Passenger MC authority (OP-1(P))
Reviewed by Korey Sharp-Paar · Updated
Motorcoach operators, charter bus services, fixed-route scheduled service, and tour operators apply for FMCSA passenger authority via Form OP-1(P). The application is prepared for you for $199 service fee plus the $300 FMCSA fee; it is submitted to FMCSA in Motus by you or a filer you authorize, and it goes through the same FMCSA review (49 CFR §365.109T) as property authority. FMCSA controls how long review takes. Passenger insurance minimums under §387.33T are higher than property - plan accordingly.
What OP-1(P) is
FMCSA operating authority for passenger motor carriers is granted under 49 USC §13902 and processed through Form OP-1(P). The application produces an MC number specifically for passenger carriage - common-carrier passenger, contract-carrier passenger, charter, and scheduled service all flow through the same form. Different from OP-1 (the property-carrier flavor) primarily in insurance minimums and the new-entrant audit scope.
The FMCSA review applies the same way: the BOC-3 and BMC-91 (passenger insurance) are due within 20 days of the application notice publishing in the FMCSA Register (49 CFR §365.109T), and FMCSA grants the authority once they are on file and the 10-day protest period has passed (49 CFR 365.203T). See our authority types breakdown for how passenger fits alongside the broader FMCSA authority categories.
Passenger-specific compliance
- §387.33T insurance minimums - $5M for 16 or more passengers (incl. driver), $1.5M for 15 or fewer (incl. driver)
- §385.307 new-entrant audit - passenger-specific item set, more demanding than property
- §391 driver qualification - same as property, plus P-endorsement requirement
- §382 drug & alcohol - applies the same to passenger CDL drivers
- §380 ELDT - applies to passenger CDL applicants
- State authority - many states require additional state-level passenger registration for intrastate
What our service covers
- USDOT registration if you don't already have one
- Form OP-1(P) prepared for you, with the $300 FMCSA fee itemized as its own line
- Submitted to FMCSA in Motus by you or a filer you authorize.
- BOC-3 + passenger-specific insurance coordination guidance
- Monitoring of FMCSA's records (Motus public search) during review
- Confirmation when FMCSA grants the authority
How the timing works
Your application is prepared for you once your information is complete; it is submitted to FMCSA in Motus by you or a filer you authorize. FMCSA controls the timing; no filing service can shorten it. There is no FMCSA expedite path.
Pricing
$199 service fee + $300 FMCSA fee = $499 total. Same as property OP-1. The FMCSA fee is its own line, paid to FMCSA.
| Item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Service feePreparing your USDOT and MC operating-authority application. | Fast Filing Group LLC | $199 |
| FMCSA application feeSet by FMCSA (49 CFR 360.3T), per authority type. Charged as its own line and paid to FMCSA with the application. | FMCSA | $300 |
| Total (service fee + FMCSA fee) | $499 | |
| Motus account setup help (optional)Added only if you choose it in the order form. | Fast Filing Group LLC | +$150 |
FMCSA charges a $300 application fee for each operating authority type (49 CFR 360.3T); a USDOT number is free. Our $199 service fee and the $300 FMCSA fee are itemized as two separate amounts before you pay ($499 total).
Passenger authority questions
How is OP-1(P) different from OP-1?
OP-1(P) is the passenger-carrier flavor of the operating-authority application. The form is largely the same as the property-carrier OP-1 - same applicant info, same FMCSA review under 49 CFR §365.109T, same $300 FMCSA fee. What differs is the insurance minimums (§387.33T: $5M for vehicles seating 16 or more including the driver, $1.5M for 15 or fewer including the driver, vs $750K-$1M for property carriers) and the new-entrant safety audit cadence (§385.307 - passenger audit covers expanded item set including drug & alcohol program).
Do I need separate authorities for charter vs scheduled service?
Generally, no - one passenger MC covers both regular-route (scheduled) and irregular-route (charter) service under FMCSA rules. The state-level authority can be separate: many states require additional state-level passenger authority for intrastate scheduled service, and ICC-style regular-route authority requires the OP-1(P) regular-route checkbox be specifically selected. For pure charter and tour service across state lines, the standard OP-1(P) is sufficient.
What about the §391 entry-level driver training rule?
The §380 entry-level driver training (ELDT) rule applies to passenger CDL applicants the same as property CDL. Passenger drivers also need the P (passenger) endorsement on the CDL plus the §391.41 medical certification. Carriers running passenger CMVs maintain a §391.51 driver-qualification file on every driver - same as property carriers. The additional cargo-specific items (school-bus S endorsement, hazmat H endorsement) layer on top of that baseline.
Other authority contexts
You might also need
- BOC-3 process agent - Order a BOC-3
- Driver MVR & CDLIS - FastDriverScreening
Start your USDOT and MC authority application
We prepare your USDOT number and MC operating-authority application; it is submitted to FMCSA in Motus by you or a filer you authorize. FMCSA charges a $300 application fee for each operating authority type (49 CFR 360.3T); a USDOT number is free. Our $199 service fee and the $300 FMCSA fee are itemized as two separate amounts before you pay ($499 total).
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.