Need a DOT inspection near you in Colorado?
Colorado uses the federal qualified-inspector model, so you don't need a station. Bright Inspect inspects your truck where it's parked. PUC carriers and school buses have extra state inspections, so we confirm what you need before you pay.
| Item | Colorado |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Colorado State Patrol (CSP) |
| Other agencies | Public Utilities Commission (regulated carriers); Department of Education (school transportation) |
| Federal rules | Adopted, plus state programs for some carriers and vehicles |
| Who's covered intrastate | 16,001 lb or more; apportioned plates, tow and recovery vehicles and placarded hazmat at any weight |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
Compare Colorado with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Colorado State Patrol enforces commercial vehicle safety and hazardous materials rules. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) sets added safety rules for the carriers it regulates, and the Colorado Department of Education runs the school transportation vehicle inspection program.
Yes. Colorado's Motor Carrier Rules adopt the federal safety rules, including Part 396 and its Appendix A, for intrastate commercial vehicles (8 CCR 1507-1). Ordinary intrastate vehicles are covered at 16,001 lb or more. Vehicles with apportioned plates, commercial tow and recovery vehicles, and placarded hazmat are covered regardless of weight.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Colorado only) | 16,001 lb or more GVWR or GCWR; apportioned plates; commercial tow and recovery vehicles; placarded hazmat at any weight |
Colorado layers state inspections over the federal annual for some vehicles. PUC-regulated carriers need an initial inspection before service and periodic inspections after that, and older passenger vehicles need them more often. School transportation vehicles need a Department of Education annual inspection.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; 8 CCR 1507-1 |
| PUC vehicle safety inspection | Vehicles of PUC-regulated carriers | Before service, then at least annually; every 6 months for passenger vehicles over 8 model years or 150,000 miles; every 3 months over 15 model years or 225,000 miles | 4 CCR 723-6, Rules 6103 and 6104 |
| School transportation annual inspection | School district, charter school and contractor student transportation vehicles | Before carrying students, then annually | 1 CCR 301-26 |
The federal annual can be done by an inspector qualified under 49 CFR 396.19: a qualified carrier employee, garage, leasing company or similar business (CSP vehicle maintenance guidance). That's the model Bright Inspect is designed for, and our federal annual is designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements.
For PUC vehicles that meet the federal CMV definition, the PUC requires an inspector qualified under 49 CFR 396.19, on the Commission's form. Whether a technology-based inspection satisfies the PUC rules is not settled, so ask us before using our inspection for a PUC vehicle.
The school transportation annual must be done by a CDE-certified inspector and includes a physical foundation brake inspection, usually with all four wheels pulled. Our federal annual is not a substitute for it.
Keep the federal annual report 14 months, with documentation of the current inspection on the vehicle, and keep inspector qualification records while the inspector works and 1 year after. Colorado has no state annual sticker. PUC inspections go on the Commission's form in the vehicle file, and the driver carries a current copy. School vehicles keep the CDE annual inspection affidavit (Form STU-25) in the vehicle and in the vehicle file.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | Commercial tow and recovery vehicles are covered by Colorado's commercial vehicle rules at any weight. We're still confirming any tow-specific inspection beyond the annual. Check with the Colorado State Patrol directly |
| School buses | CDE annual inspection by a certified inspector before carrying students and every year after, plus daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections (1 CCR 301-26) |
| PUC passenger carriers | Initial and periodic PUC inspections; written daily inspection reports even when no defect is found (Rule 6105); luxury limousine permits need an inspection no older than 20 days for a new permit and 180 days for a renewal |
Colorado State Patrol officers conduct roadside and hazardous materials inspections. 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 roadside inspection doesn't replace the annual. PUC vehicles that fail a PUC inspection are placed out of service until repaired.
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Colorado. Check with the Colorado State Patrol 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