| Paper | Digital app | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Cheap to print | From £1 per vehicle per week |
| Speed for driver | Slow to find and fill | Scan and tap |
| Defects reach the office | When someone reads the sheet | Straight away, by email, with photo |
| Proof of time and place | Handwritten | Time and location recorded |
| Missed checks | Found later, if at all | Alerts the same morning |
| Finding a record | Search a box | Search by vehicle, driver, date |
| Wet, lost, illegible | Common | Not an issue |
| Needs a phone | No | Yes |
When paper is fine
A one-van firm with a driver who is also the owner can do well on paper, as long as sheets are kept and defects are fixed.
When to switch
The moment you have several drivers, you stop seeing every sheet. That is where things slip. Try Kovi for 30 days alongside paper for a fortnight and compare.
Questions
Is a digital check legally acceptable?
The key is that checks are done, defects are acted on and records are kept. The format is up to you. Check current DVSA guidance for your vehicles.
Related
How to choose a vehicle check appA buyer checklist for fleet check software: price, offline use, defect workflow, records, data export and what happens if you leave.FeaturesQR code checks, defect photos, offline mode, MOT and service reminders, trailer checks and weekly reports. Everything a fleet needs for daily vehicle checks.