Is UCR registration annual?

Yes. Everyone subject to UCR registers with its base-State and pays the fee for each registration year (49 U.S.C. 14504a(d)(2)(A)(i) and (f)(4); UCR Handbook).

When is the UCR deadline?

According to the UCR Handbook, registration and payment must be completed before January 1 of the registration year, unless the UCR board postpones the due date for that year. States generally open registration on October 1 of the year before.

Do brokers and freight forwarders need UCR?

Yes. Brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies are covered. Brokers and leasing companies pay the smallest fee charged to motor carriers (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(1)(A)(ii)).

How is my UCR fee bracket calculated?

By the number of commercial motor vehicles owned or operated, taken either from your most recent MCS-150 or from the 12 months ending June 30 of the previous year (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(3)). The fee table for each registration year is in 49 CFR part 367.

Is there a UCR sticker or credential?

No. According to the UCR Handbook no credential is issued; officials check FMCSA databases, including at the roadside.

US · Expiry & renewal tracking

Renew your Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) every year

Interstate motor carriers, motor private carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies must register under the Unified Carrier Registration system and pay the fee to their base-State every calendar year (49 U.S.C. 14504a). Per the UCR Handbook, registration must be completed before January 1.

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system is set up by federal law, 49 U.S.C. 14504a. It covers motor carriers, motor private carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies, which register and pay fees under the UCR agreement. For UCR purposes "motor carrier" also includes carriers that are otherwise exempt under subchapter I of chapter 135 or by former Interstate Commerce Commission exemption actions (49 U.S.C. 14504a(a)(5) and (a)(8)).

Registration is annual. The UCR board issues uniform forms for the annual submission of the information a base-State requires (49 U.S.C. 14504a(d)(2)(A)(i)), and all fees are paid to the base-State, normally the State of the principal place of business (49 U.S.C. 14504a(a)(2) and (f)(4)). Motor carriers, motor private carriers and freight forwarders pay according to the number of commercial motor vehicles they own or operate; brokers and leasing companies pay the smallest fee (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(1)). The fees for each registration year are set by FMCSA in 49 CFR part 367.

According to the UCR Handbook approved by the UCR Plan's board, the registration year is the calendar year. The board recommends that States open registration on October 1 of the preceding year, and registration and payment must be completed before January 1 of the registration year for the operation to continue legally. After that date the fee is still due and a non-registrant may face State enforcement, unless the board has postponed the due date for that year.

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At a glance

Law	49 U.S.C. 14504a; fees in 49 CFR part 367
Who registers	Motor carriers (including certain otherwise exempt carriers), motor private carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies
How often	Every year, for each registration year (calendar year)
Registration opens	Usually October 1 of the preceding year (UCR Plan board recommendation)
Deadline	Before January 1 of the registration year, unless the board postpones it
Paid to	The base-State, through the UCR agreement (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(4))
Fee basis	Number of commercial motor vehicles (fleet brackets); brokers and leasing companies pay the smallest fee

Fleet size may be taken from the number of vehicles on the most recently filed MCS-150, or from the vehicles owned or operated in the 12 months ending June 30 of the year before the registration year. Vehicles used only in intrastate transportation of property, waste or recyclable material may be left out (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(3)).

Who is responsible?

The registrant itself: the motor carrier, motor private carrier, broker, freight forwarder or leasing company. It registers with its base-State, most often online through the national registration system run by the UCR board for the participating States (UCR Handbook).

If the deadline passes

Federal law allows a participating State to issue citations and impose reasonable fines and penalties under its own laws for failure to submit the required information or to pay the UCR fees (49 U.S.C. 14504a(i)(4)). The UCR Handbook adds that no UCR credential is issued: enforcement officials can check FMCSA databases, including at the roadside, to see whether a USDOT number has a current UCR registration.

New interstate carriers

According to the UCR Handbook, a carrier that adds interstate commerce to its USDOT profile, or registers in the national registration system, owes the UCR fee from that moment and is immediately subject to UCR enforcement. Register for the current year straight away, not only at the next renewal.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each company (USDOT number) that must register and record December 31 of the paid registration year as the expiry date, so the next year's registration is due by then.
Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the date itself, after registration for the next year has usually opened on October 1.
Assign a responsible person (for example your compliance or office manager) so the right person gets the reminder.
If the date passes, managers get overdue reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
After registering, upload the registration receipt and set the next date one year later.

Frequently asked questions

Is UCR registration annual?: Yes. Everyone subject to UCR registers with its base-State and pays the fee for each registration year (49 U.S.C. 14504a(d)(2)(A)(i) and (f)(4); UCR Handbook).
When is the UCR deadline?: According to the UCR Handbook, registration and payment must be completed before January 1 of the registration year, unless the UCR board postpones the due date for that year. States generally open registration on October 1 of the year before.
Do brokers and freight forwarders need UCR?: Yes. Brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies are covered. Brokers and leasing companies pay the smallest fee charged to motor carriers (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(1)(A)(ii)).
How is my UCR fee bracket calculated?: By the number of commercial motor vehicles owned or operated, taken either from your most recent MCS-150 or from the 12 months ending June 30 of the previous year (49 U.S.C. 14504a(f)(3)). The fee table for each registration year is in 49 CFR part 367.
Is there a UCR sticker or credential?: No. According to the UCR Handbook no credential is issued; officials check FMCSA databases, including at the roadside.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 1, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

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Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each unified Carrier Registration (UCR) (US) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

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