How often is a federal motor-carrier vehicle inspected?

Once a year, at a Verification Unit approved by the Ministry (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4, section I). The Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law refers to the official standard for the frequency (Article 35).

Are new vehicles inspected too?

They are exempt for two years from the date of manufacture, counting the first year from the model year on the registration card or invoice (point 5.3.4, sections II and III). They may be exempt for two more years if they are inspected in the first two months of the third year and pass (section IV); from the fifth year of manufacture the inspection is annual (section V).

Does it apply to leased vehicles?

Yes. The permit holder must submit its owned or leased vehicles for inspection (point 5.3.4).

Can my company inspect its own vehicles?

The law allows it for companies that have the technical means required by the applicable official standard (LCPAF, Article 35). The standard refers to Verification Units accredited and approved by the Ministry (NOM-068, point 5.3.1).

MX · Expiry & renewal tracking

Keep every fleet vehicle's inspection certificate current

Federal motor-carrier and private-transport permit holders in Mexico obtain, yearly and per vehicle, the physical-mechanical certificate and sticker from a verification unit approved by the SICT (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4). New vehicles are exempt for two years; non-compliance is fined (LCPAF, Article 74).

All freight, passenger and tourism motor-carrier vehicles that travel on federal roads and bridges in Mexico must pass a technical inspection of their physical and mechanical condition and obtain the corresponding approval certificate, with the frequency and terms set by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) in the applicable Mexican Official Standard; companies with the technical means required by that standard may inspect their own vehicles (Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law, Article 35).

The applicable standard is NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, which sets the physical-mechanical specifications for vehicles used in federal passenger, tourism and freight transport, their auxiliary services and private transport on federal roads (point 1). Permit holders, whether individuals or companies, must submit their vehicles, owned or leased, to the mandatory inspection and obtain the certificate from Verification Units approved by the Ministry; mandatory inspections take place once a year (point 5.3.4, section I).

New vehicles are exempt for two years from their date of manufacture, unless the permit holder wants to increase the authorised gross vehicle weight; the exemption is proven with the registration card, invoice or invoice letter, and the first year counts from the model year (point 5.3.4, sections II and III). Those vehicles may be exempt for two more years if they are inspected in the first two months of the third year and pass (section IV). From the fifth year of manufacture, all vehicles are inspected once a year (section V).

The Verification Unit issues the pass or fail certificate and places a sticker on the vehicle recording its condition (point 5.3.1); if the vehicle fails, it must be repaired before the sticker is placed and the approval certificate issued (point 5.3.3). For vehicle combinations, one sticker is placed on each unit (point 5.3.2.4).

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At a glance

Required by	The SICT, in the official standard provided for in the Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law (Article 35); enforced by the Federal Motor Transport Directorate and SCT Centres, and by the Federal Police (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 7.1)
Who arranges it	Permit holders in federal motor transport and private transport, for their owned or leased vehicles (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4)
Where	At Verification Units accredited and approved by the Ministry; companies with the technical means set in the standard may inspect their own vehicles (NOM-068, points 5.3.1 and 5.3.4; LCPAF, Article 35)
Frequency	Once a year (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4, section I)
New vehicles	Exempt for two years from the date of manufacture; the first year counts from the model year on the registration card or invoice (point 5.3.4, sections II and III)
Extension of the exemption	Two more years if the vehicle is inspected in the first two months of the third year and passes (point 5.3.4, section IV)
From the fifth year	Mandatory annual inspection for all vehicles (point 5.3.4, section V)
What you get	Approval certificate and a sticker on the vehicle; one per unit in a combination (points 5.3.1 and 5.3.2.4)

The two-year exemption for new vehicles does not apply when the permit holder wants to increase the maximum authorised gross vehicle weight under NOM-012-SCT-2; in that case the vehicle is inspected once a year from the start, including the converter dolly (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4, section II).

Who is responsible?

The permit holder of the federal motor transport or private transport service, for each owned or leased vehicle (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4). The physical-mechanical condition a vehicle must be in before travelling results from the maintenance applied by its owner or lawful possessor (point 4.2.1). If the vehicle fails, the permit holder must carry out the necessary repairs before obtaining the sticker and the approval certificate (point 5.3.3).

If the deadline passes

The SICT enforces the standard through the Federal Motor Transport Directorate and the SCT Centres, and the Federal Police take part in supervision, which is carried out randomly vehicle by vehicle (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, points 7.1 and 7.2). Non-compliance is penalised under the Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law and the applicable regulations (point 6.1); a roadside infraction for physical-mechanical condition must include a detailed description of the conditions that gave rise to it (point 6.2). Breaching federal motor transport, auxiliary services and private transport rules is punishable by a fine, and for repeat offences the Ministry may impose up to double (LCPAF, Article 74, section IV and following paragraph). When the authority detects the critical condition of a system or component, the vehicle is taken out of circulation (NOM-068, point 4.2.3).

What the Verification Unit checks

The tables in point 4.3 of NOM-068-SCT-2-2014 describe, system by system (brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, lights, couplings and others), the conditions the vehicle must meet and the minimum requirements for the annual certificate; if the inspecting technician observes any of those conditions, the approval certificate is not issued (point 4.2.2).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each fleet vehicle as a record (tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, dollies and buses separately, since each unit carries its own sticker) and enter the certificate's expiry date: one year from the inspection or, for new vehicles, the end of the exemption.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the day, leaving time to book the Verification Unit and carry out repairs if the vehicle does not pass first time.
The driver or the workshop can upload the approval certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the fleet or maintenance manager; if a certificate expires without renewal, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often is a federal motor-carrier vehicle inspected?: Once a year, at a Verification Unit approved by the Ministry (NOM-068-SCT-2-2014, point 5.3.4, section I). The Federal Roads, Bridges and Motor Transport Law refers to the official standard for the frequency (Article 35).
Are new vehicles inspected too?: They are exempt for two years from the date of manufacture, counting the first year from the model year on the registration card or invoice (point 5.3.4, sections II and III). They may be exempt for two more years if they are inspected in the first two months of the third year and pass (section IV); from the fifth year of manufacture the inspection is annual (section V).
What happens if the vehicle fails?: The necessary repairs must be made so the vehicle meets the standard before the sticker is placed and the approval certificate issued (point 5.3.3). The Verification Unit issues the pass or fail certificate (point 5.3.1).
Does it apply to leased vehicles?: Yes. The permit holder must submit its owned or leased vehicles for inspection (point 5.3.4).
Can my company inspect its own vehicles?: The law allows it for companies that have the technical means required by the applicable official standard (LCPAF, Article 35). The standard refers to Verification Units accredited and approved by the Ministry (NOM-068, point 5.3.1).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 7, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for annual roadworthiness inspection, federal vehicles (NOM-068) (Mexico)

A ready template for annual roadworthiness inspection, federal vehicles (NOM-068) (Mexico) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each annual roadworthiness inspection, federal vehicles (NOM-068) (Mexico) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each annual roadworthiness inspection, federal vehicles (NOM-068) (Mexico) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.