UCR registration: 2027 fees and who has to register
Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 6, 2026
Register and pay online through the National Registration System at ucr.gov. [4]
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is a yearly fee that interstate motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies pay. Fees went up for 2027, and registration for 2027 opened on October 1, 2026. [2][3][5]
On this page
2027 UCR fees
Motor carriers, private carriers, and freight forwarders pay by the number of commercial motor vehicles they operate. Brokers and leasing companies pay the smallest fee no matter how big they are.
| Vehicles | 2027 fee | 2026 fee |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | $55 | $46 |
| 3–5 | $167 | $138 |
| 6–20 | $333 | $276 |
| 21–100 | $1,163 | $963 |
| 101–1,000 | $5,548 | $4,592 |
| 1,001 and up | $54,165 | $44,836 |
| Brokers and leasing companies | $55 | $46 |
Why the fee went up
The 2027 increase, about 20% on average, was finalized on September 1, 2026 and took effect on October 1, 2026. It isn't an automatic yearly raise: the 2027 fees stay in place for later years until a future rule changes them. [5]
Who has to register
Interstate motor carriers (for-hire, private, and exempt), freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies must register and pay each year. Businesses that operate only within one state aren't subject to UCR.
Your base state is the participating state where your principal place of business is. Forty-one states take part. If your home state doesn't participate, you may designate another state where you keep an office or operating facility as your base state. [3][5][6]
How to count your vehicles
You can use the number of vehicles on your most recent MCS-150, or the total vehicles you owned or operated in the 12 months ending June 30 of the year before the registration year.
Trailers aren't counted. You may leave out vehicles used only for intrastate transportation of property. [3][6]
Unified Carrier Registration renewal: when to register each year
UCR is an annual fee, so you register and pay again for each new registration year. Registration for a fee year opens on October 1 of the year before and stays open for late registration through December 31 of the year after. For 2026, the UCR Board recommended that states begin enforcement on January 1, 2026.
States that participate can cite and fine carriers that haven't paid. [3][5][6][7]
Where to register
Register and pay online through the National Registration System at ucr.gov. If you operated in an earlier year without registering, you have to complete that year's registration there too. [4]
Common questions
I'm a one-truck owner-operator. What do I pay for 2027?
$55, the fee for 0 to 2 vehicles. It was $46 for 2026. [1]
Do I need UCR if I only run in my own state?
No. Businesses whose operations are wholly intrastate aren't subject to UCR. [3]
How do I renew my UCR registration?
Register and pay for the new year online through the National Registration System at ucr.gov. Registration for each year opens on October 1 of the year before, so 2027 registration opened on October 1, 2026. It stays open for late registration through December 31 of the year after. [2][4][5]
Do trailers count toward my fleet size?
No. Trailers aren't included when calculating fleet size. [3]
My state doesn't participate in UCR. Am I exempt?
UCR applies to interstate motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers and leasing companies wherever they're based. If your home state doesn't participate, you may designate another state where you keep an office or operating facility as your base state. [3][6]
Sources (7)
- 49 CFR Part 367 - Standards for Registration with States (eCFR, versioner API, as of 2026-10-01) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- UCR Plan home page (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Pennsylvania PUC - Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Texas DMV - Unified Carrier Registration (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement, final rule, 91 FR 56063 (Sept. 1, 2026) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- 49 U.S.C. 14504a - Unified Carrier Registration System plan and agreement (govinfo, 2023 ed.) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- UCR Dispatch - January 2026 (accessed Oct 6, 2026)