Carrier Launch KitMCS-150 Biennial Update: When It's Due
Last updated: October 20, 2026 · Sources: 49 CFR 390.19T, FMCSA Updating Your Registration, FMCSA Motus pages
Quick answer: Every motor carrier must update its USDOT registration (the MCS-150 information) every 24 months, even if nothing changed (49 CFR 390.19T(b)). Your month comes from the last digit of your USDOT number (1 = January … 9 = September, 0 = October). Your year comes from the next-to-last digit: odd digit, odd years; even digit, even years. The update is free with FMCSA, and since May 2026 it's done in Motus (motus.dot.gov).
How to find your due month and year
The schedule is set by your USDOT number (49 CFR 390.19T(b)). File by the last day of the month for your last digit:
| Last digit | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File by end of | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Year: if the next-to-last digit is odd, file in odd-numbered years. If it's even, file in even-numbered years (390.19T(b)(3)).
Example: USDOT 1234567 ends in 7, so the month is July. The next-to-last digit is 6 (even), so the update is due in even years: July 2026, July 2028, and so on.
Where to file
FMCSA's registration system, Motus (motus.dot.gov), launched for all registrants in May 2026, and registrants submit biennial updates there (FMCSA Registration). Your existing USDOT and docket numbers don't change. Motus uses Login.gov identity verification and each profile belongs to one person, so don't share your login with a dispatcher or "compliance service".
What it costs
The biennial update is free when you file with FMCSA (FMCSA Updating Your Registration). Some private websites charge for "MCS-150 filing". That's legal, but it's optional. Check the web address before you pay anyone.
What happens if you miss it
If you don't complete the update, your USDOT number can be deactivated and you can face civil penalties (390.19T(b)(4)). Also update your record whenever your legal name, address, fleet size or type of operation changes. FMCSA asks that changes be made "in a timely manner".
Checklist
- ☐ Write down your USDOT number and work out your month and year from the table above.
- ☐ Put the due date on your calendar, plus a reminder 30 days earlier.
- ☐ Set up your own Motus login (don't share it).
- ☐ Update right away if your address, name, fleet size or operation changes.
- ☐ Save a copy or screenshot of each completed update in your binder.
Keep every deadline in one place
The MCS-150 update is one of about a dozen recurring filings for a new carrier. The Carrier Launch Kit New Authority: First 90 Days kit includes a workbook that calculates your MCS-150 month from your USDOT number, plus a 12-month filing calendar. Get the kit → · Free First 30 Days Checklist
FAQ
Do I have to update my MCS-150 if nothing changed? Yes. The update is required every 24 months even if nothing changed (49 CFR 390.19T(b)).
How much does the MCS-150 biennial update cost? It's free when filed with FMCSA. Private sites that charge are optional.
Can my new authority be due for an update right away? It depends on your USDOT number. Use the last digit for the month and the next-to-last digit for odd or even years.
What happens if I miss my MCS-150 update? Your USDOT number can be deactivated and you can face civil penalties (390.19T(b)(4)).
Educational only, not legal advice. Carrier Launch Kit is not affiliated with FMCSA or USDOT. Check the current rule in the eCFR.
Want it all in one place? The New Authority: First 90 Days kit, $19.
Buy on Gumroad, $19Educational only, not legal advice. Affiliate disclosure.