Interstate Carrier ResourcesBOC-3 Filed but MC Authority Still Pending? Check Your Insurance Filing
Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 2, 2026
- A new authority goes active only when the protest period has passed and both your BOC-3 and your insurance filing are on record with FMCSA.
- Your insurance company files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA. You cannot file it yourself, and neither can a filing service.
- FMCSA's carrier data lists two insurance amounts for each authority: the amount required and the amount on file. A filing below the required amount does not meet the requirement.
- FMCSA does not publish how long an insurer's filing takes to show on your record. Ask your agent for the date it was filed, then check L&I.
Your BOC-3 is done and shows on your FMCSA record, but your MC authority still says pending. Once the BOC-3 is in, the piece FMCSA is most often still waiting on is your insurance filing. Here is how to check it yourself.
What has to be on file
After FMCSA publishes your application in the FMCSA Register, anyone has 10 days to protest it. Your insurance filing and your BOC-3 must reach FMCSA within 20 days of that publication. If no one protests and both are on file, the grant becomes effective. More on each stage in why MC authority stays pending.
Step 1: See whether an insurance filing shows
Search your MC or USDOT number on FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance (L&I) public search. It shows the insurance filings on record and the insurer that filed them. If nothing shows, your insurance company has not filed yet, or filed under a different number. Only your insurer can file it, on a BMC-91 or BMC-91X.
Step 2: Check the amount, not just the filing
A filing on record is not always enough. FMCSA's public carrier data lists two insurance amounts for each authority: the BI&PD insurance required and the BI&PD insurance on file. If the amount on file is lower than the amount required, the filing does not meet the requirement for that authority, and your agent needs to file coverage at or above the required amount.
| For-hire general freight | Liability minimum |
|---|---|
| Vehicles under 10,001 lbs | $300,000 |
| Vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more | $750,000 |
Hazmat, household goods and passenger carriers need more. See the full table in FMCSA insurance filings. FMCSA's own suspension wording shows the amount matters: an authority can be suspended for "no active insurance meeting minimum coverage on file."
How long the insurance filing takes
FMCSA does not publish a set time for an insurer's filing to show on your record. The clock starts when your insurance company files it, so the useful questions for your agent are the date they filed, the MC number they used, and the coverage amount on the filing. If you are past 20 days from publication, FMCSA serves a notice that the application will be dismissed unless you comply within 60 days, so do not let it sit.
While you wait
- Do not haul regulated freight for hire until L&I shows your authority as active.
- Your BOC-3 does not need to be filed again. It stays on record unless your process agent cancels it.
- Check L&I every few days so you know when the insurance filing posts.
No BOC-3 on file yet? That has to be in too. We can file it today.
Common questions
My BOC-3 is on file. Why is my MC still pending?
If the protest period has passed, the insurance filing is usually what is left. Check L&I: either no insurance filing shows yet, or the amount on file is below the amount required for your authority.
How long does an insurance filing take to post?
FMCSA does not publish a set time. It starts when your insurance company files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X. Ask your agent for the date it was filed and the MC number they used, then check L&I.
Where do I see how much insurance FMCSA requires?
FMCSA's public carrier data lists the BI&PD insurance required and the amount on file for each authority. For-hire general freight needs at least $750,000 for vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more and $300,000 under 10,001 lbs.
Do I need to file my BOC-3 again?
No. A BOC-3 is filed once and stays on record unless your process agent cancels it. FMCSA has no yearly BOC-3 renewal.
Can I haul while I wait?
No. Do not haul regulated freight for hire until L&I shows your authority as active.
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 Licensing and Insurance (L&I) public search
- FMCSA: Insurance filing requirements
- 49 CFR 387.9: minimum levels of financial responsibility
- FMCSA open data: Motus Carrier (BI&PD insurance required and on file, by authority)
- FMCSA open data: Motus authority history (all with history)
- FMCSA: Form BOC-3, designation of process agents
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- 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
- BOC-3 for Freight Brokers: Which States, Filing Your Own, and Keeping Broker Authority Active
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