Check car close to pavement (5)
I believe the answer is:
audit
'check' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'car close to pavement' is the wordplay.
'car' becomes 'audi' (audi is a german car brand).
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the close/ending of).
The final letter of 'pavement' is 't'.
'audi'+'t'='AUDIT'
(Other definitions for audit that I've seen before include "Financial investigation" , "Formally examine" , "vetting of books" , "Inspect accounts" , "Thoroughgoing check" .)