Need a DOT inspection near you in Michigan?
For trucks and trailers, Bright Inspect does the federal annual where your truck is parked. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units. Buses in Michigan's state program are different, and we tell you before you pay if that applies.
| Item | Michigan |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Michigan State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division |
| Federal rules | Adopted through the Michigan Motor Carrier Safety Act |
| Who's covered intrastate | 10,001 lb or more; more than 8 passengers for compensation; more than 15 passengers otherwise; placarded hazmat |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | Yes, limited to buses |
| Key exemption | Non-CDL vehicles operated only in Michigan are exempt from Part 396 |
Compare Michigan with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is the state's principal truck and bus safety agency. It runs fixed scales, mobile enforcement, special enforcement teams and roadside inspections (CVED overview). FMCSA oversees interstate carriers.
Yes. Michigan adopts the federal motor carrier safety rules through the Motor Carrier Safety Act (Act 181 of 1963). Coverage starts at 10,001 lb using the greater of GVWR, GVW, GCWR or GCW, with passenger and placarded hazmat triggers at any weight.
One big exception: under MCL 480.11a(3), non-CDL commercial vehicles operated only within Michigan are exempt from Part 396, including the annual inspection. They still have to meet the vehicle condition and safe operation rules in Parts 392 and 393 (MSP Truck Driver's Guidebook).
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Michigan only) | 10,001 lb or more; more than 8 passengers including driver for compensation; more than 15 passengers including driver otherwise; placarded hazmat at any weight |
| Intrastate, non-CDL vehicles | Exempt from Part 396 (MCL 480.11a(3)); Parts 392 and 393 still apply |
Covered vehicles need the federal annual at least every 12 months, and each unit in a combination counts on its own: tractor, semitrailer, full trailer and converter dolly. Michigan does not run a general truck inspection station program. Its FMCSA-accepted state inspection designation covers its bus inspection program only.
We're still confirming which buses the Michigan program covers and how it's scheduled. If you run buses in Michigan, check with the MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division directly.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Covered trucks, tractors, trailers and converter dollies | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; Act 181 of 1963 |
| Michigan bus inspection program | Buses covered by the state program | Set by the program; still being confirmed | FMCSA-accepted state program (73 FR 63040) |
| Systematic maintenance | Covered vehicles under Part 396 | Ongoing, on the carrier's schedule | 49 CFR 396.3; MCL 480.11a |
Every unit counts on its own: see whether each trailer needs its own annual inspection.
For trucks and trailers, Michigan doesn't require a state inspector or a state station. The annual can be done by a carrier employee or a qualified garage, leasing company, truck stop or similar business, as long as the inspector is qualified under 49 CFR 396.19. That's the model Bright Inspect is designed for: a federal annual designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements, done where your truck is parked.
Buses covered by Michigan's state program must go through that program. Our federal annual inspection is not a substitute for it, and we confirm which applies before you pay.
Carry the annual inspection report or other qualifying proof on the vehicle, and keep the report 14 months. Keep evidence of the inspector's qualifications while they do inspections and for a year after. Michigan doesn't require a state sticker for the truck annual.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | Covered at 10,001 lb like other commercial vehicles. We're still confirming any Michigan tow truck inspection rules. Check with the MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division directly |
| School buses | We're still confirming Michigan's school bus inspection rules. Check with the MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division directly |
| Passenger carriers | Covered at more than 8 passengers for compensation or more than 15 otherwise. Buses in Michigan's state inspection program use that program, not a third-party federal annual |
MSP motor carrier officers and authorized FMCSA personnel inspect vehicles at fixed scales, mobile sites, roadside stops and crash scenes. 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 vehicle declared out of service gets an Out-of-Service sticker that can't be removed until repairs are done. A roadside inspection doesn't replace the annual.
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Michigan. Check with the MSP 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.
Last reviewed: September 11, 2026
Bright Inspect does the federal annual for trucks and trailers where they're parked. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units. We tell you before you pay if Michigan's bus program applies instead.