Need a DOT inspection near you in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire 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 | New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | New Hampshire State Police, Troop G (Motor Carrier Enforcement) |
| Federal rules | Adopted through RSA 266:72-a and Saf-C 900 |
| Who's covered intrastate | 10,001 lb or more; 16 or more passengers; placarded hazmat; farm exemptions apply |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
| School buses | Separate state-administered school bus inspection program |
Compare New Hampshire with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
New Hampshire State Police Troop G handles motor carrier enforcement, including roadside and weigh station inspections. The NH DMV, part of the Department of Safety, oversees the state inspection station activity that still applies to special vehicle classes such as school buses.
Yes. New Hampshire adopts Part 396 for intrastate carriers through RSA 266:72-a and Saf-C 900. Coverage starts at 10,001 lb. Unlike the federal rule, vehicles designed for fewer than 16 passengers aren't intrastate CMVs, and farm vehicles at 26,000 lb or less get major Part 396 exemptions.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (New Hampshire only) | 10,001 lb or more using the greater of GVWR, GVW, GCWR or GCW; 16 or more passengers including driver; placarded hazmat at any weight; qualifying farm vehicles exempt |
The federal annual, at least every 12 months, for every covered unit: tractor, semitrailer, full trailer and converter dolly. New Hampshire doesn't run a state program that replaces it, and NH DMV guidance says commercial vehicles remain subject to federal annual inspections after 2026 (NH DMV FAQ).
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; Saf-C 900 |
| School bus inspection | Vehicles used as school buses | Set by the state program; still being confirmed | NH Department of Safety, DMV and State Police |
The federal annual can be done by a carrier employee or a qualified third party meeting 49 CFR 396.19; brake inspectors must meet 396.25 where it applies. 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.
School bus inspections and audits are done by inspection station mechanics, law enforcement or agents of the DMV Director, so a third-party inspection doesn't replace them. We're still confirming the details of that program. Check with New Hampshire State Police Troop G directly.
Keep the annual report 14 months. Proof on the vehicle can be the report, a decal or other documentation that meets 49 CFR 396.17(c). New Hampshire doesn't require a separate state sticker for the federal annual.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | Covered at 10,001 lb like other commercial vehicles. We're still confirming any New Hampshire tow truck inspection rules. Check with Troop G directly |
| School buses | State-administered school bus inspection program, separate from and in addition to the federal annual |
| Passenger carriers | Covered intrastate at 16 or more passengers including driver; smaller passenger vehicles are outside the state CMV definition but may be covered interstate |
| Hazmat carriers | Placarded hazmat is covered at any weight (RSA 265:118) |
Troop G commercial vehicle examiners and other certified officers can stop and inspect commercial vehicles under RSA 266:72-a and Saf-C 903; refusing to stop can carry criminal and license consequences. 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 New Hampshire. Check with New Hampshire State Police Troop G 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.