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Free DOT annual inspection form

The periodic inspection report every commercial vehicle needs once every 12 months, printable today — no signup, no email wall. Every system on it comes from Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 396, in the order the rule lists them, so nothing gets missed because a form was drawn from memory.

What you need to know
PERIODIC (ANNUAL) INSPECTION REPORT
49 CFR 396.17  ·  INSPECTION STANDARDS: APPENDIX A TO PART 396
REPORT NO.
DATE
Motor carrier
Carrier name
USDOT number
Phone
Address
City / State / ZIP
Vehicle
Unit number
VIN
Year / Make
Vehicle type
Plate / State
Odometer
Engine hours
Tire size
Inspection — Appendix A to Part 396
OKRPRN/A
1 · Brake system
Service brakes — condition and adjustment
Parking brake system
Brake drums or rotors
Brake hose
Brake tubing
Low pressure warning device
Tractor protection valve
Air compressor
Electric brakes
Hydraulic brakes
Vacuum system
2 · Coupling devices
Fifth wheels
Pintle hooks
Drawbar / towbar eye
Drawbar / towbar tongue
Safety devices — chains, cables
Saddle-mounts
3 · Exhaust system
No leak beneath cab or sleeper
Discharge clear of fuel system, tires
System securely fastened
4 · Fuel system
Tank securely attached
No leak at any point
Fuel cap present and sealing
5 · Lighting devices
Headlamps
Tail lamps
Stop lamps
Turn signals, hazard warning
Clearance, side marker, ID lamps
Reflectors, reflective sheeting
License plate lamp
6 · Safe loading
Cargo secured against shifting
No condition likely to shift the load
7 · Steering mechanism
Steering wheel free play
Steering column
Front axle beam, steering components
Steering gear box
Pitman arm
Power steering — pump, hoses, fluid
Ball and socket joints
Tie rods and drag links
Nuts on the steering system
No modification or welding repair
8 · Suspension
U-bolts, hangers, axle positioning parts
Spring assembly
Torque, radius, tracking components
9 · Frame
Frame members
Tire and wheel clearance
Adjustable axle — locking pins engaged
10 · Tires
Tread depth — steering axle
Tread depth — all other axles
No ply or belt exposed, no audible leak
Inflation and load within rating
11 · Wheels and rims
Lock or side ring
No crack or unseated lock ring
Fasteners — none loose, missing, damaged
No unauthorized welding repair
12–13 · Windshield
Glazing — swept area clear of damage
Wipers operative, no missing parts
14 · Rear impact guard
Guard present where required
Dimensions, mounting and condition
15 · Motorcoach / bus — if applicable
Passenger seats fastened to structure
Items repaired or replaced

INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION. I certify that this vehicle has been inspected in accordance with 49 CFR 396.17 and the minimum periodic inspection standards in Appendix A to Part 396, and that it PASSED  ☐  /  FAILED  ☐ the inspection. I meet the qualification requirements of 49 CFR 396.19, and the motor carrier holds evidence of those qualifications.

Inspector name (print)
Signature
Date
Inspecting company / facility
Address
Free DOT annual inspection form — autodxpro.com/tools/dot-annual-inspection · Retain this report as required by 49 CFR 396.21 · The motor carrier is responsible for compliance; verify current requirements before relying on this form.

What you need to know before you use it

No email required, no watermark, nothing to unsubscribe from. This form is provided as a convenience and is not legal advice — the motor carrier remains responsible for compliance, and requirements change. Verify against the current text of the regulations before you rely on it.

Or stop filling it in by hand

The same inspection, built into the software: the DOT checklist is already a template in AutoDX, so a technician ticks it off on a tablet, photos attach to the lines that failed, and the finished report prints with your shop's logo — next to that vehicle's whole history by VIN, its unit number and its engine hours.

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