---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 396.13"
title: "49"
number: "396.13"
heading: "Driver inspection."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/396.13"
---

# §396.13. Driver inspection.


Before driving a motor vehicle, the driver shall:

- (a) Be satisfied that the motor vehicle is in safe operating condition;
- (b) Review the last driver vehicle inspection report if required by [§ 396.11(a)(2)(i)](/cfr/49/396.11.md?p=a-2-i); and
- (c) Sign the report to acknowledge that the driver has reviewed it and that there is a certification that the required repairs have been performed. The signature requirement does not apply to listed defects on a towed unit which is no longer part of the vehicle combination.
- (d) The reports required by this section may be created and maintained in electronic format, in accordance with [49 CFR 390.32](/cfr/49/390.32.md).

## Notes

### Amendments

[44 FR 76526, Dec. 27, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 55868, Dec. 16, 1983; 63 FR 33280, June 18, 1998; 85 FR 50793, Aug. 18, 2020; 91 FR 7896, Feb. 19, 2026]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 504, 31133, 31136, 31151, 31502; sec. 32934, Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 405, 830; sec. 5524, Pub. L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1560; and 49 CFR 1.87.

### Source

Source: 44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[44 FR 76526, Dec. 27, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 55868, Dec. 16, 1983; 63 FR 33280, June 18, 1998; 85 FR 50793, Aug. 18, 2020; 91 FR 7896, Feb. 19, 2026]