Check your vehicles
For each unit, pick the date of its last annual DOT inspection. The next one is due twelve months from that date, and proof must be carried on the vehicle.
Worked out from 49 CFR 396.17. Nothing you type here leaves your browser — there is no account, and we do not store it.
Proof has to be on the vehicle
Under 396.17 the inspection report or sticker has to be on the commercial motor vehicle. An auditor at the yard will look at the unit, not your office filing cabinet.
Per vehicle, rolling date
Each unit carries its own twelve-month clock from its last annual inspection. Adding a truck mid-year does not align it to your existing fleet schedule.
Not the driver's daily pre-trip
Drivers check lights, brakes and tires before rolling under 396.13. The annual inspection is a separate periodic inspection documented by a qualified inspector under 396.17.
Frequently asked questions
How often must a CMV pass annual inspection?
Every twelve months from the date of the last annual inspection. Proof of the current inspection must be on the vehicle.
Who can perform a DOT annual inspection?
An qualified inspector under 396.19 — often a shop with a DOT inspection sticker program, or a carrier employee who meets the qualification rules.
Is annual inspection the same as a pre-trip inspection?
No. Drivers do daily pre-trip checks under 396.13. The annual inspection is a separate, documented periodic inspection under 396.17.
What if a vehicle leaves the fleet?
Maintenance and inspection records for that unit must be kept for at least six months after it leaves your fleet, in addition to the usual retention where records are housed.
Related calculators
- MCS-150 biennial due date
Your USDOT number’s last two digits set the month and year your MCS-150 update is due. Enter the number and get the filing deadline.
- UCR registration due date
Unified Carrier Registration renews on the calendar year. See when your next December 31 deadline falls.
Tracking your whole fleet
This page answers one question. DQTrack does the same arithmetic for every driver and vehicle you run, watches the dates, and emails you before something lapses — see pricing or try another calculator.