How to Check if an ELD Is FMCSA-Registered (2026)

Quick Answer

FMCSA does not approve ELDs. Manufacturers self-certify each model and software version and register it on FMCSA's list at eld.fmcsa.dot.gov/List, and under 49 CFR 395.22(a) a carrier may use only a listed device. To check yours, find the six-character ELD ID on the device's inspection screen, search the registered list, then search the revoked list.

Key Takeaways

• FMCSA does not test, approve, or endorse any ELD. Providers self-certify each model and version and register it with FMCSA.
• Under 49 CFR 395.22(a), a motor carrier required to use an ELD may use only a device on FMCSA's registered ELDs list.
• Every listed device has a six-character ELD identifier. The same code shows as "ELD ID" on the roadside inspection display.
• FMCSA's revocation notices give carriers up to 60 days to replace a revoked device. After that date, drivers are cited for "no record of duty status" under 395.8(a)(1) and placed out of service.
• FMCSA removed devices in at least nine separate actions from January through August 2026, according to its ELD News and Events page.
• Since July 22, 2026, the printed ELD user manual no longer has to ride in the truck. The data-transfer and malfunction instruction sheets and 8 days of blank graph-grids still do.

Is my ELD FMCSA approved?

No ELD is "FMCSA approved," even if the box says so. FMCSA's own list page states that the devices are "self-certified by the manufacturer" and that the agency "does not endorse any electronic logging devices."

The process is set out in section 5 of Appendix A to subpart B of part 395. A provider registers online with FMCSA, then certifies that each ELD model and version "has been sufficiently tested" to meet the technical standard. FMCSA publishes the results so carriers can see which products were properly registered.

So the question that matters is not "is it approved?" It's "is this exact model and version on the registered list today, and not on the revoked list?" That check is your job as the carrier, not the seller's. If you're new to how these devices work, start with what an ELD is and what it records.

What does the FMCSA registered ELD list show?

Each row on the registered ELDs list covers one model and software version. Appendix A section 5.2.1 requires the provider to disclose most of these fields before it can certify:

• Device name, model number, and software version (often a range, such as "4.0.25 or higher")
• ELD identifier, the six-character code assigned by the provider
• A picture of the product and the user manual, both downloadable
• Company name, phone, email, website, and address
• Supported data transfer methods, plus step-by-step transfer instructions
• A summary of the malfunctions the device detects
• A certifying statement describing how the product was tested

Here's a real row as it appeared on October 14, 2026: Lucid ELD lists device "Lucid ELD," model RB139K, software version 4.0.25 or higher, ELD identifier L12NJ8, with telematic (web service and email) transfer. That's the level of match you're looking for with your own device.

The page also has a "Revoked ELDs" tab and a Download button that exports the registered list as a spreadsheet, which is handy if you run several device types.

How to check if an ELD is registered in 2 minutes

1. Open your ELD app's DOT inspection or roadside view. Appendix A requires the inspection display and printout to show "ELD ID" and "ELD Provider." Write down the six-character ELD ID.
2. Check the app's About or Settings screen for the model and software version number.
3. Go to eld.fmcsa.dot.gov/List and type the ELD ID into the Search box. Search by ID, not just the name, because many devices have near-identical names.
4. Confirm the row matches your provider, model number, and software version. If the list says "5.0.1 and higher" and you're on 4.8, update the app before your next trip.
5. Open the Revoked ELDs list and search the same ELD ID and company name. It should not appear there with your model and version.
6. Set a reminder to repeat this every quarter and whenever you hear about a new round of revocations.

Example: your inspection screen shows ELD ID "ABC123" and provider "Example ELD Inc." The registered list shows ABC123 for Example ELD Inc., model X1, version 3.2 and higher. Your app runs 3.4. You're good, as long as ABC123 isn't on the revoked list.

What is the revoked ELD list?

The Revoked list holds devices that are no longer on the registered list. Each row shows a status and a date. FMCSA labels some devices "Revoked" and others "Self Revoked."

Appendix A section 5.4 sets out how FMCSA removes a device. FMCSA sends the provider written notice with its reasons and the required fixes. The provider has 30 days to respond. If it doesn't respond, the device is removed. If it does, FMCSA decides, and the provider has 60 days to make any required corrections or the device comes off the list. A removed provider can ask for administrative review within 30 days.

Revocations were frequent in 2026. FMCSA's ELD News and Events page shows removals on January 13, February 12, March 4, April 2, May 7, May 20, June 23, July 9, and August 6, 2026. The most recent batch of five had a replacement deadline of October 6, 2026, which has now passed. See the five ELDs FMCSA revoked in August 2026 and our roundup of ELDs revoked earlier in 2026 for the device names and identifiers.

What are the red flags of a non-compliant ELD?

Any of these is a reason to check the lists today, not next quarter:

• No ELD ID on the inspection screen. The roadside display must show the ELD ID, provider, and malfunction status.
• Incomplete data transfer. A device must support both wireless web services and email (Option 1), or both USB and Bluetooth (Option 2). A device that can only show its screen or email a PDF doesn't meet the transfer standard. Our guide on how to transfer ELD logs at an inspection shows what a working transfer looks like.
• No malfunction indicator. Appendix A requires a single visual malfunction indicator that the driver can see from the normal driving position, lit whenever a malfunction is active. See ELD malfunction rules for what each code means.
• Can't produce 8 days of records. At roadside, the ELD must produce the current 24-hour period plus the previous 7 days, in the standard data file and on a display or printout.
• ID or version doesn't match. The ELD ID on your screen isn't on the registered list, or your software version falls outside the listed range.
• Provider name on the revoked list. Revoked providers sometimes have other devices with similar names. Match the ID, not the brand.

If you're shopping for a replacement, our list of questions to ask before buying an ELD covers registration checks and contract terms.

What should you do if your ELD is revoked?

FMCSA's revocation notices lay out the same two steps each time:

1. Stop using the revoked device and record hours of service on paper logs or logging software.
2. Replace it with a device from the registered list before the deadline in the notice, typically 60 days from removal.

Before the deadline, FMCSA's notices say safety officials are encouraged not to cite drivers on the revoked device and should review paper logs, logging software, or the ELD display as a back-up. On or after the deadline, a driver still using the device is cited under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1), "No record of duty status," and placed out of service under CVSA's out-of-service criteria.

Don't wait for the provider to fix it. FMCSA does relist a device if the provider corrects every deficiency, but the notices still tell carriers to replace it within the window. Export your old logs while you still have access, because 395.22(i) requires you to keep a back-up copy of ELD records for 6 months on a separate device. Our step-by-step guide on how to switch ELD providers covers the cutover.

A revoked ELD is not the same as a malfunction. The 8-day repair window in 49 CFR 395.34 is for faults in a registered device, not for devices FMCSA has removed.

Do you still need the ELD user manual in the truck?

No, not since July 22, 2026. FMCSA's final rule at 91 FR 37050 removed the requirement to keep a copy of the ELD user's manual in the CMV. FMCSA noted that every registered device's manual is already on file and downloadable from the ELD list.

The rest of the in-cab packet under 395.22(h) stays, as of October 2026:

• An instruction sheet for producing and transferring HOS records to a safety official
• An instruction sheet for malfunction reporting and recordkeeping
• Enough blank graph-grid paper logs for at least 8 days

Drivers must still be able to operate the device when an officer asks, under 395.24(d).

Educational content, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against current FMCSA regulations and your state's rules.

FAQ

Is there an official FMCSA approved ELD list?

There's an official registered ELD list at eld.fmcsa.dot.gov/List, but nothing on it is "approved." FMCSA says the devices are self-certified by their manufacturers and that it endorses none of them.

What is an ELD identifier?

It's a six-character code (letters A–Z and numbers 0–9) the provider assigns to a certified model and version, defined in Appendix A section 7.15. It appears on the registered list, on the roadside display as "ELD ID," and in the data file sent to officers.

How often does FMCSA revoke ELDs?

Often enough that a yearly check isn't enough. FMCSA announced removals in at least nine separate actions between January and August 2026, so check both lists every quarter.

Can I use a "Self Revoked" ELD?

No. A self-revoked device is off the registered list, and 395.22(a) allows only listed devices. FMCSA doesn't publish a replacement window for self-revoked devices, so switch as soon as you find one.

What happens if I keep running a revoked ELD after the deadline?

You're treated as having no ELD. Officers cite 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1) for no record of duty status and place the driver out of service until the problem is fixed.