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New York school bus inspection requirements
What New York asks of school-bus companies, in plain English. The main agency: New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), Bus Inspection Program; with the NYS Education Department (pupil transportation rules) and the NYS DMV (CDL and Article 19-A).
Good to know: checked against the official sources linked below on October 1, 2026. Rules change, and this is a summary, not legal advice — always confirm the current rules with the agency before you rely on them.
State inspections
- NYSDOT inspects vehicles that carry passengers under 21 to and from school (whether run by a school district or a contractor) at least every six months, at a facility the operator provides. Source
- During the inspection NYSDOT also checks the operator's required maintenance records, preventive maintenance program and driver inspection reports. Source
- A bus may not be operated unless it displays an unexpired NYSDOT certificate of inspection on the inside of the windshield, as close to the lower right-hand corner as practicable. Source
- An "A" defect puts the bus out of service with an "Out-of-Service Vehicle" sticker and no certificate; it may not carry passengers until repaired and re-inspected by NYSDOT, and if the inspector finds it unsafe to drive at all it gets a "Highway Operation Prohibited" sticker. Source
- With a "B" defect the bus gets a certificate but the defect must be fixed before it carries passengers; with only "C" defects it must be fixed within 15 days of the inspection. Source
Driver checks
- An operator with more than one vehicle must have each on-duty driver complete and sign a driver vehicle inspection report at the start and end of the day's work, covering at least service and parking brakes, steering, lights and reflectors, horn, wipers, mirrors, tires, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment and exits. Source
- Before carrying passengers the driver must review the last driver vehicle inspection report to confirm earlier defects were dealt with, then complete and sign the pre-trip report, noting any defect or stating that none was found. Source
- The operator must correct safety defects listed in driver reports before the vehicle is used again, and the operator or designated mechanic must sign that they were repaired before it carries passengers. Source
- Drivers, monitors and attendants must check the bus at the end of the route to make sure no child is left on board unattended. Source
Records
- Driver inspection reports must be filed by vehicle number in date order in each vehicle's folder and kept for at least the most recent six months, available to NYSDOT inspectors at any time. Source
- Itemized records of each periodic maintenance exam and of any other repairs, plus the NYSDOT inspection reports (Form MC300), must be kept in the vehicle's maintenance file for at least two years. Source
- Each operator must certify to NYSDOT in writing the mileage, engine-hour or time intervals for its preventive maintenance, and may not exceed them or the vehicle manufacturer's recommended intervals. Source
Drivers
- A school bus driver needs a Commercial Driver License with both the School Bus "S" and Passenger "P" endorsements. Source
- Under Article 19-A, carriers must make sure drivers have pre-employment and biennial medical exams, pre-employment and annual license abstracts, fingerprinting for a criminal history check, annual defensive driving observations, and biennial road and oral/written tests, and must file an affidavit of 19-A compliance with DMV by July 1 each year. Source
- School bus drivers need an annual physical exam (no more than 13 months apart), a physical performance test at least every two years, at least four hours of safety training before carrying students, a 30-hour basic course in their first year, and two hours of refresher training twice a year. Source
Evacuation drills
- At least three emergency drills must be held on each school bus each school year: within the first seven days of school, between November 1 and December 31, and between March 1 and April 30. Source
Keep up with it
Free printable forms: pre-trip · post-trip · DVIR · quarterly inspection · evacuation drill log · CDL & medical card tracker
Other states: New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Connecticut
Records without the paperwork
In FleetCommander drivers do their pre-trip and post-trip on the phone, defects go to the shop and are signed off, every inspection and repair is kept with the bus, and licenses and medical cards are tracked with reminders.