Short answer: a 90-day inspection label is the sticker a fleet puts on a commercial vehicle to show, at a glance, when it last passed a 90-day inspection and when the next one is due. The 90-day interval comes from California's Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program under Vehicle Code 34505.5, which requires covered vehicles "to be inspected at least every 90 days, or more often if necessary to ensure safe operation." Carriers outside California use the same label for a voluntary quarterly preventive-maintenance cycle. We print them in two forms: custom 90-day decals personalized with your company name and logo, and write-in packs you fill out by hand.
Key facts at a glance
- Interval: at least every 90 days for vehicles covered by California's BIT program (CVC 34505.5). Inspection records must be kept "for two years."
- What the label does: marks the vehicle so the inspection date and next due date are visible without pulling paperwork. It is a visual indicator, not the inspection.
- Custom decal size: 3.25 in. x 5.25 in., 4.3-mil weatherproof vinyl, UV-resistant ink, permanent adhesive.
- Write-in label size: 5.28 in. x 3.26 in., same vinyl, fixed yellow artwork with blank fields, packs of 25, 50, and 100.
- Years printed on the custom decal: 2026 through 2031, so one order covers the next several years.
- Colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, Black, plus custom brand colors on request.
- Interval changes: the same layout can be printed as a 30-day, 60-day, 180-day, or annual label.
- Printed in: Alabama, USA. Personalized label orders typically process in 1 to 2 business days.
What is printed on a 90-day inspection label?
Our custom 90-day decal carries five elements, top to bottom:
- The "90 DAY INSPECTION" header in large type so a roadside or terminal inspector can read it from several feet away.
- Your company name, city, state, ZIP, and phone on the right side of the header. This is the block most customers care about, because it identifies whose vehicle it is and where the inspection records live.
- A certification line: "This vehicle has passed an inspection in accordance with 49 CFR 396.17 through 396.23." Part 396 is the federal inspection, repair, and maintenance rule that California's program layers onto.
- The California line: "California inspection as required by law. Have this equipment inspected on or before its next inspection date." If you operate outside California we can swap the state name or remove it.
- A marking grid with the months (JAN through DEC), the days (1 through 31), and the years 26 through 31. After each inspection you punch or mark the date the vehicle passed, or the date the next one is due, depending on how your terminal runs its program.
Who uses 90-day inspection labels?
California fleets under the BIT program. Vehicle Code 34505.5 tells motor carriers to have covered vehicles "inspected at least every 90 days, or more often if necessary to ensure safe operation," and lists what the inspection must cover: brake adjustment, brake system components and leaks, steering and suspension systems, tires and wheels, and vehicle connecting devices. The records must show the "date and nature of each inspection and any repair performed" and carry the "signature of the motor carrier's authorized representative attesting to the inspection and to the completion of all required repairs." The decal is how a terminal manager makes that cycle visible on the equipment itself.
Carriers on a quarterly PM cycle anywhere in the country. Many fleets outside California run a 90-day preventive-maintenance interval by policy. The federal rule in 49 CFR 396.3 requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance but does not set a 90-day interval; the decal simply marks the schedule the fleet chose.
Shops and mobile mechanics who inspect customer vehicles and want to leave a clear marker with their own shop name on it, so the customer calls them back for the next one.
If you are trying to work out whether you need this label or the 12-month annual label instead, read how the annual DOT inspection and the California 90-day BIT inspection differ.
Custom decal or write-in pack: which one do you need?
| Custom 90-day decal | Write-in 90-day label | |
|---|---|---|
| Company name and logo printed | Yes, on every label | No, write it in |
| Date marking | Punch or mark the printed month, day, and year grid | Write the inspection date and next due date |
| Color | Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, White, Black, or a custom brand color | Yellow |
| Interval wording | 90-day standard; 30, 60, 180-day, or annual on request | 90-day |
| Size | 3.25 in. x 5.25 in. | 5.28 in. x 3.26 in. |
| Best for | Fleets that want a uniform, professional look and their name on every unit | Small fleets and shops that need labels today |
| Pricing | $49.16 to start, printed to order | $49.99 for 25, $79.99 for 50, $119.99 for 100 |
A longer comparison, including how each one holds up on the truck, is in custom vs. write-in inspection stickers.
Specifications
| Size | 3.25 in. x 5.25 in. (custom) or 5.28 in. x 3.26 in. (write-in) |
|---|---|
| Material | 4.3-mil weatherproof vinyl, permanent adhesive |
| Ink | UV-resistant, scratch-resistant, rated for sun, rain, snow, and truck washes |
| Years | 2026 through 2031 on the custom decal |
| Application | Clean, dry painted metal, glass, or smooth plastic; press from the center out |
| Printed in | Alabama, USA |
How to order a custom 90-day inspection decal
- Open the custom 90-day decal listing and pick your color.
- In the personalization box, type your company name and contact line exactly as you want it printed. Add any wording changes (a different state, no state, a 30 or 60-day interval).
- Upload your logo if you want it on the label, or reply to your order confirmation email with a PNG, SVG, or PDF.
- We render a proof from your text, print, cut, and ship. Personalized label orders typically process in 1 to 2 business days.
Want to see one first? Send us your company info, logo, and shipping address and we will mail you a free sample label before you order a full run.
Where does the 90-day sticker go on the truck?
Neither CVC 34505.5 nor 49 CFR Part 396 dictates a spot for a 90-day marker. Common practice is a clean, flat, painted panel on the driver's side that stays visible and is easy to reach for punching: the upper forward fender or hood-side panel just ahead of the cab, or the cab door. Keep it off the trailer if the marking is meant to follow the power unit; a trailer being inspected on its own cycle gets its own label. Clean the panel, let it dry, and apply at room temperature.
Related reading
- Annual DOT inspection vs. California 90-day BIT inspection: what is the difference?
- DOT inspection stickers for trucks: custom vs. write-in, and which your fleet needs
- FMCSA annual inspection labels: what must be on the sticker
- FHWA inspection stickers: what FHWA means and why the heading is still used
- DOT inspection labels: which one do you need? (FMCSA, FHWA, BIT, USDOT, OSHA)
Shop inspection labels
- Custom 90-day BIT / DOT inspection decals: your company name and logo, six colors, 2026 to 2031, from $49.16.
- DOT 90-day write-in labels, 25 pack ($49.99), 50 pack ($79.99), and 100 pack ($119.99): fixed artwork, ship as-is.
- FHWA / FMCSA annual inspection labels for the 12-month federal inspection, with your logo.
- Browse the full inspection labels collection or use the DOT inspection label guide to pick a format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 90-day inspection label?
It is a vinyl decal placed on a commercial vehicle to show when it last passed a 90-day inspection and when the next one is due. The 90-day interval comes from California's BIT program (Vehicle Code 34505.5); fleets elsewhere use it for a voluntary quarterly maintenance cycle.
Does a 90-day sticker make my truck BIT compliant?
No. Compliance comes from performing the inspection and keeping the records CVC 34505.5 requires (two years, with the date and nature of each inspection and repairs, signed by the carrier's authorized representative). The sticker makes the result visible on the vehicle.
What size is a 90-day inspection label?
Our custom decal is 3.25 in. x 5.25 in. The write-in label is 5.28 in. x 3.26 in. Both are 4.3-mil weatherproof vinyl with permanent adhesive.
Can I change the 90-day label to a different interval or state?
Yes. The custom decal can be printed as a 30-day, 60-day, 180-day, or annual label, with any U.S. state named or no state at all. Enter the change in the personalization box when you order.
How do I mark the date on the label?
Punch or use a paint marker on one month, one day, and one year in the printed grid. Fleets mark either the date the vehicle passed or the date the next inspection is due; pick one convention and use it across the fleet.
How fast do custom 90-day decals ship?
Personalized label orders typically process in 1 to 2 business days after we have your text and logo. Write-in packs ship as-is.
Sources
- California Vehicle Code 34505.5 (California Legislative Information)
- 49 CFR 396.17, Periodic inspection (Cornell LII)
- 49 CFR 396.21, Periodic inspection recordkeeping (Cornell LII)
About Wood Unlimited
Wood Unlimited prints DOT inspection and compliance labels on 4.3-mil weatherproof vinyl with UV-resistant ink, printed in Alabama, USA, for single trucks and full fleets. A label is a visual indicator on the vehicle. The inspection itself, performed by a qualified inspector and documented under the applicable rule, is what the regulation actually requires. Nothing in this article is legal advice; verify your obligations with your own compliance resource or state agency.