MCS-150 biennial update: when it's due and how to file
Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 6, 2026
- CostFree from FMCSA [1]
- DueEvery 24 months, in the month set by your USDOT number [2]
- WhoEvery interstate motor carrier [2]
- Wheremotus.dot.gov [3]
File your biennial update in Motus, FMCSA's registration system. [3][4]
Every interstate motor carrier has to file Form MCS-150 before it starts operating and then update it every 24 months, even if nothing has changed. This every-24-months filing is called the biennial update. The month and year are set by your USDOT number. Enter it below to find your date. [1][2]
On this page
Note: Because of the Motus transition, FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and the inactivation of USDOT numbers. Registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026 get extra time and will not be inactivated for missing it.
How the schedule works
The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month: 1 is January, 2 is February, and so on through 9 for September, with 0 for October. The update is due by the last day of that month, so nobody's update falls in November or December.
The next-to-last digit sets the year. If it's odd, you file in odd-numbered years; if it's even, you file in even-numbered years. For example, USDOT 1234567 ends in 7 (July) and its next-to-last digit is 6 (even), so it's due by July 31 of every even year. [2]
How to file the MCS-150 update online in 2026
Since Motus went live on May 19, 2026, the biennial update and changes to your business details, such as your name and address, are submitted in Motus at motus.dot.gov.
Motus uses Login.gov with identity verification. If your company already has a USDOT number, you claim it in Motus using the same Login.gov email the company official used in the old FMCSA Portal. Filing the update is free. [1][3][5]
Enforcement is paused during the Motus switch
Because of the move to Motus, FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial update and the inactivation of USDOT numbers. Registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026 get extra time and won't be inactivated for missing it. [6]
What happens if you don't update
Normally, a carrier that doesn't complete the biennial update faces civil penalties and deactivation of its USDOT number. Filing false or misleading information on the form also carries penalties.
FMCSA's own registration page says the penalty for not updating can be up to $1,000 a day, to a maximum of $10,000. [1][2]
If your details change between updates
If you change your legal business name, address, or other details, FMCSA asks carriers to update their USDOT and operating authority records in a timely manner. You don't have to wait for your biennial month. Only your legal name or a single trade name may go on the MCS-150. [1][2]
Common questions
Do I have to file if nothing changed?
Yes. FMCSA requires the biennial update even if nothing has changed, and even if you've stopped interstate operations or gone out of business without telling FMCSA. [1]
How much does the MCS-150 update cost?
Nothing. Updating your registration with FMCSA is free. [1]
Who can I call with questions?
FMCSA's Registration Customer Service Center at 1-800-832-5660. Its hours have been extended to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern on weekdays, plus Saturdays. [6]
Sources (6)
- FMCSA - Updating Your Registration or Authority (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- eCFR - 49 CFR 390.19T Motor carrier ... identification reports (via eCFR versioner API, current as of 2026-10-02) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- FMCSA - Move into Motus (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- FMCSA - Move into Motus (last updated May 18, 2026) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- U.S. DOT press release - Secretary Duffy Launches New Anti-Fraud Registration System (May 19, 2026) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- FMCSA - Temporary Suspension of the Biennial Update Requirement (accessed Oct 6, 2026)