Need a DOT inspection near you in Missouri?
For the federal annual 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. If your vehicle also needs a Missouri state safety inspection, we tell you before you pay.
| Item | Missouri |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Missouri State Highway Patrol, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division |
| Federal rules | Adopted, with Missouri intrastate thresholds and exemptions |
| Who's covered intrastate | Over 26,000 lb; 16 or more passengers; placarded hazmat |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
| State safety inspection | Separate inspection at official stations for some Missouri-registered vehicles |
Compare Missouri with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division enforces truck and bus safety. The Patrol's Motor Vehicle Inspection Section licenses official inspection stations and inspectors for the state safety inspection. Other authorized officers can enforce federal motor carrier rules under RSMo 390.201.
Yes. Missouri applies the federal rules to intrastate carriers through RSMo 307.400 and 11 CSR 30-6.010. Ordinary intrastate property vehicles are covered over 26,000 lb. That higher line doesn't apply to vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers or placarded hazmat, which 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 (Missouri only) | Over 26,000 lb GVWR or GCWR for property vehicles; 16 or more passengers including driver; placarded hazmat at any weight |
Covered vehicles need the federal annual every 12 months, with each unit in a combination inspected. Separately, Missouri-registered vehicles that fall under the state safety inspection law need a state inspection at an official inspection station, usually every two years. The two programs are independent: one does not satisfy the other.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; RSMo 307.400; 11 CSR 30-6.010 |
| State safety inspection | Missouri-registered vehicles under the state law; exemptions include vehicles under 150,000 miles in their first 10 model years and proportionally registered interstate vehicles | Generally every two years, tied to registration | RSMo 307.350; 11 CSR 50-2 |
| School bus inspection | Every bus carrying children to or from school | Annual at an official station, plus a State Highway Patrol inspection after February 1 | RSMo 307.375; 11 CSR 50-2.320 |
Every unit counts on its own: see whether each trailer needs its own annual inspection.
The federal annual can be done by the carrier's qualified inspector or a qualified third party 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.
The Missouri state safety inspection and the annual school bus inspection must be done by a Missouri-licensed inspector at a Patrol-approved official inspection station, with the vehicle physically presented there. Our federal annual inspection is not a substitute for either, and we confirm which applies before you pay.
For the federal annual, keep the report 14 months where the vehicle is housed or maintained, with proof of the most recent inspection on the vehicle. If you use a decal, it must show the inspection date, where the report is kept, the vehicle when needed and that it passed.
The state safety inspection issues a certificate of inspection and approval with a sticker or other approval device.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | Covered over 26,000 lb intrastate, or at federal thresholds interstate. We're still confirming any Missouri tow truck inspection rules. Check with the MSHP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division directly |
| School buses | Annual official-station inspection no more than 60 days before the bus starts running, plus a State Highway Patrol inspection after February 1 each school year (checklist SHP-517). Defects found by the Patrol are generally fixed within 10 days |
| Passenger carriers | Covered intrastate at 16 or more passengers including driver, regardless of weight |
Missouri State Highway Patrol officers and certified commercial vehicle inspectors check trucks at fixed facilities, mobile sites, traffic stops and terminals. 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 Missouri. Check with the MSHP 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 where your vehicle is parked. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units. We tell you before you pay if your vehicle also needs a Missouri station inspection.