Need a DOT inspection near you in North Dakota?
North Dakota 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 | North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | North Dakota Highway Patrol, Motor Carrier Operations |
| Federal rules | Part 396 adopted for intrastate carriers (N.D. Admin. Code 38-04-01) |
| Who's covered intrastate | 26,001 lb or more; federal passenger and placarded hazmat triggers |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months, by a qualified inspector |
| FMCSA-accepted state program | No |
| School buses | Annual inspection with a visible inspection sticker |
Compare North Dakota with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol's Motor Carrier Operations enforces motor carrier safety, including roadside and weigh station inspections. The Department of Public Instruction oversees school transportation, with the Highway Patrol running a school bus inspection program.
Yes. North Dakota adopts federal Part 396, including later amendments, for intrastate carriers through N.D. Admin. Code 38-04-01-02. Ordinary intrastate property vehicles are covered at 26,001 lb, using the greater of GVWR, GVW, GCWR or GCW; purely intrastate property vehicles at 26,000 lb or less are generally excluded.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (North Dakota only) | 26,001 lb or more; federal passenger and placarded hazmat triggers also apply |
The federal annual, at least every 12 months, for every covered truck, tractor, trailer, bus and converter dolly. North Dakota doesn't route the annual through a state station program. School buses have their own annual state inspection.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each combination unit | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; N.D. Admin. Code 38-04-01-02 |
| School bus inspection | Regular and standby school buses, district-owned or contractor-operated | Annual | DPI school bus driver guide; Highway Patrol school bus inspection program |
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: a qualified carrier employee, a commercial garage, a fleet leasing company, a truck stop or another qualified third party. That's the model Bright Inspect is designed for.
School bus inspections can be done by a qualified individual, and the Highway Patrol inspects on request when a school can't find one. We're still confirming the current qualification standard and whether a technology-based method is accepted for school buses. Check with the Department of Public Instruction directly, or ask us before booking a school bus.
Keep the annual report 14 months, with proof of the current inspection on the vehicle. No state sticker is required for the federal annual. School buses must display a valid inspection sticker, and districts enter inspection details in the state's STARS system with the annual transportation report.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Tow trucks | Tow trucks that meet the thresholds follow the federal annual. We're still confirming statewide tow truck rules in North Dakota. Check with Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Operations directly. |
| School buses | Annual safety inspection with a visible sticker; school boards correct defects on district buses and require contractors to correct theirs. Daily pre-trip inspections apply separately |
| Passenger carriers | Covered under federal passenger triggers. We're still confirming other North Dakota passenger carrier rules. Check with Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Operations directly. |
Highway Patrol commercial vehicle enforcement personnel inspect vehicles at roadside and fixed inspection sites (N.D.C.C. 39-21-46; Highway Patrol FAQ). 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 North Dakota. Check with Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Operations 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