cover where needed
- informs the booking facility, receiving facility or event lead where the job is affected
- removes the vehicle from service
- records the defect, decision and patient impact
- considers duty of candour where harm or possible harm occurred
- considers whether DVSA, police, insurer, commissioner or CQC notification advice is needed
- assigns improvement actions to prevent recurrence
The review checks whether the defect was visible during pre-shift check, whether records were complete and whether rota pressure affected the decision to dispatch.
The Service does not set a fixed DVSA reporting threshold in this template. The Fleet Lead checks current DVSA source material, insurance terms and commissioner terms before reporting or ruling out external notification.
7. Responsibilities
- Registered Manager: owns this policy, ensures vehicle governance is in place and signs off annual review.
- Lead Clinician: confirms that vehicle and equipment readiness supports safe care, treatment and transport.
- Fleet Lead: owns the vehicle register, MOT tracking, defect process, repair evidence, service records and release back to service.
- Operations Manager: allocates vehicles only where the register shows them as available and suitable.
- Crew: complete pre-shift checks, stop unsafe use and report defects before the vehicle leaves base where possible.
- All staff: record vehicle incidents promptly and do not pressure Crew to use a vehicle they have reported as unsafe.
8. Recording requirements
The Service keeps the following records:
- vehicle register
- pre-shift vehicle check
- defect report
- vehicle removed-from-service record
- repair record and release-back-to-service decision
- MOT certificate or check evidence
- service and safety-inspection record
- tax and insurance evidence
- clinical equipment service record
- patient-handling equipment service record
- incident record where a defect affects patient safety, staff safety, public safety or service delivery
- improvement action record
Records are kept in the Service governance records and are available for internal review, CQC review, commissioner review and external review where required.
9. Audit cadence
The Service uses the following Verivius default audit rhythm unless current DVSA, MOT, CQC, insurance, commissioner or local source material requires a different rhythm:
- Per vehicle, per shift: Crew complete the pre-shift defect check before dispatch or standby duty. The platform records it as an assurance check and records an incident only where the check fails or a defect is identified.
- Weekly: the Fleet Lead reviews missing checks, open defects, equipment gaps and vehicles removed from service.
- Monthly: the Operations Manager checks whether vehicle allocation matched vehicle availability, crew licence category and equipment need.
- Annually: the Registered Manager audits the vehicle register against MOT, insurance, tax, service, defect and equipment records.
Audit findings are recorded as improvement actions with an owner and review date.
10. Version control and review date
The Service keeps a controlled copy of this policy. The footer or document-control table records:
- policy owner
- version number
- date approved
- next review date
- changes made since the last version
- source material checked during the review
11. Related records
- Vehicle register
- Daily vehicle defect check
- Equipment audit
- Incident register
- Risk register
- Improvement action register
- Insurance record
- Vehicle service file
- Crew clinical scope and JRCALC competency policy
- Transfer of care and patient handover policy
Review cadence: annual or on regulatory change, whichever sooner. Owner: Registered Manager.