Every commercial motor vehicle registered in Texas has to pass an annual safety inspection, and the Texas commercial vehicle inspection requirements are tied directly to your ability to keep the truck on the road. The fee is $50, the evaluation follows federal motor carrier safety standards, and the results are linked electronically to your registration record. A missing or failed inspection can stop you from renewing registration and can put the vehicle out of service during a roadside stop.
Which Vehicles Have to Be Inspected
Texas follows federal motor carrier safety definitions in deciding which vehicles fall under the commercial inspection program. Under 37 Texas Administrative Code § 4.36, a vehicle qualifies if it meets any one of three tests.1Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 4.36 – Commercial Motor Vehicle Compulsory Inspection Program
- A gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating over 26,000 pounds.
- Designed or used to transport more than 15 people including the driver.
- Hauling hazardous materials in quantities that require placarding under the federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, regardless of weight or passenger count.
The rule applies to private carriers and for-hire operators alike. Meeting one threshold is enough to bring the vehicle into the commercial program on top of any other state registration requirements.1Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 4.36 – Commercial Motor Vehicle Compulsory Inspection Program
How Often the Inspection Is Due
Texas requires every commercial motor vehicle to pass an inspection of all safety equipment required under federal motor carrier safety regulations once a year. The inspection report expires on the last day of the month and year following the date it was issued, so you have roughly a 12-month window before the next one is due.1Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 4.36 – Commercial Motor Vehicle Compulsory Inspection Program
This matches the federal periodic inspection rule under 49 CFR 396.17, which bars a motor carrier from operating a commercial vehicle unless every component listed in the federal inspection standards has been inspected and passed within the preceding 12 months, with documentation on the vehicle.2eCFR. 49 CFR 396.17 – Periodic Inspection A passing Texas commercial inspection satisfies both.
What the Technician Checks
The inspection items are listed in 37 Texas Administrative Code § 23.42 and follow federal motor carrier safety regulations, Texas Transportation Code Chapter 547, and the DPS Training and Operations Manual.3Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 23.42 – Commercial Vehicle Inspection Items The federal minimum standards cover 13 major vehicle systems.
Brakes, Steering, and Suspension
Braking systems get the most scrutiny. Inspectors check service brakes, parking brakes, drums or rotors, brake hoses and tubing, air compressors, and low-pressure warning devices. Air leakage, cracked drums, or worn-down pads will fail the vehicle. Steering is tested for excessive free play in the wheel, worn ball joints and tie rods, and proper function of power steering components. Suspension checks look for cracked or broken spring assemblies, missing or damaged U-bolts, and worn torque or tracking components.
Tires, Wheels, and Frame
Front-axle tires on a truck or bus must have at least 4/32 of an inch of tread depth; other tires need at least 2/32.4eCFR. 49 CFR 393.75 – Tires Sidewall damage, exposed cords, and flat spots all count against the tire. Wheels and rims are checked for cracks, missing lug nuts, and damaged fasteners. The frame itself has to be free of cracked, bent, or broken members, and adjustable axle assemblies or sliding subframes need intact, secure locking mechanisms.
Lights, Exhaust, Coupling, and Visibility
Every required light must work and show the correct color: headlamps, turn signals, tail lamps, brake lights, clearance lights, and reflectors. A cracked lens or burned-out bulb can fail the vehicle. Exhaust systems must be leak-free from manifold to tailpipe. Fuel tanks, lines, and fittings are checked for leaks. On combination vehicles, fifth wheels, pintle hooks, drawbars, and safety chains have to be free of cracks and properly secured. Windshield glazing must be undamaged in the driver’s view, wipers must work, and mirrors must be securely mounted with an undistorted reflection.
Cargo Securement
If cargo is on the vehicle at inspection, the securement system is evaluated too. Federal rules require every tiedown to be attached so it cannot loosen, unfasten, or release in transit, and all structural components used to secure cargo, including anchor points on the trailer, must be in working order.5Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Cargo Securement Rules
The system has to withstand 0.8g of deceleration forward, 0.5g of acceleration rearward, and 0.5g laterally.5Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Cargo Securement Rules Edge protection is required anywhere a tiedown contacts cargo at a point where it could be cut or abraded. Approved tiedown types include steel strapping, chain, synthetic webbing, wire rope, and cordage meeting federal manufacturing standards. Securement issues are among the most common findings during roadside inspections, so it’s worth a walk-around before the appointment.
Documents to Bring
Without the right paperwork, the station cannot start the inspection.
- Proof of commercial liability insurance. Texas requires intrastate motor carriers to file and maintain evidence of insurance with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Minimum coverage varies by operation type: $300,000 for household goods movers under 26,000 pounds, $500,000 for most carriers over 26,000 pounds, and up to $5,000,000 for hazardous materials transporters or large bus operators carrying 26 or more passengers.6Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Tips for Compliant Operations as a Texas Intrastate Motor Carrier
- Current registration receipt or renewal notice showing an active Texas account for the vehicle.
- A commercial driver’s license matching the class of vehicle you operate.
- A valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Form MCSA-5876) for CDL holders.7Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical Examiners Certificate – Commercial Driver Medical Certification
- The previous Vehicle Inspection Report if the vehicle failed a prior session, so the technician can verify the flagged deficiencies were fixed.
Drivers subject to hours-of-service rules should also be ready to show a record of duty status for the previous seven days, either on an Electronic Logging Device or on paper. Trucks and buses required to use an ELD that are found without one during a roadside stop will be placed out of service. Keep the ELD operating instructions in the cab.
Where to Go and What It Costs
Commercial inspections must be performed at an Official Vehicle Inspection Station by a certified technician. The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains an online station locator searchable by ZIP code. Not every station handles commercial vehicles, so confirm before you drive over.
The fee is $50, set by statute, with $10 of that remitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles.8State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 548.504 – Inspection of Commercial Motor Vehicle Payment is due before the physical evaluation begins. Once the technician completes the evaluation, the result is entered electronically and linked to the vehicle’s registration record, so law enforcement and registration offices see the outcome immediately.
If the Vehicle Fails
A failed inspection produces a Vehicle Inspection Report listing every deficiency. You cannot operate the vehicle on public roads in a condition that fails to meet federal motor carrier safety regulations and display a valid inspection certificate.1Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 4.36 – Commercial Motor Vehicle Compulsory Inspection Program Fix what was flagged and return for re-inspection. When you bring the vehicle back to the same station, the technician uses the earlier report as a checklist to confirm each item is resolved. Moving quickly matters because you cannot register or renew a commercial vehicle without a passing inspection on file.
Penalties for Operating Without a Valid Inspection
Texas law bars operating a commercial motor vehicle registered in the state unless it is equipped as required by federal motor carrier safety regulations and displays a current inspection certificate. A peace officer who sees a vehicle without a certificate on the windshield can stop it and demand proof. Operating without one is a citable offense under Texas Transportation Code § 548.602.
The larger exposure is federal. During a roadside inspection, an officer applying the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria can place a vehicle, driver, or cargo out of service for critical safety violations. A vehicle placed out of service cannot be driven; it can only be loaded onto another vehicle, towed, or driven after the deficient condition has been fully corrected.9Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Under What Conditions May a Vehicle That Has Been Placed Out of Service Be Moved Failing to perform the required annual inspection also exposes the motor carrier to civil penalties under 49 U.S.C. § 521(b).2eCFR. 49 CFR 396.17 – Periodic Inspection
The costs run past the fine itself. A truck sitting on the shoulder waiting for repairs means missed deliveries, towing costs, and a hit to the carrier’s safety record in the federal database. Carriers with high out-of-service rates draw more enforcement attention and can lose operating authority.
Recordkeeping and Daily Pre-Trip Checks
After a vehicle passes, the motor carrier must keep the original inspection report, or a copy, for at least 14 months from the date it was issued. The report is stored at the location where the vehicle is housed or maintained.10govinfo.gov. 49 CFR 396.21 – Periodic Inspection Recordkeeping Requirements It’s the document you produce when an auditor or enforcement officer asks for proof of compliance.
The annual inspection is the baseline. Federal law also requires every driver to be satisfied the vehicle is in safe operating condition before driving. The driver must review the most recent driver vehicle inspection report, confirm any listed defects were repaired, and sign the report acknowledging the review.11eCFR. 49 CFR 396.13 – Driver Inspection The daily review catches problems that develop between annual checks. Skipping it is both a safety hazard and a regulatory violation that surfaces during audits.