DOT inspection requirements in Indiana

Compare Indiana with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.

The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division enforces motor carrier safety. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles handles private bus registration, and the Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier Services publishes the state's commercial vehicle guide.

Yes. Indiana requires compliance with the federal motor carrier rules under IC 8-2.1-24-18. For-hire vehicles are covered at 10,001 lb; ordinary private intrastate property vehicles at 26,001 lb (Indiana Commercial Vehicle Guide).

The federal annual covers every covered truck, trailer and bus at least every 12 months. Private buses over 15 passengers used by religious, nonprofit and similar groups also need a state safety inspection at each registration.

Every unit counts on its own: see whether each trailer needs its own annual inspection.

The federal annual can be done by an inspector qualified under 49 CFR 396.19: the carrier's employee, an owner-operator, a garage, a leasing company or another qualified third party. That's Bright Inspect's model.

Private bus inspections must be done by a person authorized by the Indiana State Police; Indiana recognizes a Part 396-compliant inspection for that purpose. How an inspector gets that authorization is still being confirmed, so ask us before using our inspection for a private bus registration.

Keep the annual report 14 months, with proof on the vehicle, and keep inspector qualification records. Private buses carry a completed Certificate of Passed Private Bus Safety Inspection (State Form 55962) and submit it to the BMV at registration; no separate sticker is required.

More on how long to keep DOT inspection records.

See rules for church, charter and party buses and school bus inspection requirements.

ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers conduct roadside 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.

We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Indiana. Check with the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division 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.