The Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT) is the annual roadworthiness test for goods vehicles, buses and certain trailers in Ireland, run under the RSA at authorised test centres (cvrt.ie). A pass produces a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW) — the document that lets the vehicle stay legally on the road. Preparation matters because a failed test means a re-test, possible downtime while defects are fixed, and a vehicle that can’t earn until it has a valid CRW. Most fails come down to small, avoidable defects that a proper walkaround and a tidy maintenance file would have caught first. This checklist walks an Irish fleet — HGV or van — through what to have ready and what to fix before the vehicle goes in.
Before the test: documents and records
The test centre and your own compliance both depend on paperwork being in order. Under S.I. 348/2013 you must keep maintenance and defect records for at least two years, so your maintenance file should already exist — the test is simply where it proves its worth.
- Vehicle registration and ownership details to hand
- Maintenance and defect records retained for at least two years (S.I. 348/2013, Reg. 10(3))
- Recent walkaround check and defect-repair records showing the vehicle has been maintained, not just patched for the test
- Tachograph calibration certificate current (recalibration is generally required at the prescribed interval — confirm your vehicle’s due date with your calibration centre)
- Previous CRW / test history available for reference
Keeping this in one place is exactly what the Traxsit maintenance file is for: the same record that satisfies the two-year retention rule is the file you hand over to show the vehicle was prepared, not just presented.
Walkaround and defects to fix first
Run a full Schedule 1 walkaround — interior and exterior — before booking, and again on the morning of the test. The point is to find and fix defects yourself rather than have the tester find them for you.
- Complete a guided walkaround check, recording every defect with a description, the date and time found, and the repair
- Repair any dangerous defect before the vehicle moves — a dangerous defect means the vehicle stays off the road until certified repaired
- Re-check after repairs so nothing is left outstanding on test day
- Photograph or log fixes so you can show the work was done
Common fail points to check
Without inventing pass/fail statistics, the everyday categories that catch vehicles out are well known. Work through each before the vehicle goes in.
- Lights: all bulbs working, lenses intact, indicators, brake and reversing lights, beam alignment
- Tyres: legal tread depth, even wear, correct pressures, no cuts, bulges or mismatched sizes across an axle
- Brakes: performance, no leaks, air build-up and warning systems, handbrake hold
- Steering and suspension: no excess play, no leaks, secure components
- Body and structure: no corrosion or damage affecting strength, secure load area, mirrors, wipers, washers and number plates legible
On the day
- Present the vehicle clean — accumulated dirt can hide defects and hold up the test
- Ensure adequate fuel and that the vehicle is in working order for the brake and emissions checks
- Bring the maintenance file and any documents requested by the test centre
- Arrive on time for your booked slot
After a pass: the CRW
A pass results in a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW), the legal document confirming the vehicle met the standard on the day. Keep it with the vehicle and note the next test due date. If the vehicle fails, the test centre issues a report listing the items to fix; repair them and re-test within the allowed period. Either way, log the outcome in the maintenance record so the file stays complete for the next two years and the next test.
How long must I keep maintenance records in Ireland? +
Maintenance and defect records must be kept for at least two years under S.I. 348/2013 (Reg. 10(3)). Traxsit keeps these records, plus your walkaround checks, in one place so the file is always complete and audit-ready.
How often is the CVRT? +
For relevant commercial vehicles the CVRT is generally an annual test, though the exact frequency and first-test timing depend on the vehicle category — confirm your vehicle’s due date on cvrt.ie or with your test centre.
What is a CRW? +
A CRW is a Certificate of Roadworthiness — the document issued when a commercial vehicle passes its CVRT. It is the legal proof that the vehicle met the roadworthiness standard, and the vehicle needs a valid CRW to remain on the road.
What happens if my vehicle fails the CVRT? +
The test centre issues a report listing the defects found. You repair those items and present the vehicle for re-test within the allowed period; once it passes, a CRW is issued. Logging the repairs in your maintenance file keeps the record complete.
How can software help me pass the CVRT? +
Software catches defects before the test, not after. Traxsit runs guided walkaround checks, records every defect and repair with a date and time, and keeps the whole maintenance file — so the vehicle is genuinely prepared and you can prove it.
Traxsit keeps your maintenance file and CVRT reminders and your whole fleet’s compliance in one audit-ready record. Book a demo to see how it gets vehicles through the CVRT first time.