Need a DOT inspection near you in Florida?
Florida uses the federal annual model, so you don't have to drive to a station. Bright Inspect inspects your truck where it's parked. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units.
| Item | Florida |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Florida Highway Patrol, Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (FLHSMV) |
| Federal rules | Adopted, with state intrastate thresholds and exemptions |
| Who's covered intrastate | 26,001 lb or more; more than 15 passengers; placarded hazmat |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
| Proof on vehicle | Inspection report, or a sticker or decal with the required information |
Compare Florida with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, through FHP's Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, runs roadside inspections and weight enforcement (FLHSMV Commercial Vehicle Enforcement).
Yes. Florida adopts the federal motor carrier safety rules in Fla. Stat. 316.302. For trucks running only inside Florida, coverage starts at 26,001 lb using gross vehicle weight, GVWR or GCWR. Vehicles carrying more than 15 passengers and placarded hazmat vehicles are covered at any weight.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Florida only) | 26,001 lb or more by gross vehicle weight, GVWR or GCWR; more than 15 passengers; placarded hazmat at any weight |
The federal annual, at least once every 12 months, for each vehicle in a combination: tractor, semitrailer, full trailer and converter dolly. Intermodal equipment is covered when it's interchanged. Florida doesn't add a separate state periodic program for trucks.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Covered CMVs and each unit in a combination | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; Fla. Stat. 316.302 |
Anyone qualified under 49 CFR 396.19: the carrier's own qualified inspector, or one at a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, truck stop or similar business. Florida has no state program that replaces this.
Bright Inspect's inspection is designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements for this federal model. Learn more about how a virtual DOT inspection works.
The inspector's report must identify the inspector, carrier, date, vehicle and components inspected, and certify the results. Keep it 14 months where the vehicle is housed or maintained. Proof on the vehicle can be the report or a sticker or decal showing the date, where records are kept, vehicle ID and a pass certification.
More on what an annual inspection sticker must show and how long to keep DOT inspection records.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | No statewide tow truck inspection found. Wreckers on the FHP rotation list must pass an FHP inspection equivalent to a CVSA Level I, and FHP may inspect them at any time (Rule 15B-9.005, F.A.C.) |
| School buses | Inspected at least every 30 school days by technicians certified as Florida school bus safety inspectors (Rule 6A-3.0171, F.A.C.) |
| Passenger carriers | Covered intrastate at more than 15 passengers. Airport permits vary: Sarasota Bradenton International asks for each vehicle's most recent annual inspection from the applicable city or county agency (SRQ permit, 2026) |
FLHSMV officers and appointed agents with current CVSA inspector certification conduct roadside inspections and can issue out-of-service orders or correction notices under Fla. Stat. 316.302(9). Fixed-scale weight inspectors can also detain vehicles with obvious critical safety defects (Fla. Stat. 316.545(9)).
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 Florida. Check with FHP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 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