Authority
How to get a USDOT number: the official application, step by step
Updated
You apply for a USDOT number in FMCSA's Motus system, and FMCSA charges $0 for it. Interstate trucks rated or loaded at 10,001 lb or more need one, and so do vehicles hauling placardable hazardous materials or carrying nine or more passengers for pay. If you haul other people's freight for pay, you file for MC authority in the same system.
At a glance
- Cost from FMCSA
- $0
- Weight trigger
- 10,001 lb or more, interstate
- Where to apply
- Motus, through Login.gov
- Motus launch
- May 19, 2026
Who needs a USDOT number
| You need one if | Threshold |
|---|---|
| You run a truck or combination in interstate commerce | 10,001 lb or more, using the highest of the truck's rating, the combination rating and the actual weight |
| You carry passengers for pay | Vehicles designed or used for nine or more people, driver included |
| You carry passengers without pay | 16 or more people, driver included |
| You haul placardable hazardous materials | Any weight |
| You need a state hazardous materials safety permit for intrastate work | Federal registration applies too |
The weight test uses whichever number is highest, so a pickup and trailer that cross 10,001 lb together count. This page covers the federal rule. Trucks that never leave one state fall under that state's own rules.
What it costs
FMCSA charges $0 for a USDOT number. Private filing services may charge for their help, and that fee is theirs. The costs that come with the number depend on what you run:
- MC authority, if you haul other people's freight for pay: $300 per authority type.
- UCR for interstate carriers: $46 for 2026 and $55 for 2027 at zero to two power units.
- A DOT physical for drivers of interstate trucks at 10,001 lb or more, CDL or not. Published clinic prices ran from $89 to $150.
These amounts are as of October 2026.
How to apply in Motus
Motus is FMCSA's registration system. It launched May 19, 2026, so older FMCSA pages and many third-party guides still describe the old Portal and URS steps. Follow the Motus steps instead:
- Type motus.dot.gov into your browser yourself. Skip links in emails and texts.
- Create your user profile through Login.gov.
- Verify your identity. FMCSA lists IDEMIA as its identity verification partner, so an ID check from IDEMIA inside that flow is expected.
- Set up and verify your business account.
- Apply for the registrations your operation needs: the USDOT number, plus MC authority if you're for-hire.
If your company already has a USDOT number, claim that existing record in Motus.
Every step above happens in FMCSA's own system. FMCSA's Motus page (opens in a new tab) explains the move from the old Portal.
What comes with the number
- The MCS-150 update. Every 24 months you update your registration, even when nothing changed, and FMCSA charges $0 for it. The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month, with 0 meaning October, and the next-to-last digit sets the year: odd digits file in odd years, even digits in even years. FMCSA has paused enforcement and inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, and its September 10, 2026 notice gives no end date.
- The new entrant program. FMCSA's safety audit comes within 12 months after you start operating, and monitoring runs 18 months. The audit looks at driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, hours of service, inspection and maintenance, insurance and safety management.
See the MCS-150 page and the new entrant audit page for the details.
Notices that ask you to pay
FMCSA's fraud alerts page, updated October 15, 2026, lists fake Motus "off-cycle update" messages, fake audit requests and false carrier-status notices. FMCSA says its emails almost always come from a .gov address, and a .gov label or logo in a message proves nothing about where its links go.
Both the USDOT number and the MCS-150 update cost $0 from FMCSA. If a notice says you owe the government money for either one, check with FMCSA before you pay anything. Reach FMCSA's Contact Center on your own at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov (opens in a new tab), or call the number on FMCSA's contact page (opens in a new tab).
More examples are on the fake notices page.
Check your record. Your MCS-150 month shows up when you enter your USDOT number, along with your authority status if you have authority. Check your status
Frequently asked questions
How much does a USDOT number cost?
FMCSA charges $0 for a USDOT number. Private filing services may charge for their help, and that fee is theirs.
Who needs a USDOT number?
Interstate trucks rated or loaded at 10,001 lb or more need one, and so do vehicles hauling placardable hazardous materials at any weight. Vehicles carrying nine or more passengers for pay, or 16 or more without pay, need one too.
Do I need an MC number as well as a USDOT number?
You need MC authority too if you haul other people's freight for pay. It costs $300 per authority type, and you apply for it in Motus along with the USDOT number.
How often do I update my USDOT registration?
Every 24 months, through the MCS-150 update, which costs $0 and is required even when nothing changed. FMCSA has paused enforcement and inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026.