How to get an MC number
Apply to FMCSA for interstate operating authority, pay the $300 filing fee, and then get two filings on record: your insurer files proof of liability insurance (Form BMC-91 or 91X) and a process agent files Form BOC-3. Applying starts the clock, but the authority is not active until both filings are in and the 10-day protest period after the FMCSA Register notice has passed. A USDOT number alone is an identifier, not authority. If you haul only within one state, you may need that state's authority instead of, or as well as, the MC number.
Updated . Written by Andre Beukers, principal at Redoubt, a commercial insurance agency in Salt Lake City, not a government office.
What do you need before you apply for an MC number?
Decide what you are applying for. A USDOT number identifies the company to FMCSA for safety oversight. An MC number is the docket number for operating authority, which is what lets a for-hire carrier haul regulated freight across state lines for pay. The Texas DMV puts it plainly: "A USDOT Number is not operating authority – it's basically an identifier." For crossing state lines, TxDMV's next step is "Interstate Operating Authority (an MC Number) from FMCSA." A new applicant requests the USDOT number and the authority in the same online application.
Have the business set up the way it will appear on every filing: legal name, EIN, principal address, and the type of operation (for-hire property carrier, broker, or both, since each authority type is a separate request). The name you register is the name your insurer must put on the federal filing and the name brokers will check, so pick it once. Line up an insurance agent and a process agent before you submit, because both clocks start when FMCSA publishes your application.
How do you apply for an MC number?
New applicants file one online application for a USDOT number and operating authority. Under the rule in force, that is Form MCSA-1 through FMCSA's Unified Registration System. In a Federal Register notice of April 29, 2026, FMCSA announced a new system, Motus, to replace it, and said the phase opening Motus to all regulated entities was planned for the second quarter of 2026. We could not confirm from FMCSA whether that phase has opened, so check FMCSA's registration pages for current status. The notice says applicants in Motus will need a smartphone or tablet and a government-issued ID for an identity check; the filings described below are the same either way.
After FMCSA accepts the application, it publishes a summary in the FMCSA Register. From that date three things have to happen before the authority is active:
- Your insurer electronically files proof of bodily injury and property damage liability, Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X (or a BMC-82 surety bond). Household goods carriers also need a cargo filing, BMC-34.
- A process agent (a blanket company, or a person you name) files Form BOC-3 naming an agent in each state you are authorized to operate in and each state you cross.
- The 10-day protest period after publication runs out; if no one opposes the application, the grant becomes effective.
Why does the insurance filing hold up the MC number?
Because FMCSA reviews only applications "accompanied by evidence of adequate financial responsibility," and that evidence comes from the insurer, not from you. The regulation sets the window at 20 days from the date the application notice is published, so the policy should be bound and the agent told to file before or on the day the notice appears. Buying a policy is not enough; the carrier has to transmit the BMC-91 or 91X to FMCSA under your exact legal name and USDOT number.
A certificate of insurance on an ACORD 25 is a different document for a different reader. Brokers ask for it at carrier setup; FMCSA never sees it. The filing and the certificate are two jobs, and a new carrier who wants loads from brokers needs both. What each filing must show, and the limits, are covered on the MC insurance requirements and BMC-91 pages in this guide.
How much does it cost to get an MC number?
The federal filing fee is $300 for each type of operating authority. A carrier that also wants broker authority pays a second $300. Fees are not refunded once FMCSA accepts the application, even if the application is later denied, dismissed, or withdrawn.
FMCSA also charges the insurer a $10 service fee for each accepted certificate of insurance it files. The BOC-3 has no federal fee; the process agent sets its own price. Interstate carriers also pay Unified Carrier Registration fees every year. The other cost is the liability policy behind the BMC-91 filing. Premiums are set by the insurer for your operation, there is no published federal figure, and we do not quote one here.
How do you get an MC number in Texas?
The same way as anywhere else: the MC number is federal, so a Texas carrier hauling across state lines applies to FMCSA. What Texas adds is a state certificate for hauling within Texas. TxDMV's guidance is that if you do both kinds of work, "you need both kinds of authority. One doesn't cover the other."
The Texas certificate, still often called a TxDOT number, is issued through TxMCCS, the Texas Motor Carrier Credentialing System. It is required for intrastate carriers running vehicles over 26,000 pounds, placarded hazmat, vehicles built for more than 15 passengers, and household goods movers, among others. The order is: hold a USDOT number registered as intrastate if you never cross the state line; apply in TxMCCS; TxDMV reviews "within 24–48 business hours"; your insurer files Form E with TxDMV; then you pay the state fees and the certificate number issues. TxDMV holds the carrier, not the insurer, responsible for keeping that filing in place.
Do you need a California motor carrier permit as well as an MC number?
If you operate in California in the vehicles the state lists, yes. The California DMV requires a motor carrier permit (MCP) of anyone paid to transport property, regardless of vehicle size, and generally of anyone operating a commercial vehicle of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more, including private carriers. Household goods and passenger carriers are the main exception: they operate under Public Utilities Commission authority instead and do not need an MCP. The MCP shows you have registered a California carrier identification number (CA#), which comes from the California Highway Patrol.
Insurance proof for the MCP goes to the DMV on the state's own form, the MC 65 M certificate of insurance from your insurer (large fleets may qualify for a certificate of self insurance, MC 131 M), along with proof of workers' compensation or a signed exemption. Required liability ranges "from $300,000 to $5,000,000 combined single-limit coverage" depending on the vehicle and what you haul. Fees depend on whether you are for-hire or private and on fleet size. New carriers must have the MCP before they begin operating.
Why is my MC number inactive?
Search your registration record on FMCSA's public lookup and read the authority status and insurance history together. The usual causes are these:
- It never activated: the BMC-91 or BOC-3 was not filed, or was filed under a name or number that does not match the application.
- The insurance was cancelled. The insurer files a notice of cancellation (BMC-35), and the filing ends 30 days after FMCSA receives it. FMCSA may then suspend the registration for failure to keep the required security on file.
- The biennial update was missed. Every USDOT number must be updated every 24 months on a schedule set by its last digits, and missing it can deactivate the USDOT number.
- The authority ended under the new entrant program. Authority is not permanent until the carrier completes the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program, and FMCSA lists reapplying "after New Entrant Revocation" as its own request.
How does MC authority reinstatement work?
Fix the cause first, then ask FMCSA to reinstate. For an insurance suspension or revocation, that means a new liability policy and a new BMC-91 or 91X filing. If the question is a gap in coverage, federal rules allow a policy written "for a finite period of time to cover any lapse in continuous compliance." For a missed biennial update, file the update. FMCSA lists reinstatement of a previously held operating authority, and reactivation of the USDOT number, among the requests carriers make in its registration system.
The fee for a petition to reinstate revoked operating authority is $80. Keep the cancellation notice, the new declarations page, and the filing confirmation together, because a broker who sees a gap in your authority history will ask for them. If the authority was revoked under the new entrant program, FMCSA treats the next step as reapplying, a separate request from reinstatement.
Is FMCSA getting rid of MC numbers?
Not as of FMCSA's April 29, 2026 notice. Stakeholders had raised concerns about eliminating MC docket numbers, and the notice said the Phase II release of Motus would not include that change. Keep using your MC number on carrier packets and load boards until FMCSA says otherwise.
Do I have to pay a filing service to get my MC number?
No. You can file the application yourself. A process agent is needed for the BOC-3 and an insurer for the BMC-91, but the application itself is yours to submit. TxDMV warns that some companies send solicitations that look official and charge for filings you can do yourself.
Can I start hauling once I have the MC number?
Not until the authority shows active on your FMCSA record. A vehicle operated without the required operating authority is ordered out of service under federal rules.
Where these answers come from
Each entry carries the exact words of the source so you can check it yourself. Forms and statutes change; read the current version before acting.
- 2. Texas DMV, Becoming a Texas Motor Carrier (Intrastate), FAQ
“Do I need intrastate authority, interstate authority, or both? If you do both kinds of work, you need both kinds of authority. One doesn't cover the other.”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 3. Texas DMV, Becoming a Texas Motor Carrier (Intrastate), insurance FAQ
“TxDMV has to receive your insurance filing electronically from your insurer before your application can be granted. What you need depends on what you do: Commercial auto filing: Form E”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The same page says "You're responsible for making sure your insurance stays filed with TxDMV 24/7" and warns about solicitations that charge for filings carriers can make themselves. - 4. Texas DMV, Becoming a Texas Motor Carrier (Intrastate), USDOT FAQ
“If you tell FMCSA you're operating interstate, you'll also need to register and pay Unified Carrier Registration fees through UCR.gov every year.”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. UCR fees are set by fleet size; no figure is quoted on this page. - 5. Texas DMV, TxDMV Number
“Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed within 24–48 business hours. You will then receive an email with further instructions. Insurance Filing When your application is approved, you will receive an email. Notify your insurance company so they can file your required insurance.”
txdmv.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The page also lists who must register (over 26,000 pounds, placarded hazmat, household goods for compensation, and others) and says fees are paid in TxMCCS after the insurance is filed. - 6. California DMV, Motor Carrier Permits
“Any person or business entity that is paid to transport property in their motor vehicle regardless of vehicle size, type, or weight.”
dmv.ca.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Same page exempts "Household goods and/or passenger carriers as defined in §5109 of the Public Utilities Code (PUC)", which operate under PUC authority. Also: "Get a CA# from the California Highway Patrol (CHP)" and "New carriers must apply for an MCP before they begin operations." - 7. California DMV, Motor Carrier Permits, insurance requirements
“Levels of liability insurance vary from $300,000 to $5,000,000 combined single-limit coverage, depending on the type of vehicles and the property transported. Proof of insurance must be submitted on one of the following forms”
dmv.ca.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The forms listed are the Certificate of Insurance (MC 65 M) and the Certificate of Self Insurance (MC 131 M). The application also asks for proof of workers' compensation or a signed exemption. - 8. 49 CFR 365.106T, Starting the application process: URS online application (eCFR)
“new applicants as defined in paragraph (b) of this section must apply for a USDOT number and if applicable, operating authority by electronically filing Form MCSA-1, the URS online application”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 9. 49 CFR 365.109T, FMCSA review of the application (eCFR)
“Financial responsibility is indicated by filing within 20 days from the date an application notice is published in the FMCSA Register: (i) Form BMC-91 or 91X or BMC 82 surety bond—Bodily injury and property damage”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Paragraph (a)(6) sets the same 20-day window for Form BOC-3; (a)(4) says staff review applications "accompanied by evidence of adequate financial responsibility." The non-T section 365.109, which says 90 days, is suspended. - 10. 49 CFR 365.115, After publication in the FMCSA Register (eCFR)
“Interested persons have 10 days from the date of FMCSA Register publication to file protests.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 11. 49 CFR 366.4T, Required States for process agents (eCFR)
“Every motor carrier (of property or passengers) shall make a designation for each State in which it is authorized to operate and for each State traversed during such operations.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 12. FMCSA, Availability of Motus, FMCSA's New Registration System, Federal Register document 2026-08334 (April 29, 2026)
“In response to stakeholder feedback, the Phase II release of Motus will not include the implementation of safety registration, the elimination of MC/FF numbers, or changes to the Form BOC-3 filing process.”
federalregister.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The same notice says "In Phase II, planned for the second quarter of 2026, Motus will become available to all regulated entities" and describes the identity check with a smartphone or tablet and a government-issued ID. Whether Phase II has opened was not confirmed from fmcsa.dot.gov, which returns 403 to tools. - 13. FMCSA, Availability of Motus, Federal Register document 2026-08334, list of registrant actions
“Apply for a reinstatement of an operating authority previously held and reactivate their USDOT Number.”
federalregister.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 14. 49 CFR 365.105T, Starting the application process (eCFR)
“A separate filing fee in the amount set forth at 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(1) is required for each type of authority sought.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 15. 49 CFR 360.3T(f), Schedule of filing fees (eCFR)
“An application for motor carrier operating authority, a certificate of registration for certain foreign carriers, property broker authority, or freight forwarder authority $300.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Paragraph (c) of the same section: the fee "will not be refunded" once the application is accepted, whatever the outcome. - 16. 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(51), insurance service fee (eCFR)
“A service fee for insurer, surety, or self-insurer accepted certificate of insurance, surety bond, and other instrument submitted in lieu of a broker surety bond $10 per accepted certificate”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Charged to the insurer's FMCSA service account under 360.3T(a). - 17. 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(52), reinstatement fee (eCFR)
“(52) A petition for reinstatement of revoked operating authority 80. (53)-(79) [Reserved]”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 18. 49 CFR 387.313T, Forms and procedures (eCFR)
“Certificates of insurance, surety bonds, and notices of cancellation must be filed with the FMCSA.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. A federal filing such as the BMC-91 is filed by the insurer; it is not the ACORD 25 certificate a broker asks for. - 19. 49 CFR 387.313T(d), Cancellation notice (eCFR)
“surety bonds, certificates of insurance and other securities or agreements shall not be cancelled or withdrawn until 30 days after written notice has been submitted to the FMCSA”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The notice is Form BMC-35 for insurance; the 30 days run from the date FMCSA actually receives it. - 20. 49 U.S.C. 13905(f)(1)(A), Effective periods of registration (govinfo, 2023 edition)
“may suspend the registration of a motor carrier, a freight forwarder, or a broker for failure to comply with requirements of the Secretary pursuant to section 13904(e) or 13906 or an order or regulation of the Secretary prescribed under those sections”
govinfo.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Section 13906 is the security (insurance) requirement for motor carriers. - 21. 49 CFR 390.19T, biennial update (eCFR)
“A person that fails to complete biennial updates to the information pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section is subject to the penalties prescribed in 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B) or 49 U.S.C. 14901(a), as appropriate, and deactivation of its USDOT Number.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Paragraph (b)(2) requires the update every 24 months on a schedule set by the USDOT number's last two digits. - 22. 49 CFR 365.110, Need to complete New Entrant Safety Assurance Program (eCFR)
“operating authority obtained under procedures in this part does not become permanent until the applicant satisfactorily completes the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program in part 385 of this subchapter.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 23. 49 CFR 387.7(b)(2), Financial responsibility required (eCFR)
“Policies of insurance and surety bonds may be obtained for a finite period of time to cover any lapse in continuous compliance.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 24. FMCSA, Availability of Motus, Federal Register document 2026-08334, list of registrant actions
“Reapply after New Entrant Revocation or following a rejection, withdrawal, or dismissal if they meet the required conditions (motor carriers only).”
federalregister.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 25. 49 CFR 392.9a, Operating authority (eCFR)
“Every motor carrier providing transportation requiring operating authority shall be ordered out of service if it is determined that the motor carrier is operating a vehicle in violation of paragraph (a) of this section.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 26. Redoubt, Commercial trucking insurance
“We know what carriers need to bind coverage and activate MC authority quickly so you start hauling sooner.”
www.redoubt.insure, accessed October 3, 2026
FMCSA will not activate the authority without the filing
The insurer's BMC-91 filing that gates an MC number, and how it differs from a certificate.
Elsewhere on the site
Get the insurance filing in on time
Send Redoubt your USDOT number, the legal name on the application, your trucks, and the date your notice published. We will talk through what the policy needs and get the BMC-91 filing moving so the authority is not waiting on insurance.
This is general insurance information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. The policy forms, the endorsements the carrier issues, and the holder’s written requirement control.