DOT annual inspection requirements
Every truck and every trailer you run in interstate commerce must pass a periodic inspection at least once every 12 months, with proof on the vehicle and the report on file. Here is what the inspector checks, who is allowed to do it, and what to keep.
Last reviewed: September 2026, against 49 CFR Part 396 on eCFR. Not legal advice.
Which vehicles need one
Every commercial motor vehicle under your control 396.17(a)-(b). For interstate carriers that means any vehicle of 10,001 lbs or more by weight rating or actual weight, alone or in combination, plus passenger and placarded hazmat vehicles 390.5T. It does not depend on whether the driver needs a CDL.
- Each unit in a combination is inspected separately: the tractor, each semitrailer or full trailer, and the converter dolly if there is one 396.17(a)
- The inspection must have been passed at least once in the preceding 12 months. You may not use the vehicle otherwise 396.17(c)
- Leased and borrowed units count if they are under your control. If someone else did the last inspection, you must be able to get a copy of that report on demand 396.21(b)(3)
Intrastate-only carriers: check your state's rules. Covered farm vehicles are exempt from Part 396 396.1(c).
Proof on the vehicle
Proof of the last inspection must be on the vehicle. It can be the inspection report itself, or a sticker or decal based on it that shows 396.17(c):
- The date of the inspection
- The name and address of the carrier or other business where the report is kept
- Information identifying the vehicle, if it is not clearly marked on the vehicle
- A statement certifying that the vehicle passed an inspection under 396.17
Who can do the inspection
You can inspect your own vehicles, or have a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, truck stop, or similar business do it for you 396.17(d)-(e). Either way, the person doing it must 396.19(a):
- Understand the inspection standards in Part 393 and Appendix A to Part 396, and be able to spot defective parts
- Know and have mastered the methods, procedures, tools, and equipment for the inspection
- Have either a federal or state training program or state certificate qualifying them to inspect CMVs, or at least one year of combined training and experience, such as a manufacturer training program or work as a mechanic or inspector
Keep evidence of the inspector's qualifications while they do your inspections and for one year after 396.19(b). If the inspector works at an outside shop, ask for it with the report. If your own employee is responsible for brake work or brake inspections, there is a separate brake inspector qualification to document 396.25.
State inspections
A state periodic inspection that meets the Appendix A standards counts as the annual inspection for 12 months, starting from the last day of the month in which it was done 396.17(f). If your state runs a mandatory inspection program that FMCSA has found as effective as the federal one, you meet the requirement through that program 396.23. You do not need to keep inspector qualification records for inspections done under a state program 396.19(b).
The 15 inspection areas
A vehicle does not pass if any of these has a defect listed in the federal minimum standards Appendix A to Part 396. Print this list and walk the truck before the inspector does.
- 1. Brake system: service and parking brakes, drums and rotors, hoses, tubing, low-air warning device, tractor protection valve, air compressor, antilock brakes, automatic slack adjusters, and pushrod stroke within the readjustment limits
- 2. Coupling devices: fifth wheel, pintle hook, drawbar or towbar eye and tongue, safety chains and devices, saddle-mounts
- 3. Exhaust: no leak forward of or directly below the cab or sleeper, and no part placed where it could burn or damage wiring, the fuel supply, or other combustible parts
- 4. Fuel system: no visible leak, filler cap present, tank securely mounted
- 5. Lighting: every light and reflector required by Part 393 works
- 6. Safe loading: nothing, including the spare tire, load, or dunnage, can fall onto the road; front-end structure where required; intermodal container securement devices intact
- 7. Steering: steering wheel free play, column, front axle and steering components, gear box, pitman arm, power steering, ball and socket joints, tie rods and drag links, nuts
- 8. Suspension: U-bolts, spring hangers, and axle positioning parts; spring assemblies; torque, radius, and tracking components
- 9. Frame: frame members, and no body or frame contact with a tire or wheel
- 10. Tires: steer tires at least 4/32 inch of tread and all others at least 2/32 inch, measured in a major groove; no exposed ply or belt, separation, flat or audible leak, or overloading
- 11. Wheels and rims: lock and side rings, cracks, elongated bolt holes, loose or missing fasteners, welds
- 12. Windshield glazing: no cracks or discoloration in the driver's viewing area beyond the allowed limits
- 13. Windshield wipers: working on every power unit
- 14. Motorcoach seats: buses only; passenger seats securely fastened
- 15. Rear impact guard: present and within the standards on trailers and other vehicles that require one
The inspection report
The inspector prepares a report that 396.21(a):
- Identifies the person who did the inspection
- Identifies the motor carrier operating the vehicle
- Gives the date of the inspection
- Identifies the vehicle
- Lists the components inspected and the results, including any that did not meet the standards
- Certifies that the inspection is accurate and complete
Our free forms include a vehicle maintenance policy for each vehicle file.
What to keep, and for how long
| Record | Keep for | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Annual inspection report, where the vehicle is housed or maintained | 14 months from the report date | 396.21(b)(1) |
| Evidence of the inspector's qualifications | While they inspect for you, plus 1 year | 396.19(b) |
| Evidence of a brake inspector's qualifications | While employed in that role, plus 1 year | 396.25(e) |
| Inspection, repair, and maintenance records for each vehicle | 1 year, and 6 months after the vehicle leaves your control | 396.3(c) |
The annual inspection report is one of the items in each vehicle's maintenance file. The rest of the file, and the driver and company records an auditor asks for, are in the DOT audit checklist.
Know when every unit is due
The DOT Binder tracks the annual inspection date for every truck and trailer, the maintenance schedule and service log, and driver inspection reports, and emails you before an inspection runs out. It also tracks driver files, medical cards, insurance, UCR, and your MCS-150. From $79 a month, 14-day free trial, no card.
Start free trialQuestions
Do trailers need a DOT annual inspection? Yes. Every vehicle in a combination is inspected separately: the tractor, each semitrailer or full trailer, and a converter dolly if there is one 396.17(a). Each one needs its own proof of inspection.
Does a hotshot pickup and trailer need an annual inspection? If it is used in interstate commerce and its weight rating or actual weight, alone or in combination, is 10,001 pounds or more, it is a commercial motor vehicle and yes, the truck and the trailer each need one 390.5T, 396.17.
Can I do the annual inspection myself? Yes, if you meet the inspector qualifications in 396.19: you understand the Part 393 and Appendix A standards, can use the tools and methods, and have a qualifying training certificate or at least one year of combined training and experience. Keep the evidence of your qualifications on file.
Where do I keep the inspection report? Keep the original or a copy for 14 months where the vehicle is housed or maintained 396.21(b). Proof of the inspection, either the report or a sticker or decal with the required information, must also be on the vehicle 396.17(c).
My state has its own truck inspection. Does it count? If the state periodic inspection meets the Appendix A standards, it counts as the annual inspection for 12 months, starting from the last day of the month it was done 396.17(f). If your state has a mandatory program FMCSA has found equivalent, you must use that program 396.23.