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How to Get a USDOT Number in 2026: Who Needs One, Cost, and the Motus Application

Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 10, 2026

The short answer
  • You need a USDOT number for interstate commerce with a vehicle of 10,001 lbs or more, certain passenger vehicles, or placarded hazmat. Many states require one for in-state carriers too.
  • There is no government fee for the USDOT number itself. Operating authority, if you need it, is $300 per type.
  • Since May 2026 you apply in Motus. The company official must pass the identity and business checks and sign the certifications personally.
  • A USDOT number is not permission to haul for hire. That is operating authority (the MC number).

A USDOT number is the ID FMCSA uses to track a company's safety record: inspections, crashes, audits. It is not permission to haul for hire. That is a separate step, operating authority (the MC number). Here is who needs a USDOT number and how to get one now that applications go through Motus.

Who needs a USDOT number

Under FMCSA's rules, you need one if you operate in interstate commerce with a vehicle that:

  • Has a weight rating or actual weight of 10,001 lbs or more (truck and trailer combined count), or
  • Is designed or used to carry more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation, or more than 15 passengers, or
  • Hauls hazardous materials in amounts that require placards.

Interstate is broader than crossing a state line. A trip that stays in your state still counts if the freight started or will end in another state or country. Intrastate carriers hauling hazmat that requires a safety permit also need one, and many states require USDOT numbers for in-state carriers too. Not sure? Our filing checker walks through it.

What about cargo vans and pickups?

A vehicle under 10,001 lbs, hauling non-hazardous freight, does not trigger the USDOT requirement on weight alone. But if you haul for hire across state lines, you need operating authority, and FMCSA issues every authority applicant a USDOT number as part of the application. See MC numbers for cargo vans, box trucks, and hotshots.

What it costs

There is no government fee for a USDOT number by itself. If you also apply for operating authority, FMCSA charges $300 per authority type. Full numbers are in how much it costs to get your own authority.

How to apply in Motus

  1. Create a Login.gov account for the company official, the owner or an officer who can sign for the business.
  2. Sign in to Motus and create your user profile.
  3. Pass identity verification: scan a government ID and take a selfie with your phone.
  4. Pass business verification for the company, so have your EIN (or SSN for a sole proprietor) and legal business name exactly as registered.
  5. Complete the application: address, vehicles, drivers, cargo, and whether you operate interstate or intrastate.
  6. Sign the oaths and certifications and submit.

A filing service can do the data entry, but FMCSA requires the company official to start the application, pass the identity and business checks, and sign the final certifications personally. More in how to set up Motus.

After you get the number

  • It may start inactive. If you also applied for authority, FMCSA activates the number once your insurance and BOC-3 filings are complete.
  • UCR every year if you operate interstate. See what UCR is.
  • MCS-150 every two years. See when yours is due.
  • The new entrant program for your first 18 months. See the safety audit checklist.
  • Drug and alcohol testing and the Clearinghouse if your drivers need a CDL.

Common questions

How much does a USDOT number cost?

There is no government fee for a USDOT number by itself. If you also apply for operating authority, FMCSA charges $300 per authority type.

Do I need a USDOT number for a pickup or cargo van?

Not on weight alone if it is under 10,001 lbs and hauls non-hazardous freight. But if you haul for hire across state lines you need operating authority, and FMCSA issues every authority applicant a USDOT number.

Do I need a USDOT number if I never leave my state?

Possibly. Interstate includes trips inside your state when the freight started or will end in another state or country. Many states also require USDOT numbers for in-state carriers.

Can someone apply for a USDOT number for me?

A filing service can do the data entry, but FMCSA requires the company official to start the application, pass the identity and business checks, and sign the final certifications.

Why does my new USDOT number say inactive?

If you also applied for authority, FMCSA activates the number once your insurance and BOC-3 filings are complete.

Who can file for my USDOT number, and what does it cost?

ICR Filings prepares and submits your USDOT application for $199. Our turnaround: submitted within 1 business day.

Official sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.

Related guides

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Your USDOT application prepared, reviewed, and submitted. Our turnaround: submitted within 1 business day. That is when we submit; FMCSA approval is separate and can take several weeks.

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