Why Is My MC Authority Still Pending? The Protest Period, BOC-3, and Insurance

Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 2, 2026

You paid FMCSA, you got an MC number, and weeks later L&I still says pending. A pending authority is not approved yet. FMCSA is waiting on time to pass, on a filing, or on both. Here is how to tell which.

FMCSA's authority history shows the stages by name. A new application usually starts as "Initial Status," then changes to "Published to FMCSA Register" once its summary is published.

What has to happen before your authority goes active

1. FMCSA reviews your application and publishes a summary in the FMCSA Register as a preliminary grant.
2. The protest period runs. Interested persons have 10 days from the publication date to oppose the application. Most applications get no protest.
3. Your insurance filing reaches FMCSA. Carriers need a BMC-91 or BMC-91X from their insurer. Brokers need a BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund.
4. Your BOC-3 reaches FMCSA. A process agent files it for you.

The rule gives you 20 days from the publication date to get the insurance filing and the BOC-3 in. If no one protests and both are on file, the grant becomes effective.

How to check where you are stuck

Search your MC or USDOT number on FMCSA's L&I system and open the carrier details. FMCSA's own steps: the Application Pending link at the bottom shows the pending application, and the Authority History link shows every status change.

Insurance showing but still pending? Check the amount on file against the amount required. See BOC-3 filed but MC still pending.

How long it usually takes

FMCSA estimates 20 to 25 business days for online applications, and says applications that get further review can take an additional 8 weeks or longer. That estimate predates the Motus rollout in May 2026, so build in some extra time.

If you missed the 20-day deadline

FMCSA serves a notice that the application will be dismissed unless you comply within 60 days. Get the missing filing in as soon as you can. Application fees are not refunded, so a dismissal means paying again.

Common mix-ups that slow things down

• The insurer filed under the USDOT number or a typo'd MC number, so it never matched your application.
• You bought a policy but the insurer never sent the federal filing. A certificate of insurance is not the same as a BMC-91.
• You paid a process agent but they filed for a different company name than the one on your application.
• You applied for more than one kind of authority, and each one needs the right filing.

For what recent applicants actually waited, see how long an MC number takes.

Still stuck? Call the FMCSA contact center (see how to contact FMCSA), or see the full MC number walkthrough.

Official sources

• 49 CFR 365.109T: FMCSA review of the application (insurance and BOC-3 within 20 days of publication)
• 49 CFR 365.115: after publication in the FMCSA Register (10-day protest period)
• FMCSA: Get operating authority (MC number)
• FMCSA: Check your authority status and get a copy of your certificate
• FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I) public search
• FMCSA: Form BOC-3, designation of process agents
• FMCSA: Insurance filing requirements

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

Related guides

• BOC-3 Filed but MC Authority Still Pending? Check Your Insurance Filing
• Same Day BOC-3 Filing: When You Need It Fast and How Quickly It Gets Done
• BOC-3 Process Agent: What It Means, What a Blanket Agent Is, and How to Switch Companies