MCS-150 Biennial Update: When It's Due and How to File in 2026

Quick Answer

Your MCS-150 biennial update is due every 24 months, by the last day of the month set by the last digit of your USDOT number (1 = January through 9 = September, 0 = October). The next-to-last digit sets the year: odd digit, odd years; even digit, even years. You must file even if nothing changed, and in 2026 you file it free in FMCSA's Motus system.

Key Takeaways

• The filing schedule is set by 49 CFR 390.19T: the last digit of your USDOT number picks the month, and the next-to-last digit picks odd or even years.
• Nobody's biennial update falls in November or December. A USDOT number ending in 0 is due by October 31.
• FMCSA counts any update you filed in the 12 months before your due date, so filing early works.
• Since May 19, 2026, you file in Motus at motus.dot.gov using a Login.gov sign-in. Your USDOT and MC numbers did not change.
• As of October 2026, FMCSA has paused enforcement and USDOT inactivation for biennial updates due on or after June 1, 2026, until further notice.
• When enforcement applies, a missed update can mean USDOT deactivation plus civil penalties of up to $1,584 per day, capped at $15,846.

When is my MCS-150 biennial update due?

Under 49 CFR 390.19T(b), every interstate motor carrier files an MCS-150 before it starts operating and then every 24 months. The due date is the last day of the month tied to the last digit of your USDOT number.

The year comes from the next-to-last digit. If it's odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), you file in odd-numbered years. If it's even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), you file in even-numbered years.

The date you got your number doesn't matter. Only those two digits do.

You may still see the older section 49 CFR 390.201 quoted. It uses the same schedule, but FMCSA suspended it indefinitely in November 2023, so 390.19T is the rule in effect.

How do I figure out my exact due date?

Look at the last two digits of your USDOT number, then apply the two rules. Say your USDOT number is 2504711: the last digit is 1, so your month is January. The next-to-last digit is also 1, which is odd, so you file in odd years. Your next due date is January 31, 2027.

Note that February 2028's last day is the 29th (leap year). The most common mistake is swapping the digits.

If you're still sorting out which number is which, our guide to DOT number vs. MC number explains it. The biennial schedule always runs off the USDOT number, not the MC docket number.

Do you have to file if nothing changed?

Yes. FMCSA's updating your registration page says the update is required every two years even if your information hasn't changed, you've stopped interstate operations, or you're out of business and never told FMCSA. Filing is free.

Three related rules from FMCSA's biennial update FAQ:

• Changes within 30 days: FMCSA also wants your registration updated within 30 days of any change, such as an address, phone number, email, or power unit count.
• 12-month credit: If you report changes in the 12 months before your due date, FMCSA treats that as your biennial update. With a January 31, 2027 due date, an update filed in February 2026 or later counts.
• Early filing doesn't move your cycle: Your due dates stay fixed by your USDOT number no matter when you file.

Intrastate-only carriers are not subject to the federal biennial requirement, according to FMCSA's September 2026 notice. Intrastate carriers that hold a Hazardous Materials Safety Permit still file (Form MCS-150B under 390.19T(a)(2)). Some states require intrastate carriers to keep their FMCSA record current, so check your state's rules. Our guide on intrastate vs. interstate rules covers where that line falls.

Is the biennial update suspended in 2026?

Partly, and only for now. FMCSA launched Motus to all registrants on May 19, 2026, and the switch caused access problems for many carriers.

FMCSA's temporary suspension notice, last updated September 10, 2026, says it 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.

As of October 13, 2026, FMCSA has set no end date. Its September bulletin says the pause runs until further notice and that FMCSA will give ample warning before it starts enforcing again.

The requirement itself is still in 390.19T. If your update was due in mid-2026, file it once you can get into Motus rather than waiting for the deadline to come back. The pause also does nothing for updates due before June 1, 2026.

How do you file the MCS-150 biennial update in Motus?

Motus replaced the FMCSA Portal and URS registration tools. Registration options in the Portal shut off May 14, 2026, and USDOT PINs are no longer used. These steps come from FMCSA's Move into Motus page and its Motus job aids.

1. Type motus.dot.gov into your browser yourself. FMCSA warns about phishing emails and look-alike sites, and real FMCSA emails come from @dot.gov addresses.
2. Sign in with Login.gov. On your first login, set up your user profile and complete identity verification.
3. If this is your first time in Motus, claim your USDOT number. Use the same Login.gov email that was on file as the Company Official in the FMCSA Portal, then select "Link USDOT Number" when the pop-up appears.
4. Pick your USDOT number, enter the verification code sent to your Login.gov email, and accept the certification with your name as an e-signature.
5. Review your business information, then click "Certify" in the orange banner and accept the final certification to finish claiming.
6. On your company account page, open the "Biennial Update Information" section and click "Start."
7. Confirm or correct your operating details, then submit. Check that your record shows the new update date, and save any confirmation.

Have your current power unit count, driver count, and recent annual mileage ready before you start. Your ELD or fuel records are a good source for mileage, and Lucid ELD support can show you where to find mileage reports if you're not sure.

If the claim pop-up doesn't appear or your number doesn't show up, use "Contact FMCSA" inside Motus or call the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660. FMCSA says phone hours were extended to 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern on weekdays, plus Saturdays.

What happens if you miss the biennial update?

Under 390.19T(b)(4), a carrier that skips its biennial update faces two consequences: deactivation of its USDOT number, and civil penalties under 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B) or 14901(a).

The law sets the 521(b)(2)(B) penalty at up to $1,000 per day with a $10,000 cap. FMCSA adjusts those figures for inflation each year in 49 CFR part 386, Appendix B. The current recordkeeping and reporting amount is up to $1,584 per day, capped at $15,846. FMCSA's own web page still shows the unadjusted $1,000 and $10,000 numbers.

Deactivation usually hurts more than the fine, since brokers and inspectors check your status. Your registration data also feeds FMCSA safety measures, so out-of-date mileage and power unit counts can skew the figures behind your CSA scores.

New carriers have one more reason to stay current. If you're still in the new entrant program, a stale address, phone number, or email on your record makes it easier to miss FMCSA notices about your new entrant safety audit.

What should you do if your USDOT number was deactivated?

Check your status first using Motus public search (motus.dot.gov/public/search) by USDOT number, legal name, or DBA.

1. Confirm the reason. Deactivation for a missed biennial update is different from an authority revocation for lapsed insurance, and the fix is different.
2. Sign in to Motus and claim your USDOT number if you haven't yet. FMCSA says reinstatement applications and record updates are now handled inside Motus.
3. Complete the overdue biennial update with current, accurate numbers.
4. If Motus won't let you file or your status doesn't change, open a ticket at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov or call 1-800-832-5660. FMCSA asks you to follow up on an existing ticket rather than open duplicates.
5. Hold off on interstate loads until your record shows active again, and keep proof of when you filed.

If your due date was before June 1, 2026 and you missed it, the 2026 pause doesn't apply to you. Fix it now.

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

FAQ

How do I find my MCS-150 due date?

Take the last digit of your USDOT number for the month (0 means October) and the next-to-last digit for the year (odd means odd years, even means even years). The update is due by the last day of that month.

Is there a fee to file the MCS-150 biennial update?

No. FMCSA says updating your information is free. Third-party services charge for filing on your behalf, but you can do it yourself in Motus at no cost.

Can I file my biennial update early?

Yes. FMCSA counts an update reported in the 12 months before your due date as meeting that cycle's requirement. Your future due dates stay the same.

Do I need a new USDOT number for Motus?

No. Your USDOT and MC numbers carried over. You sign in with Login.gov, verify your identity, and claim your existing USDOT number with the same Login.gov email used by your Company Official in the old FMCSA Portal.

Will I be deactivated if I miss my 2026 biennial update?

Not right now if your update was due on or after June 1, 2026. FMCSA has paused enforcement and inactivation for those updates until further notice. Updates due before June 1, 2026 are not covered, and FMCSA says it will give warning before the pause ends.