A sourced fee guide for U.S. carriers

What does an MC number cost?

Government filing charges depend on the authority requested and must be confirmed with FMCSA before filing. Commercial filing help, process-agent service, insurance, and state requirements may add separate costs.

Apply through FMCSA Compare filing options

Research verified October 17, 2026. Government charges below are separated from private service prices.

01 / FEDERAL CHARGES

Confirm the charges and requirements for each filing.

USDOT number

Review USDOT requirements

A USDOT number is a safety identifier and is separate from operating authority. Confirm any applicable charge with the relevant agency before filing.

UDOT USDOT registration guidance

Operating authority

Confirm the applicable filing fee

The government filing charge depends on the authority type requested. Confirm the current amount with FMCSA before filing; the charge is paid to FMCSA.

FMCSA fee and refund policy

If you request multiple authority types, confirm which charges apply to those selections in FMCSA’s current instructions before submitting.

This is the government filing charge only. It does not set a price for help with the paperwork, a process-agent service, insurance, or state requirements.

02 / FILING OPTIONS

File directly or pay separately for assistance.

Apply directly

Pay the FMCSA fee yourself

Use FMCSA’s current registration process and confirm applicable government charges before filing. You handle the filing steps yourself.

FMCSA Motus guidance

Optional commercial help

Service prices are additional

One commercial listing prices its BOC-3 filing service at $100. That is the provider’s service price, separate from and additional to the FMCSA operating- authority fee; it is not a government charge.

TruckersAuthority’s $100 BOC-3 listing

OOIDA lists a no-cost BOC-3 benefit for members.

OOIDA identifies “No Cost BOC-3 Filing” as a member product. The benefit requires OOIDA membership; membership itself is separate and its price is not included or verified in this guide. This does not remove the FMCSA filing fee or other applicable costs.

OOIDA member services

03 / COSTS NOT VERIFIED

Several additional amounts are unavailable here.

  • California MCP: exact amounts are unavailable in this research. The California DMV says fees vary by operation and fleet size; no amount is estimated here. Check the DMV’s current handbook for your situation.
  • Other state costs: states not covered by the research have unverified fees. The guide does not assume those charges are waived or estimate a total; check the relevant state agency.
  • Expedited or priority filing: no price was verified, so no expedited amount is quoted.
  • AH service fee: AH’s $349 service fee covers USDOT registration assistance and one operating-authority filing. Government fees and third-party charges are separate; applicable fees must be confirmed before filing. Review the current package.

This guide does not quote a government fee amount. Other requirements may apply based on your carrier type, vehicles, insurance, and states of operation; confirm applicable fees before filing.

California DMV MCP requirements and handbook

Review AH filing package details

SOURCE DESK / CHECKED OCTOBER 17, 2026

References

Government sources support the federal and state guidance. Commercial pages support only the service prices or member-benefit descriptions attributed to them.