Need a DOT inspection near you in Mississippi?
Mississippi 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 | Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division |
| Federal rules | Broadly adopted for intrastate carriers |
| Who's covered intrastate | 10,001 lb or more; passenger and placarded hazmat triggers |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
| School buses | Quarterly inspections by school districts |
Compare Mississippi with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Mississippi DPS Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division and the Mississippi Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Safety Division enforce truck and bus safety and run roadside inspections. The Mississippi Department of Education oversees school bus inspections.
Yes. Mississippi enforces the federal motor carrier safety rules for intrastate carriers, subject to state exemptions. Coverage starts at 10,001 lb using the greater of GVWR, GVW, GCWR or GCW; passenger vehicles and placarded hazmat are covered too (Mississippi DPS commercial vehicle FAQ).
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Mississippi only) | 10,001 lb or more; 9 to 15 passengers including driver for compensation; 16 or more passengers; placarded hazmat at any weight |
The federal annual, at least every 12 months, for every covered power unit, bus, truck, trailer, semitrailer, full trailer and converter dolly. In a combination, every unit has to pass on its own. Mississippi doesn't run a state inspection station program that replaces it.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17, 396.19, 396.21 |
| School bus inspection | School buses, multifunction school activity buses and other student transportation vehicles, including contractors | Quarterly | Miss. Admin. Code Title 7, Part 240; Miss. Code Ann. 37-41-57 |
The federal annual can be done by anyone qualified under 49 CFR 396.19, and the carrier keeps proof of that inspector's qualifications. That's the model Bright Inspect is designed for: a federal annual designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements, done where your vehicle is parked.
Quarterly school bus inspections are written for trained school system inspectors, technicians and transportation staff. Mississippi's rules don't clearly allow an independent third-party or remote inspector, so check with the Mississippi Department of Education Pupil Transportation office or your district before using our inspection for that purpose.
Keep the annual report 14 months, with the report or other permitted proof on the vehicle. No state sticker is required for the annual. Quarterly school bus inspections are recorded on the Mississippi School Bus Inspection Form; no sticker applies to that program either.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | Covered at 10,001 lb like other commercial vehicles. We're still confirming any Mississippi tow truck inspection rules. Check with the Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division directly |
| School buses | Quarterly district safety inspections using state criteria, with out-of-service conditions, for public school buses and contracted student transportation |
| Passenger carriers | Covered at 9 or more passengers for compensation and 16 or more otherwise; Part 396 maintenance and annual rules apply (FMCSA passenger carrier guidance) |
Trained officers from DPS Commercial Transportation Enforcement and MHP Motor Carrier Safety, along with FMCSA personnel, conduct roadside inspections. They can check annual inspection proof along with credentials, permits and weight. 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 clean roadside inspection doesn't replace the annual.
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Mississippi. Check with the Mississippi DPS Commercial Transportation 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 9, 2026
Bright Inspect does the federal annual where your vehicle is parked. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units.