Section 451.20  Application

a)         This Part applies to owners and employees of official testing stations and official mobile safety testing companies.

b)         This Part applies to the following vehicles:

1)         Second division vehicles (unless exempted by Sections 13-101 or 13-114 of the IVC;

2)         Second division motor vehicles that pull or draw trailers, semitrailers or pole trailers which have a gross weight or registered gross weight of more than 10,000 lbs.; and

3)         Special vehicles.

c)         The FMCSA recognizes that an Appendix G inspection, as defined at Section 451.14, meets the federal annual inspection requirements of 49 CFR 396.17, periodic inspection.  (See 49 CFR 396.23, Equivalent to periodic inspection.)  Interstate carriers of property registered in any state, including Illinois, can choose to obtain their annual interstate inspection at a station.  Interstate carriers of passengers registered in Illinois are required to be inspected both semi-annually under the Illinois Vehicle Inspection Law (see Section 13-114 of IVC) and annually as prescribed by the FMCSA.

d)         The Department's inspection program consists of different types of inspections performed by either Public or Private OTSs and OMSTCs.  The type of inspection performed is dependent upon the type of vehicle being tested.  The different types of inspections are:  school bus, special vehicle, MFSABs manufactured on or after July 1, 2012 and operated by schools K-12, special and Appendix G.

1)         For school bus, special vehicle, and MFSABs manufactured on or after July 1, 2012 and operated by K-12 schools, inspections require the use of an ABTD.  OMSTCs shall not be permitted to perform safety tests on vehicle listed in 451.20 (d)(1).

2)         Public OTSs are required to safety test all vehicles presented at a OTS for a safety test as required by the Illinois Vehicle Inspection Law or permitted by the FMCSA (prior authorization is required to perform school bus inspections).

3)         Public OMSTCs shall only perform safety tests of vehicles at the vehicle owners place of business.  The safety tests performed shall be in accordance with Appendix G inspection standards on only the following vehicle types: Trucks, truck tractors, trailers, semi trailers, and buses engaged in interstate commerce.

4)         All safety tests required by the Illinois Vehicle Inspection Law shall be performed in accordance with the requirements of this Part.  All safety tests performed on vehicles subject to the Illinois Vehicle Inspection Law shall be recorded in accordance with Department policy.  All vehicles subject to the Illinois Vehicle Inspection Law that meet or exceed the inspection criteria shall be issued an Illinois COS (i.e., truck, trailer, school bus, or rebuilt).

5)         Private OTSs or OMSTCs that perform only Appendix G Inspections, as defined in Section 451.15, are not required to be equipped with an ABTD. Private OTSs are required to perform inspections at the location listed on the permit.  Private OMSTCs are required to perform inspections at the location operated by the permitted owner and where vehicles owned or leased by the permitted owner are housed.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 15244, effective November 13, 2025)