Need a DOT inspection near you in Tennessee?
Tennessee 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 | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement |
| Federal rules | Adopted, with a state intrastate threshold |
| 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 |
| School buses | Annual THP Pupil Transportation inspection with a state sticker |
Compare Tennessee with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security enforces motor carrier safety through the Tennessee Highway Patrol's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. THP's Pupil Transportation section inspects school buses.
Yes. Tennessee adopts the federal inspection, repair and maintenance rules through Rule 1340-06-01-.08. Intrastate property carriers at 26,000 lb or less are exempt from that rule, but the exemption doesn't apply to vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver, or to placarded hazmat at any weight.
| Operation | Who's covered |
|---|---|
| Interstate | 10,001 lb or more, plus federal passenger and hazmat triggers (49 CFR 390.5) |
| Intrastate (Tennessee only) | Over 26,000 lb GVWR or GCWR for property carriers; 16 or more passengers including the driver; placarded hazmat at any weight |
The federal annual, at least every 12 months, for every covered truck, tractor, trailer, converter dolly and bus. Tennessee doesn't run a general state program that replaces it. School buses have their own state inspection.
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each unit in a combination | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; Rule 1340-06-01-.08 |
| School bus safety inspection | School buses carrying students | At least annually; at least twice a year for older buses in extended use | Tenn. Code 49-6-2109; Rule 1340-03-03 |
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, including a carrier employee or a qualified third party. That's the model Bright Inspect's inspection is designed for: designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements, done where your truck is parked.
School bus inspections are different. Since August 2026, THP Pupil Transportation troopers perform them statewide, so our federal annual is not a substitute for a Tennessee school bus inspection.
Keep the annual inspection report 14 months, with proof of the most recent inspection on the vehicle. Tennessee has no state sticker for the ordinary annual. School buses get a state sticker showing the month and year of inspection, and owners keep maintenance and inspection records.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| School buses | Annual THP Pupil Transportation inspection, with random inspections during the year; older buses in extended use are inspected at least twice a year. A 2026 law (Public Chapter 656) added extended-use rules for some after-school buses |
| Passenger carriers | Covered intrastate at 16 or more passengers including the driver, regardless of weight |
| Tow trucks | We're still confirming Tennessee tow truck inspection rules. Check with THP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement directly. |
THP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers conduct roadside inspections, and refusing an authorized inspection can itself lead to out-of-service treatment under Tennessee rules. 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 Tennessee. Check with THP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 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 anywhere in Tennessee. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units.