Reinstatement Process & Timeline

Reinstating revoked operating authority follows a predictable order: identify the cause, file the cure, pay any fees, and confirm activation in FMCSA's records. FMCSA controls the timing.

The first step is always identifying the cause. Look up the carrier in FMCSA's Motus public search (by USDOT number or company name) and check the operating-authority status detail - the revocation reason is recorded (e.g., "Insurance Cancelled," "BOC-3 Cancelled"). The cure flows from the reason.

Once the cause is known, the cure is filed: insurance certificate from the agent, BOC-3 from a new provider, MCS-150 update in Motus (motus.dot.gov, which replaced the FMCSA Portal and URS on May 14, 2026), or - for safety-rating issues - a full Corrective Action Plan and upgrade audit.

FMCSA controls how long it takes to process a reinstatement filing. There is a flat $80 reinstatement fee (49 CFR §360.3T(f)(52), the same for MC, MX, MC-B, and FF authority) the FMCSA collects directly during this process.

The cluster below covers the end-to-end process, the cost breakdown, and the most common pitfalls (filing the wrong cure, missing supporting documents, waiting on stale insurance certificates).