Need a DOT inspection near you in Alabama?
Alabama uses the federal annual model, so you don't need a station. Bright Inspect inspects your truck where it's parked. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units.
| Item | Alabama |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Highway Patrol, Motor Carrier Safety Unit |
| Federal rules | Adopted, with a state intrastate threshold |
| Who's covered intrastate | 26,001 lb or more for property carriers; passenger buses and hazmat or hazardous waste carriers at any weight |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | Only the Alabama LPG Board program; none for ordinary trucks and buses |
| Sticker | No state sticker; federal proof of inspection on the vehicle |
Compare Alabama with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The ALEA Highway Patrol's Motor Carrier Safety Unit enforces federal and state motor carrier safety rules in Alabama, including roadside inspections and carrier records reviews. FMCSA remains the federal safety authority, and ALEA can inspect required carrier records during normal business hours (Ala. Code 32-9A-3).
Yes. Ala. Code 32-9A-2 adopts the federal motor carrier safety rules, including Part 396. Alabama-only property carriers at 26,000 lb or less are exempt from those rules, but passenger buses and vehicles hauling hazardous materials or hazardous waste don't get that exemption (ALEA intrastate regulations).
ALEA notes that any business vehicle over 10,000 lb can still be stopped and inspected at roadside, even if it runs only in Alabama.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Alabama only) | 26,001 lb or more GVWR or GCWR for property carriers; passenger buses and hazmat or hazardous waste haulers regardless of weight |
The federal annual, at least every 12 months, for every covered truck, tractor, trailer and bus, with proof of inspection on the vehicle. Alabama doesn't run a general state program that replaces it. The only Alabama program on FMCSA's accepted list is the Alabama LPG Board's, which is limited to LPG vehicles.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; Ala. Code 32-9A-2 |
| Systematic maintenance | Every covered CMV | Ongoing; bus pushout windows and emergency doors every 90 days | 49 CFR 396.3 |
| Driver inspection and DVIR | Drivers of covered CMVs | Before each trip; written report when a defect is found | 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13 |
The federal annual can be done by any inspector qualified under 49 CFR 396.19, including a carrier's own mechanic or a third party. ALEA publishes inspector qualification and annual inspection record forms for this purpose (ALEA compliance forms).
That's the model Bright Inspect is designed for. Our federal annual is designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements. If your vehicle hauls LPG and falls under the Alabama LPG Board program, ask us before booking so we can confirm what you need.
Keep the annual inspection report 14 months, with proof of inspection on the vehicle; Alabama doesn't require a state sticker. Maintenance records are kept 1 year while the vehicle is in your fleet and 6 months after it leaves. Driver vehicle inspection reports and repair certifications are kept 3 months.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Passenger carriers | Covered at more than 8 passengers including the driver for compensation, or more than 15 not for compensation; passenger buses don't get the 26,000 lb intrastate exemption |
| Hazmat carriers | Covered at any weight when placarded; hazardous waste haulers don't get the intrastate exemption |
| Tow trucks and school buses | We're still confirming Alabama-specific inspection rules for tow trucks and school buses. Check with the ALEA Motor Carrier Safety Unit directly. |
ALEA Motor Carrier Safety Unit troopers conduct roadside inspections; Alabama generally requires officers issuing these citations to have completed the CVSA basic course. Federal rules let an officer cite you under 49 CFR 396.17(c) when proof of a current annual inspection isn't on the vehicle; it carries a CSA severity weight of 4. The officer gives the driver an inspection report. The carrier must certify that listed violations were corrected and return it within 15 days, and keep a copy for 12 months (49 CFR 396.9). Fines are set by state law. A clean roadside inspection doesn't replace your annual.
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Alabama. Check with the ALEA Motor Carrier Safety Unit directly.
Stopped without proof of a current annual? See what to do when your inspection expired or failed at roadside and what happens if your annual inspection is expired. Nobody can promise to remove a violation or change a safety score; what fixes the problem going forward is a current inspection and a complete record.
Last reviewed: September 11, 2026