Interstate Carrier ResourcesThe BOC-3 Form: Where to Find the PDF, Who Can File It, and How Long It Lasts
Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 1, 2026
- FMCSA posts Form BOC-3 as a four-page PDF, but only a process agent can file it for a motor carrier.
- A broker or freight forwarder without trucks may file its own.
- FMCSA charges no fee for it. You pay the process agent company.
- It has no federal expiration date. It stays on file until it is replaced or cancelled.
If you searched for the BOC-3 form, you probably have an FMCSA requirement in front of you and want to get it done. The form is easy to find. The catch is that a motor carrier cannot simply fill it out and send it in. Here is what the form is, who can file it, and what to expect.
Where to find the form
FMCSA posts the PDF on its Form BOC-3 page. The full name is Designation of Agents for Service of Process. The current version is four pages, in English and Spanish, marked Rev 10/29/2019 with an OMB expiration of 07/31/2029. Be careful with copies posted elsewhere, and with any site that makes itself look like FMCSA.
What is on it
- Your company: full and correct name, plus street address.
- Your USDOT number at the top of the form.
- The person signing: title, printed name, signature, and telephone number.
- Your agents: individual agents listed state by state, or a blanket designation.
Three rules from the form trip people up: each agent has to reside in the state it is named for, a post office box is not an acceptable agent address, and you may name yourself only for the state where you reside.
Who can file it
| You are | Who files |
|---|---|
| Motor carrier | A process agent, for you |
| Broker or freight forwarder with no commercial motor vehicles | You may file your own, or use a process agent |
Brokers have their own state rules. See BOC-3 for freight brokers.
Individual or blanket
You need an agent for each state you are authorized in and each state you pass through, and only one completed form can be on file. Listing a person state by state is slow, which is why most carriers use a blanket company that has an agent list on file with FMCSA. FMCSA's process agent page listed 75 registered blanket companies on November 1, 2026. See what a blanket agent is and how to switch.
What it costs
FMCSA's fee schedule lists the designation at $0. The cost is the process agent company's service fee, and companies price it differently. Ask if it is one payment or yearly, and what happens if you stop paying. Our BOC-3 filing is $74.99, with blanket coverage, and auto-renewal at $74.99 a year is optional: you can uncheck it when you order or turn it off later.
How long it takes
It depends on who files. When we file it, orders paid by 4 PM Eastern on a business day are usually filed that day, and it usually shows on your FMCSA record within one to two business days. You can confirm it on L&I. See same day BOC-3 filing.
How long it lasts
The federal rule sets no expiration date and FMCSA has no yearly BOC-3 renewal. Under 49 CFR 366.6T, a designation is cancelled or changed only by a new designation, except where a carrier or broker has not been subject to the requirement for a year. Keep a copy at your principal place of business, as the rule requires.
When you need a new form
- Your name, address, or agent changes. FMCSA says changes are made only by a new form.
- Your filing was cancelled. If your authority was suspended for it, see why a BOC-3 gets cancelled.
- You are applying for authority. It has to reach FMCSA within 20 days of your application's publication in the FMCSA Register. See how long an MC number takes.
New to all this? Start with what a BOC-3 is.
Common questions
Where can I download the BOC-3 form PDF?
FMCSA posts it on its Form BOC-3 page. The current form is marked Rev 10/29/2019, with an OMB expiration of 07/31/2029.
Can I fill out the BOC-3 form myself?
As a motor carrier, you cannot file it yourself. FMCSA says only a process agent, on behalf of the carrier, can file it. A broker or freight forwarder without commercial motor vehicles can file its own.
How much does the BOC-3 form cost?
FMCSA's fee schedule lists it at $0. Process agent companies charge for the service, and pricing varies. Our BOC-3 filing is $74.99.
How long is a BOC-3 good for?
The federal rule sets no expiration. A designation stays until a new one replaces it, or it is cancelled under 49 CFR 366.6T. Your agent company's own terms can include a yearly fee, so ask.
How long does a BOC-3 take to process?
When we file it, orders paid by 4 PM Eastern on a business day are usually filed that day, and it usually shows on your FMCSA record within one to two business days.
Do I need a BOC-3 for intrastate only?
FMCSA's rule requires a designation for each state a motor carrier is authorized to operate in or passes through, and FMCSA ties it to for-hire carriers with operating authority. We did not find FMCSA guidance written for intrastate-only carriers, so check with your state as well.
Do I file a new form when I change my name?
FMCSA says changes in designation are made only by filing a new Form BOC-3. Have your process agent company file it once your new name or address is on your FMCSA record.
Official sources
- FMCSA: Form BOC-3, designation of process agents
- FMCSA: Process agents and registered blanket companies
- 49 CFR Part 366: designation of process agent (BOC-3)
- 49 CFR 360.3: FMCSA registration fee schedule
- 49 CFR 365.109T: FMCSA review of the application (insurance and BOC-3 within 20 days of publication)
- FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I) public search
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- What Is a BOC-3? Cost, Who Files It, and How Often You Need One
- Why Is My MC Authority Still Pending? The Protest Period, BOC-3, and Insurance
- BOC-3 Filed but MC Authority Still Pending? Check Your Insurance Filing
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