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FMCSA Motus Explained: What New Carriers Need to Know

By Authority Launcher · Updated October 29, 2026

Quick answer: Motus is FMCSA's new online registration system. It replaced the old Unified Registration System (URS) and the FMCSA Portal. New carriers use it to apply for a USDOT number and operating authority, verify their identity, pay fees, and manage their registration from one company account at motus.dot.gov.

What changed with Motus?

  • One system: USDOT registration, operating authority and updates now live in one company account.
  • Identity verification: new registrants must pass an identity check before they can use the system. Motus uses Login.gov, and FMCSA works with an identity verification vendor to check your government-issued ID.
  • Online only: paper filings are being phased out. The old OP-1 form is now best used as a worksheet to prepare your answers.
  • MC numbers stay for now: FMCSA deferred eliminating MC numbers to a later release.

How to get started in Motus

  1. Use FMCSA's USDOT Wizard to confirm whether you need a USDOT number only, or a USDOT number and operating authority.
  2. Go to motus.dot.gov and create your user profile. You'll sign in through Login.gov.
  3. Complete identity verification. Have a valid government-issued ID and a smartphone or webcam ready. If online verification doesn't work for you, FMCSA lists in-person enrollment center options.
  4. Create your company account and apply for your USDOT number and/or operating authority.
  5. Pay the $300 fee per authority type online.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Name mismatches. Your legal business name must match your IRS (EIN) and state records exactly.
  • P.O. boxes. Your principal place of business must be a physical address.
  • Picking the wrong authority. Each authority type costs $300 and you can't get a refund for choosing the wrong one. Most trucking startups need Motor Carrier of Property.
  • Hauling too early. Your MC number is not active until FMCSA has your insurance and BOC-3 on file and the protest period has passed.

Who else uses Motus?

Supporting companies such as BOC-3 process agents, insurance companies that file proof of coverage, and transportation service providers also use Motus to file on behalf of carriers. That's why your insurer and process agent can file directly to your record.

Frequently asked questions

Is Motus the same as URS?

No. Motus replaces URS. If you started researching before 2026, instructions that send you to the URS registration wizard may be out of date.

I already have a USDOT number. What do I do?

Existing registrants claim their USDOT number in Motus and verify their identity the first time they log in.

Next: How to get an MC number step by step.

Ready to start? Answer a few plain-English questions and we'll pre-fill every answer FMCSA asks for, show your fees up front, and walk you through filing in Motus. It's free to file it yourself.