Topic cluster
UCR Base State & Jurisdiction
UCR is a multi-state compact, not a federal program. Carriers register in their base state and the fee is shared across all participating states. The base-state rules determine where you file and which state's portal you use - not which states you can operate in.
Base-state rules: most carriers register in their state of principal residence (sole-proprietor) or principal office (LLC/corporation). If your state isn't in UCR, you register in the nearest UCR-participating state.
Currently 41 states participate in UCR. The non-participating states (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont, D.C., Hawaii) don't collect UCR but the carriers based there are still required to register through a participating state.
A carrier based in a non-participating state typically registers in the nearest participating state - California for AZ/NV; Idaho or Washington for OR; Colorado for WY. The receipt of the UCR registration is then valid in all participating states.
The cluster below covers base-state selection, which states participate, and how to handle a base-state move mid-year (the registration follows the carrier's base state of residence as of the registration date).
Independent filing service operated by Fast Filing Group LLC. Not affiliated with FMCSA, USDOT, UCR.gov or any government agency.
Reviewed by Korey Sharp-Paar · Updated
Guides in this cluster
UCR Base State Rules
41 states participate directly in UCR. If your principal place of business is in one of them, that is your base state. If not, pick a participating neighbor as your UCR base.
Read guide
When Is UCR Due? Dec 31 Deadline
UCR registration for the next calendar year opens October 1 and becomes enforceable January 1. The UCR deadline is December 31 - no statutory grace period.
Read guide
UCR 2026 Deadline & Late-Filing Penalties
The 2026 UCR portal opened October 1, 2025; pay before January 1, 2026 to operate legally. Miss it and the full fee is still owed, plus state enforcement.
Read guide
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your UCR Fee?
What happens if UCR isn't paid: enforcement is by the participating states, not FMCSA authority.
Read guide
UCR Violation Penalties & Fines by State
UCR violations are enforced by the participating states under their own laws. Any citation, fine, or court costs are separate from the unpaid UCR fee itself.
Read guide
Where to File UCR: ucr.gov, Base State, Filers
No UCR office exists near you. Every filing lands in one national system, ucr.gov, run by the UCR Plan - direct, mailed voucher, or a filer. Which door to use.
Read guide
What Is the Unified Carrier Registration Plan?
The Unified Carrier Registration Plan is the state-federal-industry body running UCR per 49 USC 14504a: 15-member board, the Agreement, ucr.gov, where fees go.
Read guide
Related resources
- UCR Tiers & Fee Math
How UCR fees are tiered by fleet size, what counts toward the vehicle count, and how the brackets affect fee due.
- UCR vs IRP, IFTA & 2290
How UCR compares with other interstate trucking compliance filings - IRP plates, IFTA fuel tax, Form 2290 HVUT - and what each one covers.
- Which states don't participate in UCR?
UCR FAQ.
- What states are NOT in UCR?
UCR FAQ.
- What is the UCR base state rule?
UCR FAQ.
- When is UCR due?
UCR FAQ.
- Missed a prior year UCR?
UCR FAQ.
- Can I pay UCR mid-year?
UCR FAQ.
- When does UCR deactivate?
UCR FAQ.
- Do states charge extra UCR fees?
UCR FAQ.
- How long does UCR filing take?
UCR FAQ.
- UCR mid-year vs annual renewal
Side-by-side comparison.
- Start your UCR order - from $90
We prepare your UCR registration; it is submitted to the National UCR System.