01
Book
Pick a time that fits your load schedule. Tell us the vehicle, the state it's registered in and where it's parked.
Do I need an annual DOT inspection?
Yes, if you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. Federal rules require every CMV, and every trailer in a combination, to pass an inspection at least once every 12 months, with proof on the vehicle (49 CFR 396.17). Your state may set different lines for intrastate trucks.
| Your vehicle | Federal CMV? (49 CFR 390.5) |
|---|---|
| Truck, tractor, trailer or combination rated 10,001 lb or more | Yes |
| Vehicle designed for 9 to 15 passengers, including driver, carrying passengers for pay | Yes |
| Vehicle designed for 16 or more passengers, including driver | Yes |
| Any vehicle carrying hazardous materials that require placards | Yes |
Intrastate only? Thresholds differ by state. Florida, Texas and North Carolina start ordinary intrastate trucks at 26,001 lb, for example. Pick your state
Every federal rule question, answered with its citation: DOT inspection rules. Got your authority in the last 12 months? See annual inspections for new authorities.
How does it work?
You book a time, an inspector connects with you wherever the vehicle is, and every required component gets checked and recorded. If it passes, your digital record is ready to show. If something fails, you get a clear list of what to fix and a free re-check within 72 hours. No shop day, no deadhead miles.
02
Inspect
An inspector experienced with your vehicle type and qualified under 49 CFR 396.19 runs a live, recorded inspection of every component in Appendix A to Part 396.
03
Get your record
Download it, add it to your cab, and share it with brokers, insurers, airports or school districts.
What vehicles do you inspect?
We inspect DOT-regulated trucks, trailers, box trucks, hotshot rigs, tow trucks, shuttles, limousines, motorcoaches and school buses. Each vehicle type has its own page that explains what gets checked and which extra state or permit rules can apply to it.
Will a technology-based inspection work in my state?
In many states, yes. Some states run their own mandatory inspection programs that FMCSA accepts in place of the federal annual, and vehicles covered by those programs must use them (FMCSA notice, 73 FR 63040). We check your state and vehicle before you pay, and tell you plainly if another route applies.
Check my stateWhat's in my inspection record?
Your report includes everything federal rules ask for: who inspected the vehicle, the carrier, the date, the vehicle, every component checked with its result, and a certification that the inspection is accurate and complete (49 CFR 396.21). Keep it for 14 months.
Each record also has a verification code. Anyone you show it to can confirm it at book.dotbrightinspect.com/verify.
Verify a recordWhy operators book with Bright Inspect
You keep the truck on the road. A shop day can cost a full day of revenue plus the drive there and back. With Bright Inspect, the inspection fits around your loads, the record lives on your phone, and a reminder comes before it expires again.
- No shop wait, no deadhead to an inspection station
- Process developed by a former DOT officer
- English and Spanish support
- Fleet dashboard for every unit and trailer, with renewal reminders
Frequently asked questions
A federal annual inspection must have been passed within the preceding 12 months, and proof must be on the vehicle (49 CFR 396.17(c)). Inspections done under an FMCSA-accepted state program count for 12 months from the last day of the month the inspection was done (396.17(f)).
You can be cited under 49 CFR 396.17(c). In 2025 this was the 4th most common vehicle violation, and it carries a CSA severity weight of 4 (J.J. Keller analysis of FMCSA data). Any defects the officer finds can also lead to an out-of-service order. Fines are set by state law.
Federal rules allow the inspection report itself, or a sticker or decal based on it, as proof on the vehicle (396.17(c)). Bright Inspect gives you the full report digitally and as a printable copy. Keep a printed copy in the cab in case an officer asks for paper.
Yes. Federal rules treat each vehicle in a combination as a CMV, so the tractor, semitrailer, full trailer and converter dolly each need their own annual inspection (396.17(a)).
FMCSA does not approve or certify private inspection companies. Our inspection is designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements, and our process was developed by a former DOT officer.
Keep your vehicle moving
Book a same-day annual DOT inspection where your vehicle is parked and get your record within 60 minutes.