MC number: what it costs, how to get one and the phase out status
An MC number costs $300 and may take 20 to 25 business days, FMCSA says. FMCSA has put off ending MC numbers, with no new date.
Fees, steps and timelines from FMCSA, plus the Federal Register notice on the phase out. Checked October 10, 2026.
Key takeaways
- $300 is the FMCSA filing fee for permanent authority. There are no refunds. (FMCSA, 2026)
- 20 to 25 business days is how long a new application may take. Further review can add 8 weeks or longer. (FMCSA, 2026)
- Not yet is the answer on the phase out. FMCSA's Motus release for carriers left MC numbers in place. (Federal Register, 2026)
- USDOT number stays your unique identifier under Motus. (Federal Register, 2026)
- 10 days is the protest period after your application is posted. (eCFR, 2026)
- $80 is the fee to reinstate authority after it is suspended or revoked. (FMCSA, 2026)
You hear 2 things about MC numbers at the truck stop. One driver says you need one to book freight. The next says FMCSA got rid of them.
Both need a closer look. You do need operating authority to haul regulated freight for hire. And FMCSA has not ended MC numbers yet.
This guide gives you the fees, the steps and the status. It comes from FMCSA and the Federal Register, read on October 10, 2026.
What is an MC number?
An MC number is the docket number FMCSA gives you with your operating authority. It shows you may haul regulated freight for hire across state lines.
FMCSA says operating authority is often identified as an MC, FF or MX number, depending on the type granted (FMCSA).
MC is for motor carriers and brokers. FF is for freight forwarders, and MX is for certain carriers based in Mexico.
Your authority also sets how much insurance you must carry. So pick only the type your business needs.
My trucking authority guide covers the types and what you file afterward.
Who needs an MC number?
You need one if you haul federally regulated freight that belongs to someone else, for pay, across state lines. You also need a USDOT number.
FMCSA lists 2 kinds of companies that need operating authority.
- Companies that carry passengers across state lines for a fee.
- Companies that haul federally regulated commodities owned by others across state lines for a fee.
- Companies that arrange that kind of transport for a fee, which means brokers.
FMCSA also lists 3 kinds of carriers that do not need it.
- Private carriers. You haul your own cargo.
- Exempt haulers. You haul only exempt commodities, which are not federally regulated.
- Commercial zone carriers. You run only inside a federally designated commercial zone.
Leased on, you run under your carrier's authority. The lease rule puts the truck under the carrier's control for the length of the lease (49 CFR 376.12).
The owner operator requirements checklist covers both paths, leased and your own authority.
What is the difference between an MC number and a USDOT number?
The USDOT number identifies your company. The MC number shows what FMCSA has authorized you to haul for hire.
| Question | USDOT number | MC number |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | The unique identifier FMCSA gives every company it regulates | The docket number for your operating authority |
| Who needs it? | Every regulated carrier | For hire carriers of regulated freight across state lines |
| FMCSA filing fee | None in FMCSA's fee table | $300 for each authority |
| Is it being phased out? | No. FMCSA keeps it as the identifier | Planned, with no date set |
Sources: FMCSA and Federal Register. Read October 10, 2026.
A private carrier can run on a USDOT number alone. Once you haul other people's regulated freight for pay, you need both.
How much does an MC number cost?
The FMCSA filing fee is $300 for permanent authority. FMCSA does not refund it, even when you apply for the wrong type.
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permanent authority | $300.00 |
| Notice of name change | $14.00 |
| Reinstate authority | $80.00 |
Source: FMCSA, page last updated April 20, 2026.
You pay a separate fee for each kind of authority. For example, carrier authority plus broker authority is 2 fees, or $600.
The $300 is only the filing fee. Your insurance, your BOC 3 and your plates cost far more.
My guide to starting with one truck adds up the first year: $10,925 to $23,555 before the truck.
You do not need a filing service for this. You can apply yourself at motus.dot.gov.
How do you get an MC number?
You apply online in Motus, FMCSA's registration system, at motus.dot.gov. FMCSA opened it to carriers in 2026 (FMCSA).
- Create your user profile. You log in through Login.gov and verify your identity.
- Verify your identity. You need a smartphone or tablet and a government ID. You photograph the ID and your face.
- Create your company account. If you already have a USDOT number, you claim it.
- Apply and pay. Ask for a USDOT number and the operating authority you need. The fee is $300.
- Get your BOC 3 filed. A process agent files it for you (FMCSA).
- Get your insurance filed. Your insurer files proof of at least $750,000 for general freight (FMCSA).
- Wait out the protest period. Anyone has 10 days to protest once your application is posted (49 CFR 365.203T).
FMCSA will not grant your authority until your insurance and your BOC 3 are on file. Line both up before you pay the $300.
My article on semi truck insurance cost shows what a new authority pays.
From the cab. I run under my own authority today. My advice is to get your insurance quote first, because that bill decides if the rest makes sense.
How long does it take to get an MC number?
FMCSA says a new application may take 20 to 25 business days. If the agency reviews it further, add 8 weeks or longer.
| Step | How long | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New application | 20 to 25 business days | FMCSA |
| Further review by the agency | 8 more weeks or longer | FMCSA |
| Protest period after posting | 10 days | 49 CFR 365.203T |
| Authority document after the grant | 3 to 4 business days | FMCSA |
| Paper forms, first review | At least 8 business days | Federal Register notice |
Sources: FMCSA, eCFR and Federal Register.
You can check your status on FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance website. Search your MC or USDOT number, open the HTML result and click Authority History.
If 10 business days pass after the grant date with no document, FMCSA says to call 800-832-5660.
Do not haul for pay while you wait. Each week without authority still costs you insurance and a truck payment, so keep cash for it.
Are MC numbers going away?
Not yet. FMCSA planned to end MC numbers with its new Motus system. Its April 29, 2026 notice says that release will not include the change (Federal Register).
Here is what the notice says. Carriers raised concerns about 3 changes. They were safety registration, the end of MC and FF numbers and a new BOC 3 process.
FMCSA answered that the Motus release for carriers will include none of the 3. It said it will make these changes in later releases, and it gave no date.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Has FMCSA ended MC numbers? | No |
| Is the change still planned? | Yes, in a later Motus release |
| Is there a date? | No date in the notice |
| What stays as your identifier? | Your USDOT number |
| What are the new suffixes? | Letters after the USDOT number that show each registration. They show only inside the system for now |
Source: Federal Register, April 29, 2026, corrected May 6, 2026.
So keep using your MC number on your carrier packets and rate cons. It is still the docket number for your authority.
The notice also says the suffixes are not required for marking your truck. Nothing changes on your door today.
I will update this page when FMCSA publishes a date.
What can make you lose your MC number?
A lapse in your insurance filing. The notice says FMCSA suspends or revokes operating authority when proof of the required coverage is not on file.
Getting it back is not free. The fee to reinstate authority is $80, and you cannot haul for hire while it is down.
Your yearly filings matter too. UCR costs $55 for registration year 2027 if you run 1 or 2 trucks (Federal Register).
Put the fixed costs of your authority into the cost per mile calculator, so every load covers them.
An active MC number also opens freight. My free load boards guide shows that Amazon Relay asks for 180 days of active authority.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an MC number cost?
The FMCSA filing fee is $300 for permanent authority. It is not refunded. (FMCSA)
How long does it take to get an MC number?
A new application may take 20 to 25 business days. Further review can add 8 weeks or longer. (FMCSA)
Are MC numbers going away in 2026?
Not yet. FMCSA's April 29, 2026 notice says the Motus release will not include ending MC numbers. No date is set. (Federal Register)
Do I need an MC number if I am leased to a carrier?
No. You run under the carrier's authority, and the carrier holds the MC number. (eCFR)
Do I need an MC number to haul my own freight?
No. FMCSA says private carriers that haul their own cargo do not need operating authority. (FMCSA)
Is an MC number the same as a USDOT number?
No. The USDOT number identifies your company. The MC number is the docket number for your operating authority. (FMCSA)
Where do I apply for an MC number?
Online in Motus, FMCSA's registration system, at motus.dot.gov. (FMCSA)
How this was checked
On October 10, 2026, I read FMCSA's operating authority page, last updated April 20, 2026. I also read its Motus page, last updated May 18, 2026.
For the phase out, I read the Federal Register notice of April 29, 2026 in full. I did not rely on the many blog posts that say MC numbers ended in 2025.
The protest period, the insurance minimum, the BOC 3 rule and the UCR fee were checked for earlier guides. I read them on October 5 and 9, 2026, and again on October 10.
This is not legal advice. FMCSA's own pages and your registration account are the final word on your application.
Evidence label: researched from FMCSA and the Federal Register, with a first hand note. Update schedule: when FMCSA sets a date, and every quarter until then.
Sources
- Get Operating Authority (Docket Number), updated April 20, 2026. FMCSA. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Availability of Motus, FMCSA's New Registration System, 91 FR 23144, April 29, 2026. Federal Register. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Move into Motus, updated May 18, 2026. FMCSA. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- 49 CFR 365.203T, Time for filing a protest. eCFR. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Insurance Filing Requirements. FMCSA. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Form BOC 3, Designation of Agents for Service of Process. FMCSA. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- 49 CFR 376.12, Lease requirements. eCFR. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement, September 1, 2026. Federal Register. Accessed October 10, 2026.