The Exterior Inspection: Ten Points

The exterior inspection is done before driving off — and, for tyres, after the journey too.

#	Point	Pass looks like
1	Tyres	Tread & age OK, pressure OK, wheels tight, stones out, serviceable spare (Lesson 5.3)
2	Lights & reflectors	Head/turn/hazard all work; reverse lights checked with an assistant
3	Mirrors	Present, adjusted, unobstructed before driving
4	Wipers	Work at every setting, washer fluid present (test in the dry)
5	Windows	Open and shut without difficulty
6	Body	Damage noted — new damage = overnight incident; dents near wheels foul tyres
7	Cleanliness	Glass clean for navigation; cabin uncluttered — linked to distraction
8	Belts & child seats	Clasps work, belts retract; child/booster seats sound and secured
9	Emergency equipment	In working order — the full kit (Sub-topic 3)
10	Paperwork	Licence for you on this vehicle + roadworthiness, registration, insurance

Before driving off (tyres again after) — the handbook's ten, in order.

Most points are a glance; a few hide traps worth naming:

Reverse lights only light in reverse, so you can't verify them from the seat — this is the one check that needs an assistant (Lesson 5.5).
Wipers get their real test in the first rains — so check them in the dry season, when nobody does.
New body damage you didn't cause is evidence of an overnight incident, and dents near wheels can foul a tyre — the body check isn't cosmetic.
Cleanliness the handbook links explicitly to distraction (Module 6): a cluttered cabin is a safety item, not a tidiness one.

Key takeaways

The exterior ten, in handbook order: tyres · lights/reflectors · mirrors · wipers · windows · body · cleanliness · belts & child seats · emergency kit · paperwork
The two that get skipped and can be tested: reverse lights need an assistant, and wipers get their real test in the rains — so check them in the dry

During the exterior check, why do reverse lights specifically need a second person to verify?

A) Because they're the brightest lights on the car

B) They only illuminate in reverse, so you can't see them from the driver's seat — an assistant confirms them

C) Because the NTSA inspector checks them, not you

D) Reverse lights aren't part of the check