Need a DOT inspection near you in Delaware?
Delaware 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 | Delaware |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Delaware State Police, commercial motor carrier enforcement |
| Federal rules | Adopted, with a state intrastate threshold |
| Who's covered intrastate | 26,001 lb or more; 16 or more passenger seats; placarded hazmat |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
| School buses | Special DMV inspection twice a year |
Compare Delaware with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Delaware State Police enforce motor carrier safety, with CVSA-certified officers running roadside inspections. Delaware's motor carrier safety law is in Title 21, Chapter 47 of the Delaware Code, and the Department of Education regulates school bus specifications and school transportation.
Yes. Delaware adopts the federal motor carrier safety rules through 21 Del. C. 4702 and its administrative code. Delaware-only property vehicles are covered at 26,001 lb or more. Vehicles with seating for 16 or more and placarded hazmat at any weight are also covered. Intrastate farm vehicles are exempt from the Part 396 recordkeeping rules (21 Del. C. 4708).
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Delaware only) | 26,001 lb or more GVWR or gross weight; seating for 16 or more; placarded hazmat at any weight |
The federal annual, at least every 12 months, for every covered CMV, with each unit of a combination inspected on its own. Delaware doesn't run a separate state annual program or issue a Delaware annual sticker for commercial vehicles.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; 21 Del. C. 4702 |
| School bus inspection | Buses carrying public, private or parochial school pupils | Twice a year, by DMV | Delaware school transportation rules |
| Systematic maintenance | Every covered CMV | Ongoing | 49 CFR 396.3 |
The federal annual can be done by an inspector qualified under 49 CFR 396.19; a carrier can inspect its own vehicles if its inspector is qualified. That's the model Bright Inspect is designed for, and our federal annual is designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements.
School buses get a DMV inspection twice a year, and our federal annual is not a substitute for it. We confirm what your vehicle needs before you pay.
Keep the annual inspection report 14 months, or until a newer one replaces it, with proof of inspection on the vehicle. A sticker is optional: the proof can be the full report, a sticker, a decal or another document with the required details. Maintenance records follow federal retention rules.
More on how long to keep DOT inspection records and what an annual inspection sticker must show.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| School buses | Special DMV inspection twice a year for buses carrying public, private or parochial school pupils; Department of Education sets bus specifications |
| Passenger carriers | Covered intrastate at seating for 16 or more |
| Tow trucks | We're still confirming Delaware-specific inspection rules for tow trucks. Check with the Delaware State Police directly |
CVSA-certified Delaware State Police officers inspect vehicles during traffic stops, at weigh stations and in targeted enforcement. 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 CVSA decal from a passed roadside inspection doesn't replace your annual.
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Delaware. Check with the Delaware State Police 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