Annual inspection due or expired?
Book an inspection where your vehicle is parked, designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements.
Under 49 CFR 396.17, every commercial motor vehicle, and every unit in a combination, must pass an Appendix A inspection at least once every 12 months.
The carrier or a commercial business can do the annual, as long as the inspector meets 49 CFR 396.19 and no state program covers the vehicle.
The inspection report stays on file for 14 months, and proof of a current inspection has to be on the vehicle.
A missing or expired annual shows up at roadside stops, in compliance investigations and in new entrant safety audits, so here is what happens and what an inspection costs.
Yes, if it is a commercial motor vehicle operating 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 vehicles.
| 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. Check your state.
Most annual inspection questions come back to a handful of federal sections. This table shows what each one covers and where to read it.
| Rule | What it covers | Answer page |
|---|---|---|
| 49 CFR 396.17 | The annual (periodic) inspection: every 12 months, every unit, proof on the vehicle | What 396.17 requires |
| Appendix A to Part 396 | The minimum list of components the inspection must check | The checklist |
| 49 CFR 396.19 | Who is qualified to inspect, and the records the carrier keeps on them | Who can inspect |
| 49 CFR 396.21 | What the report must include and how long to keep it | Records |
| 49 CFR 396.25 | Qualifications for anyone who works on brakes | Doing your own |
| 49 CFR 396.9 | Roadside inspection reports and the 15-day certification | Roadside vs. annual |
| 49 CFR 385.321 | Violations that automatically fail a new entrant safety audit | New entrant audit |
Book an inspection where your vehicle is parked. Same-day slots, a digital record within 60 minutes, and no shop day.