Need a DOT inspection near you in Virginia?
If your truck is registered in another state, or qualifies for Virginia's interstate exemption, Bright Inspect does the federal annual where it's parked. Virginia-registered vehicles in the state program need an official inspection station, and we tell you which applies before you pay.
| Item | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Lead agency | Virginia State Police |
| Federal rules | Adopted, with a state intrastate threshold |
| Who's covered intrastate | Over 26,000 lb; more than 15 passengers; placarded hazmat |
| Annual inspection | Every 12 months |
| State program | Annual safety inspection at official inspection stations (Va. Code 46.2-1157 and following) |
| Sticker | Virginia safety inspection approval sticker |
Compare Virginia with other states on the state requirements hub, or see which states run their own inspection programs.
Virginia State Police enforce the state's motor carrier safety regulations (Va. Code 52-8.4) and run the motor vehicle safety inspection program through official inspection stations (19VAC30-70). The Department of Education sets school bus maintenance inspection rules.
Yes. Virginia incorporates the federal motor carrier safety regulations by rule (19VAC30-20-80). Under Virginia's Chapter 20, intrastate vehicles are covered over 26,000 lb, at more than 15 passengers including the driver, or with 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 (Virginia only) | Over 26,000 lb; more than 15 passengers including the driver; placarded hazmat at any weight |
Covered CMVs need an annual inspection under the federal rules Virginia incorporates. Separately, Virginia-registered vehicles, trailers and semitrailers need the Virginia safety inspection at an official station every 12 months, which FMCSA recognizes as equivalent to the federal annual.
A qualifying interstate CMV with a current federal annual may be exempt from the separate Virginia inspection when the conditions of Va. Code 46.2-1158.01 are met (Va. Code Title 46.2, ch. 10).
| Inspection | Applies to | How often | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal annual | Every covered CMV and each unit in a combination | 12 months | 49 CFR 396.17; 19VAC30-20-80 |
| Virginia safety inspection | Virginia-registered vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, unless exempt | 12 months | Va. Code 46.2-1157, 46.2-1158; 19VAC30-70 |
| School bus maintenance inspection | School buses and school activity buses | Every 45 school days or 5,000 miles; no more than 90 school days apart | 8VAC20-70-130 |
Every unit counts on its own: see whether each trailer needs its own annual inspection.
The Virginia safety inspection must be done by a Virginia-certified safety inspector at an official inspection station. Our federal annual is not a substitute for it.
Bright Inspect's federal annual, designed to meet FMCSA annual inspection requirements, may fit vehicles registered in other states, and qualifying interstate CMVs using Virginia's federal-inspection exemption. We check your registration and operation before you pay.
Keep the federal annual report 14 months, with current proof on the vehicle. A passing Virginia safety inspection gets an approval sticker, recorded by the station in the state's inspection system. School bus inspections are recorded in a Department of Education approved format.
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| School buses | Maintenance inspection by competent mechanics every 45 school days or 5,000 miles; school boards may designate outside inspection centers. Drivers also do a recorded daily pre-trip inspection (8VAC20-70-380) |
| Passenger carriers | Covered intrastate at more than 15 passengers including the driver |
| Tow trucks | We're still confirming Virginia tow truck inspection rules beyond the state safety inspection. Check with Virginia State Police directly. |
Law enforcement officers designated by the State Police Superintendent conduct roadside CMV inspections. 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. Virginia's rules also require the corrected report to go back to State Police (19VAC30-20-230).
We're still confirming roadside fines for a missing annual inspection in Virginia. Check with Virginia State Police 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, and we confirm before you pay whether Virginia needs a station inspection instead. $99 for one vehicle, with fleet discounts from 2 units.