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DOT inspection form: fillable annual inspection report and DVIR
By Solomon Wiesen, editor. Updated October 2026. Checked against 49 CFR Part 396 as of October 14, 2026.
Every commercial truck and trailer you run in interstate commerce needs an inspection at least once every 12 months covering the components in Appendix A to Part 396, and a written report you keep for 14 months. Fill in the form below on your phone or computer and print it, or print it blank for your shop. The second tab is a driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) for the end of the day. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Annual vehicle inspection report: 49 CFR 396.17 and 396.21
| Component (Appendix A) | Result | Defect and repair notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brake system: service and parking brakes, drums and rotors, hoses, tubing, low-pressure warning, tractor protection valve, compressor, ABS, automatic adjusters | ||
| 2. Coupling devices: fifth wheel, pintle hook, drawbar, safety chains, saddle-mounts | ||
| 3. Exhaust system | ||
| 4. Fuel system | ||
| 5. Lighting devices and reflectors | ||
| 6. Safe loading: spare tire, load and dunnage secured, front-end structure | ||
| 7. Steering mechanism: wheel free play, column, axle beam, gear box, pitman arm, joints, tie rods | ||
| 8. Suspension: U-bolts, hangers, springs, air suspension, torque and radius rods | ||
| 9. Frame: members, fasteners, tire clearance, sliding subframe pins | ||
| 10. Tires: at least 4/32 inch tread on steer tires, 2/32 inch on all others; no exposed ply, separation or leaks | ||
| 11. Wheels and rims: lock rings, cracks, fasteners, welds | ||
| 12. Windshield glazing | ||
| 13. Windshield wipers | ||
| 14. Motorcoach seats (buses only) | ||
| 15. Rear impact guard (trailers and other vehicles that require one) |
- Next inspection due by
- –
- Keep this report until
- –
- Items with defects
- 0
Certification
I certify that this inspection was performed in accordance with 49 CFR 396.17, that the components listed above were inspected, and that this report is accurate and complete.
Text for the decal or sticker on the vehicle
Driver vehicle inspection report: 49 CFR 396.11
| Part or accessory (396.11(a)(1)) | Defect? | Describe the defect |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, including trailer brake connections | ||
| Parking brake | ||
| Steering mechanism | ||
| Lighting devices and reflectors | ||
| Tires | ||
| Horn | ||
| Windshield wipers | ||
| Rear vision mirrors | ||
| Coupling devices | ||
| Wheels and rims | ||
| Emergency equipment |
Carrier or mechanic certification
[ ] Defects listed above have been repaired. [ ] Repair is not needed before the vehicle is operated.
More for trucking companies
Annual inspection, DVIR or roadside inspection: which form you need
People search for “DOT inspection form” when they mean one of three different documents.
| Document | Who fills it in | When | Keep it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual (periodic) inspection report | A qualified inspector: your mechanic, a commercial garage or a state program | At least once every 12 months, for each truck, trailer and dolly | 14 months, where the vehicle is housed or maintained (396.21) |
| Driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) | The driver | End of each day’s work, if a defect was found or reported | 3 months, with the repair certification and the next driver’s review (396.11) |
| Roadside inspection report | An enforcement officer | At a roadside or weigh station stop | 12 months, after you certify within 15 days that violations were fixed (396.9) |
A roadside inspection does not count as your annual inspection. FMCSA removed that option in 2016 because a roadside check does not cover every item in the federal standard.
What the annual inspection must cover
The minimum periodic inspection standards list what makes a vehicle fail. They sat in Appendix G to the federal safety rules until 2021, when FMCSA moved them to Appendix A to Part 396, so older forms and guides still say “Appendix G.” The 15 headings are in the form above. A few of the measurable limits:
- Steer tires need at least 4/32 inch of tread in a major groove; all other tires need 2/32 inch.
- Air drum brake linings on non-steering axles fail below 1/4 inch at the shoe center.
- Brake pushrod stroke must stay within the readjustment limit for the chamber size; for example 2 inches on a standard type 30 clamp chamber.
- Any exhaust leak forward of or below the cab or sleeper fails the vehicle.
Each unit is inspected separately. For a tractor pulling a semitrailer, the tractor and the trailer each need their own inspection and their own proof on board.
Who can do the inspection
You can inspect your own vehicles if the person doing it is qualified under 396.19: they understand the standards, can identify defective parts, and have either completed a federal or state training program or hold a state certificate, or have at least one year of training or experience as a mechanic or inspector. Keep proof of that person’s qualifications while they do your inspections and for one year after. You can also have a commercial garage, leasing company or truck stop do it as your agent.
Records you have to keep
Beyond the inspection reports, 396.3 requires a maintenance record for every vehicle you control for 30 consecutive days or more: the vehicle’s identification, a way to show what inspection and maintenance is due and when, and a record of inspections, repairs and maintenance with dates. Keep it where the vehicle is housed or maintained for one year, and for six months after the vehicle leaves your control. Our truck maintenance checklist builds that schedule for you.
Since a February 2026 rule, DVIRs and the driver’s review may be created and kept electronically. A carrier that operates only one commercial vehicle is exempt from the DVIR rule, though the driver still has to inspect before driving.
New York carriers
New York is on FMCSA’s list of states whose periodic inspection programs are accepted as equivalent to the federal annual inspection. A vehicle that passes a New York state inspection meeting the federal standards is treated as inspected for 12 months, counted from the last day of the month of the inspection, and you do not have to keep inspector qualification records for it. Check that your state inspection receipt identifies the vehicle and keep it with your records.
What a failed inspection costs
A defect found at your shop costs a repair. A defect found at the roadside can put the truck out of service until it is fixed, which costs the load, the tow and the days the truck sits. Running a vehicle without a current annual inspection exposes the carrier to federal penalties under 396.17(h). If a large repair is what stands between you and passing, compare the cost of carrying it on our NYC trucking financing page before taking the first offer you get.
Questions
Is there an official FMCSA annual inspection form?
No. FMCSA does not require a specific form. The report has to identify the inspector, the carrier, the date and the vehicle, list the components inspected and the results, and certify that the inspection was accurate and complete. The form above includes each of those.
Which vehicles need an annual DOT inspection?
Commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce, which generally means a truck or trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating or actual weight of 10,001 pounds or more, plus certain passenger and hazardous materials vehicles. Each unit in a combination is inspected separately.
Do drivers have to fill out a DVIR every day?
Not for property-carrying vehicles. Since a 2014 rule, a driver only has to prepare a written DVIR when a defect was found or reported that day. Many carriers still require one every day as company policy.
This form follows 49 CFR Part 396 as published on eCFR on October 14, 2026. It is a recordkeeping aid, not legal advice, and it does not replace the inspector’s judgment against the full text of Appendix A.