Nebraska DVIR and vehicle inspection rules

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Last reviewed November 12, 2026.

This page summarizes what we could verify from official sources about how Nebraska applies driver vehicle inspection and related vehicle-inspection rules. It is not a complete reprint of Nebraska law.

Interstate operations

If you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce to, from, or through Nebraska, 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 Nebraska-specific questions, including how the rules apply to operations that stay entirely inside Nebraska, contact Nebraska State Patrol.

What official sources say about state adoption

Official Nebraska Revised Statute § 75-363 adopts specified parts of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations as Nebraska law, including Part 396 — Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance, as modified in that section and as effective as of the date specified in section 75-365. Except as otherwise provided in the section, the adopted regulations apply to all motor carriers, drivers, and vehicles to which the federal regulations apply, and to all motor carriers transporting persons or property in intrastate commerce, including:

• all vehicles of such motor carriers with a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight over ten thousand pounds;
• all vehicles designed or used to transport more than eight passengers, including the driver, for compensation, or designed or used to transport more than fifteen passengers, including the driver, and not used to transport passengers for compensation;
• all vehicles transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded pursuant to section 75-364; and
• all drivers of such motor carriers if the drivers are operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 60-465 which requires a commercial driver’s license.

Intrastate operations and variations

Official exceptions in § 75-363 that affect inspection rules include:

• The adopted regulations do not apply to farm trucks registered pursuant to section 60-3,146 with a gross weight of sixteen tons or less. In addition, for drivers of farm trucks registered under that section and operated solely in intrastate commerce, all of Part 391, section 395.8, and section 396.11 of Part 396 do not apply.
• Part 396 (along with Parts 382, 391 Subpart E, and 395) does not apply to the operation of covered farm vehicles.
• Part 393 and Part 396 do not apply to fertilizer and agricultural chemical application and distribution equipment transported in units with a capacity of 3,500 gallons or less.

The statute also contains hours-of-service and other modifications that are outside the scope of this DVIR page. Read § 75-363 in full and confirm current application with the Nebraska State Patrol.

Related federal guides

• What a DVIR is and who must complete one
• The post-trip driver vehicle inspection report
• The pre-trip inspection and reviewing the last DVIR
• Defects, repairs, and driver acknowledgment
• Record retention and carrier responsibilities
• Electronic DVIRs
• All state guides

Sources

• Nebraska Revised Statute § 75-363 (official Nebraska Legislature)
• Nebraska State Patrol

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