Need a DOT inspection near you in California?
Bright Inspect does the federal annual where your truck is parked. California adds BIT 90-day, tour bus and school bus inspections for some vehicles, so we confirm what you need before you pay.
| Item | California |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | California Highway Patrol (CHP) |
| Federal rules | Federal baseline plus state programs and vehicle classes |
| Who's covered intrastate | Vehicle classes in CVC 34500: 3+ axle motortrucks over 10,000 lb GVWR, all truck tractors, buses, combinations, hazmat vehicles |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months (49 CFR 396.17) |
| State preventive inspection | Every 90 days for BIT vehicles (CVC 34505.5) |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | Yes |
Compare California with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The CHP, through its Commercial Vehicle Section, enforces commercial vehicle safety and runs the Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program, which audits carrier terminals and maintenance records (CHP Commercial Vehicle Section).
Yes, federal rules are the baseline, but California defines covered intrastate vehicles by class rather than one weight line. The classes in CVC 34500 include motortrucks with three or more axles over 10,000 lb GVWR, every truck tractor, buses, certain combinations and hazmat vehicles.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (California only) | Vehicle classes in CVC 34500: 3+ axle motortrucks over 10,000 lb GVWR, all truck tractors, buses, certain combinations, hazmat vehicles |
California layers state inspections over the federal annual. Most BIT-covered trucks need a 90-day preventive inspection, tour buses need one every 45 days, and school buses and similar vehicles need one every 3,000 miles or 45 days, whichever comes first.
| Inspection | Who it applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every CMV and each unit in a combination | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17 to 396.21 |
| BIT preventive inspection | BIT-regulated commercial vehicles | Every 90 days | CVC 34505.5 |
| Tour bus inspection | Tour buses of charter-party carriers and passenger stage corporations | Every 45 days | CVC 34505 |
| School bus, SPAB, PAB, GPPV inspection | Those vehicle classes | 3,000 miles or 45 days | 13 CCR 1232 |
| BIT terminal inspection by CHP | BIT-regulated carriers | Periodic; reinspection within 120 days after an unsatisfactory rating | CHP 800H |
California's inspection program is on FMCSA's accepted list, so vehicles it covers follow California's state inspections in addition to the federal annual. The 90-day BIT inspection may be done by the motor carrier or a qualified mechanic.
The federal annual must be done by an inspector qualified under 49 CFR 396.19; CHP recognizes compliant annual inspections. Bright Inspect's federal annual is designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements. Whether a technology-based inspection satisfies California's 90-day BIT, 45-day tour bus or school bus inspections is not settled, so we don't offer ours as a substitute for those. We confirm what your vehicle needs before you pay.
Keep the federal annual report 14 months, with proof on the vehicle; a sticker is optional. Keep 90-day BIT inspection records at least 2 years, with vehicle ID, date, repairs and an authorized signature. Tour bus and school bus inspection records are kept 1 year at the terminal where the vehicle is garaged.
More on how long to keep DOT inspection records and what an annual inspection sticker must show.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | No statewide tow truck inspection found. Trucks in the CHP rotation tow program are inspected and approved by CHP each year (a Level One plus a tow truck equipment inspection) before they take rotation calls (CHP 234 Tow Service Agreement); cities may add their own rules |
| School buses, SPABs, PABs, GPPVs | Every 3,000 miles or 45 days; brake work by staff qualified under 49 CFR 396.25 (13 CCR 1232) |
| Tour buses | Every 45 days; operator's authorized representative attests to inspection and repairs (CVC 34505) |
CHP officers can cite you under 49 CFR 396.17(c). 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.
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in California. Check with the California Highway Patrol directly. A missing 90-day BIT inspection is a separate state issue that can surface in a CHP terminal inspection.
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