Additional information for Annual Inspection Advisory

After several discussions with the New Hampshire Department of Safety and the State Police, NHMTA would like to highlight a few additional points to the advisory below.

1. Inspection stickers issued from a NH state-certified inspection station will remain valid proof of an inspection for 12 months, even after February 1. For example, an inspection sticker from January 2026 will be valid for 12 months. After that time period, the truck will have to comply with Federal Annual Inspection requirements, which are detailed below.
2. Since there will no longer be state-issued inspection stickers, a different sticker will have to be displayed. State Police have advised that they will look for the sticker just behind the opening of the driver’s side door on the cab of the truck. Stickers can be purchased from the NHMTA office. Here is an example of what the sticker looks like.
   
3. Be aware of the record keeping requirements for federal annual inspections, which are explained in 49 CFR 396.21
4. You can purchase Federal Annual Inspection report documents from NHMTA

Original Inspection Advisory

The State of New Hampshire has eliminated annual inspections for passenger motor vehicles, effective January 31, 2026. However, commercial motor vehicles will still need to be inspected annually, due to existing federal regulations.

Under Federal regulation, 49 CFR 396.17, a commercial motor vehicle must be inspected at least once every 12 months. There are two ways motor carriers can satisfy the Federal annual inspection requirement.

One is that “A motor carrier may perform the required annual inspection for vehicles under the carrier’s control …” (49 CFR 396.17(d)), but only if they employ individual(s) who are properly qualified.

The second option is that a motor carrier “may choose to have a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, truck stop, or other similar commercial business perform the inspection as its agent, provided that business operates and maintains facilities appropriate for commercial vehicle inspections and it employs qualified inspectors,” (49 CFR 396.17(e)).

The New Hampshire annual inspection requirement had also applied to commercial motor vehicles, which satisfied the federal requirements. With that law going away effective January 31, 2026, motor carriers will still have to comply with the federal requirement, but without the use of a state-certified inspection station.

In order for an individual to be qualified to perform the Federal annual inspection, either as an employee of a motor carrier, or an employee of a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, etc., they must meet the requirements of 49 CFR 396.19.

It is likely that the employees of a state-certified inspection station that you have previously used for CMV inspections meet these federal requirements. Accordingly, they could perform a motor carrier’s annual inspections in compliance with 49 CFR 396.19, they just will no longer be able to supply a state inspection sticker.

Please be aware that NHMTA offers an Inspector Qualification class along with Air Brakes classes that can help an individual meet the requirements of 49 CFR 396.19. Please go to NHMTA.org to view our training schedule.

Finally, this a reminder that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations define a “commercial motor vehicle” as: any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle—

1. Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or
2. Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or
3. Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or
4. Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C.

For all intrastate carriers, please be aware that New Hampshire has adopted the federal rules for motor carriers (Saf-C 900). As such, intrastate carriers with vehicles that meet the federal definition of a commercial motor vehicle will also be subject to  49 CFR 396.17.

If you have any questions, contact NHMTA’s Director of Safety and Loss Control, Mary Grace Johansen at (603) 415-8402.