Home · DVIR Guides · States · Minnesota
Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
This page summarizes what we could verify from official sources about how Minnesota applies driver vehicle inspection and related vehicle-inspection rules. It is not a complete reprint of Minnesota law.
Interstate operations
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce to, from, or through Minnesota, 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 Minnesota-specific questions, including how the rules apply to operations that stay entirely inside Minnesota, contact Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).
What official sources say about state adoption
Official Minnesota Statutes, section 221.0314, incorporate specified Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for carriers that must comply with that section. Subdivision 10 incorporates 49 CFR Part 396 by reference, except that sections 396.9; 396.11(a)(5); 396.17; 396.19; 396.21; and 396.23 of that part are not incorporated.
The official exception for 49 CFR 396.11(a)(5) matters for DVIRs: the federal paragraph that excepts a private motor carrier of passengers (nonbusiness), a driveaway-towaway operation, and a motor carrier operating only one commercial motor vehicle from the written-report rules in § 396.11 is not incorporated into this Minnesota statute. Confirm with MnDOT what that means for a Minnesota intrastate carrier that would have used one of those federal exceptions.
Intrastate operations and variations
Section 221.0314, subdivision 1, requires intrastate motor carriers to comply with the federal regulations incorporated in the section, and requires private carriers and persons providing certain intrastate transportation described in section 221.025 to comply to the extent required by section 221.031. This page does not restate those related sections in full because we did not independently quote their complete current text here. Read sections 221.025, 221.031, and 221.0314 together, and confirm coverage with MnDOT.
What we could not independently verify from official sources in this review:
- The current full official text of Minn. Stat. §§ 221.025 and 221.031 (which vehicles and carriers must follow the incorporated Part 396 rules, including any weight threshold).
Please confirm those points with the state agency linked on this page before relying on them.
Related federal guides
Sources
- Minnesota Statutes § 221.0314 (official Office of the Revisor of Statutes)
- Minnesota Department of Transportation
Need a printable form? DVIR.io offers free FMCSA-aligned PDF templates, including post-trip, pre-trip, bus and motorcoach, and intermodal reports.
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.