The migration
The Unified Carrier Registration Plan permits each base state to administer UCR through the National Registration System (ucr.gov) or its own state-administered portal. For 2026, three states (Indiana, South Dakota, Vermont) migrated from one state portal vendor to another. Existing UCR data, payments, and historical records transfer automatically to the new vendor.
The fee schedule itself is unchanged: Bracket A (0–2 power units) holds at $46, Bracket B at $138, Bracket C at $276, Bracket D at $963, Bracket E at $4,592, Bracket F at $44,836.
Why payment receipts matter
Roadside inspectors verify UCR payment through the FMCSA SAFER system, not directly through state portals. Once your base state forwards payment data to FMCSA, SAFER reflects "UCR PAID" status. Migrations occasionally create a 7–10 day reconciliation lag where the state has the payment but SAFER hasn't synced.
Carriers in Indiana, South Dakota, or Vermont who paid 2026 UCR before the migration should download a copy of the payment receipt from the new portal's account history. If a roadside inspector flags you for "UCR not paid", the receipt resolves the dispute on the spot.
How to confirm UCR status
Look up your USDOT at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. The "UCR (Last Year Paid)" field should show the current registration year. If it lags by more than 14 days, contact your base-state UCR administrator.
Carriers operating in the seven non-participating states (Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming) still must pay UCR through one of the 41 participating states they enter most often.