Home · DVIR Guides · States · Connecticut
Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
This page summarizes what we could verify from official sources about how Connecticut applies driver vehicle inspection and related vehicle-inspection rules. It is not a complete reprint of Connecticut law.
Interstate operations
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce to, from, or through Connecticut, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) apply, including 49 CFR Part 396 and the DVIR rules in § 396.11 and § 396.13. State rules do not replace those federal interstate requirements. Start with What a DVIR is and who must complete one.
State agency
For Connecticut-specific questions, including how the rules apply to operations that stay entirely inside Connecticut, contact Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.
What official sources say about state adoption
The official Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, § 14-163c-1, incorporate by reference specified parts of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations as regulations of the Department of Motor Vehicles, including Part 396, “Inspection, Repair and Maintenance,” as amended, along with Parts 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 390, 391 (with a stated limit on federal physical-qualification exemptions), 392, 393, 395, and 397.
Intrastate operations and variations
Official § 14-163c-2 states that the regulations adopted under § 14-163c-1 apply to any motor vehicle in intrastate commerce which has a gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 18,001 or more pounds. That 18,001-pound intrastate threshold is a verified difference from the federal 10,001-pound CMV definition used for interstate commerce. The same section continues with additional categories (including interstate vehicles); read the current official text of § 14-163c-2 in full for every covered category, passenger and hazardous-materials rules, and any later amendments.
What we could not independently verify from official sources in this review:
- Any later amendment to §§ 14-163c-1 or 14-163c-2 after the official compilation we reviewed, and the complete list of vehicle categories in § 14-163c-2 beyond the 18,001-pound intrastate threshold quoted above.
Please confirm those points with the state agency linked on this page before relying on them.
Related federal guides
Sources
- Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies §§ 14-163c-1 and 14-163c-2 (official eRegulations document)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
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Get the free DVIR templatesThis page is general information only. It is not legal advice, and it is not advice on any specific DVIR or vehicle-inspection requirement. Rules can change, and how they apply depends on your operation, your vehicles, and your location. Get advice in your own area on your specific state and federal requirements. If you have a question for DVIR.io, use the contact form.