Compliance FAQ
Is MCS-150 the same as UCR?
No. MCS-150 is FMCSA biennial registration; UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) is a separate annual-fee program collected by participating states under 49 USC §14504a. Both apply to most interstate carriers, but they are different filings with different agencies and different fee structures.
Reviewed by Korey Sharp-Paar · Updated
Why does it matter?
MCS-150 updates the FMCSA carrier record under 49 CFR §390.19T. There is no fee. The form runs on a 24-month cycle keyed to the USDOT number.
UCR is a state-administered fee program. The carrier pays a single annual fee based on fleet size; the fees fund participating-state motor-carrier safety programs. For 2027 registrations (opened October 1, 2026) fees range from $55 (0-2 vehicles) up to $54,165 (1,001+ vehicles) per year; the 2026 schedule ran $46 to $44,836. UCR is filed in the carrier's base state and the registration is honored in every UCR-participating state.
Both apply to most interstate carriers. A new owner-operator typically files: USDOT (free), MCS-150 (free), MC if for-hire ($300), BOC-3, UCR, HVUT 2290 (if a heavy vehicle is registered), and IRP/IFTA (state-by-state). MCS-150 and UCR are two of those line items, not one.
Practical confusion: state DMVs sometimes refer to "the federal registration" loosely without distinguishing MCS-150 from UCR. They are separate programs administered by different bodies - FMCSA for MCS-150, the UCR national board (with state collection) for UCR.
Start your MCS-150 update online
We prepare your MCS-150 update; it is submitted to FMCSA in Motus by you or a filer you authorize. FMCSA charges no fee to file the MCS-150. Our service fee and any add-on are itemized before you pay.
Submitted to FMCSA in Motus by you or a filer you authorize.
Independent filing service operated by Fast Filing Group LLC. Not affiliated with FMCSA, USDOT or any government agency.