How to Reactivate a DOT Number and Reinstate Your Operating Authority

If your USDOT number has gone inactive, you reactivate it by submitting an updated MCS-150 through FMCSA’s Motus system at motus.dot.gov. If your operating authority was revoked, you reinstate it by getting your insurance and BOC-3 filings on file, confirming your USDOT number is active, then submitting a reinstatement request and paying the fee. Knowing how to reactivate a DOT number is only half the job. The real question is which status you are actually in, because reactivation and reinstatement are two different repairs. This guide walks car haulers through both, plus the separate New Entrant path, so you can get your authority back and get your trucks loaded again.

First, Diagnose Your Status

Before you file anything, figure out which problem you have. Reactivation restores an inactive USDOT number, usually by filing an MCS-150. Reinstatement restores operating authority, your MC, MX, or FF docket, and FMCSA will not accept a reinstatement request while your USDOT number is inactive or Out of Service. Your existing USDOT and docket numbers generally do not change during reactivation or reinstatement, but you cannot conduct operations requiring those registrations until FMCSA restores them.

To manage your own record and file, use Motus, which in May 2026 took over the registration functions once split across the FMCSA Portal, URS, and the Licensing and Insurance system.

Then match your status to the right fix:

Status you see	What it usually means	What to do
USDOT Inactive	A missed biennial update or similar admin lapse	Reactivate by filing an MCS-150 in Motus
USDOT Out of Service	An FMCSA out-of-service order, which can result from a failed safety audit, an enforcement action, or another disqualifying condition	Resolve the underlying order first; you cannot reinstate authority while Out of Service
Authority Not Authorized (lapse)	An insurance filing gap, or a missing, invalid, or canceled BOC-3	Fix the filing, then reinstate authority
Authority Revoked	You previously held authority and it has since been revoked	Resolve the cause, then reinstate authority
Authority pending or never granted	You have not held authority yet	Authority pending: Track the existing application in Motus and complete any requested insurance, BOC-3, or supporting information. Authority dismissed or never granted: Follow the disposition instructions. FMCSA may permit an appeal or require a new application. Your existing USDOT number generally remains the same; docket-number treatment can depend on the registration action in Motus.
New Entrant revocation	Registration revoked during the 18-month New Entrant safety-monitoring period	Follow the separate reapply path below
Operating Authority Suspended	You voluntarily suspended your authority, for example a seasonal pause or while leased onto another carrier	Reinstate it in Motus. Suspended authority can be reinstated for up to one year after suspension

“Not Authorized” is a status label, not a single cause. It can come from a filing lapse, a revocation, or authority that was never granted, so read it alongside the reason FMCSA lists. Out of Service is more serious than a simple inactive number, since it is tied to enforcement or a failed audit rather than a missed form. An authority that shows Not Authorized can happen even when your USDOT number is active. Both the New Entrant path and the reinstatement steps are covered below.

Why a USDOT or MC Number Goes Inactive or Unauthorized

Knowing the cause tells you what to fix first.

Missed Biennial Update

FMCSA requires a biennial update every two years even if no information changed. If the business has stopped operating, notify FMCSA and inactivate the USDOT record rather than simply skipping the filing. Normally, skipping it deactivates your USDOT number, and the agency can assess civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, up to a $10,000 maximum. During the current Motus transition, FMCSA has temporarily paused those inactivations for updates missed since June 1, 2026 (see the note below), but the requirement still stands.

Insurance or BOC-3 Problems

Your operating authority can flip to Not Authorized if your car hauler insurance filing lapses or your BOC-3 process agent designation is missing, invalid, or canceled. Insurers file your coverage electronically with FMCSA, and the BOC-3 is a separate filing made by a registered process agent.

Out of Service or Audit Issues

Out of Service means the carrier is subject to an FMCSA out-of-service order and is not authorized to operate. The carrier must resolve the specific order before it can resume the affected operations or request reinstatement.

While your USDOT number is inactive or your authority is revoked, you cannot legally run the operations that require the affected registration or authority, and doing so can bring enforcement and penalties.

How to Reactivate an Inactive USDOT Number

If your USDOT number is inactive, here is the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Confirm Your Status First

Pull your SAFER Company Snapshot and check your Motus record so you know you are fixing the right problem.

Step 2: Access Your Record in Motus

Claim your company account in Motus using the same Login.gov email that was your company official on your prior FMCSA record, then finish identity verification. This replaced the old USDOT PIN and FMCSA Portal login. If you were not the company official, your email does not match, or identity verification fails, contact the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660 to verify your identity and link your account. Do not start a new registration to get around it, since that creates a duplicate USDOT number.

Step 3: Submit Your MCS-150 Update in Motus

Complete your MCS-150 update inside Motus. It is a guided online transaction where you enter and confirm your company details, not a PDF you upload. Filing the update for your own company record is free.

Step 4: Confirm Reactivation and Keep Your Info Current

Watch your status update back to active. Going forward, keep your company information current in Motus and update it when something changes. If you also need authority reinstated, you can submit an MCS-150 along with that request.

How to Reinstate Revoked Operating Authority (MC Number)

Reinstating authority, which is what carriers mean when they ask how to reactivate an MC number, follows a set order. Do it out of order and the request stalls.

Step 1: Make Sure Your USDOT Number Is Active

FMCSA will not accept a reinstatement request while your USDOT number is inactive or Out of Service, so reactivate it first if needed. You can file the MCS-150 with your reinstatement request if both need fixing.

Step 2: Get Insurance and BOC-3 on File

Your insurer files your coverage electronically with FMCSA using forms like the BMC-91 or BMC-91X; a certificate of insurance alone does not satisfy the filing. You also need a BOC-3 process agent designation on file. FMCSA sets insurance minimums that vary by operation, cargo, and vehicle type. For a for-hire carrier transporting nonhazardous property in interstate commerce with a vehicle rated at 10,001 pounds or more, 49 CFR 387.9 sets a $750,000 minimum for public-liability financial responsibility. Contractual liability, cargo, and on-hook requirements may differ, so confirm the limits required by your insurer and customers.

Step 3: Submit the Reinstatement Request and Pay the Fee

Once the underlying issue is fixed and your filings are in place, submit the reinstatement request in Motus. The fee is $80. It is non-refundable once accepted, so make sure everything is in order before you pay.

Step 4: Watch for Activation

With a complete request and valid payment, authority is typically active within about a week. It can take longer if FMCSA places the request under additional review or needs more information, so check your status before you take loads.

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If You Were Revoked Under the New Entrant Program

New carriers spend their first months in FMCSA’s New Entrant program, and a revocation there follows its own path, not the reactivation or reinstatement steps above. A New Entrant whose registration was revoked and whose operations were placed out of service may reapply no sooner than 30 days after revocation. Submit an updated MCS-150 marked ‘Reapplication after revocation of new entrant.’ If the revocation followed a failed audit, submit evidence that the deficiencies were corrected; if it followed failure to submit to an audit, the carrier must submit to the audit. Approval restarts the 18-month monitoring cycle.

If you are a for-hire carrier and your operating authority was also revoked, you have to apply for new operating authority, not just reapply for the registration. If you are effectively starting over, our guide on becoming an auto transport carrier covers setting your authority back up. Because a New Entrant revocation can come with an Out of Service order, clear that first, since you cannot simply file your way back in.

How to Keep Your Authority Active Going Forward

The cheapest fix is the one you never need. Staying on top of DOT compliance comes down to a few habits that keep your status clean.

Know Your Biennial Due Date

Your USDOT number sets your schedule: the last digit is your filing month, and the next-to-last digit tells you whether you file in odd or even years. Put it on a calendar you actually check, since the update is due every two years even when nothing changed.

Keep Insurance and BOC-3 Current

A lapse in either one can pull your authority back to Not Authorized, so confirm your insurer’s filing stays active and your BOC-3 stays on file.

Keep Your Motus Access and Contact Info Current

Keep your Motus login working and your contact details accurate so you can act fast and receive FMCSA notices. Update your record whenever your company information changes.

What This Means for Booking Loads on Super Dispatch

Your FMCSA status does not just sit in a government database. On Super Dispatch, a valid DOT number, and for interstate carriers active operating authority, is one of the requirements behind Verified Carrier status, alongside identity and business verification, the right cargo classification, your carrier entity type, and insurance on file. In other words, active FMCSA status is necessary, but it is not the only box to check.

If your DOT or authority status lapses, a Verified Carrier can be moved to Revoked, which limits marketplace access. A revoked carrier cannot request or bid on loads, though direct offers from shippers can still come through. Keep in mind that Verified Carrier status is a baseline eligibility check to operate in the marketplace, not a promise that a carrier is low risk or fraud free. Staying active and Verified is what keeps you eligible for full marketplace participation, including requesting and bidding on loads on the Super Loadboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to reactivate a USDOT number or reinstate operating authority?

Reactivating an inactive USDOT number by filing an MCS-150 is free. Reinstating operating authority costs $80, and applying for a new authority type under an active USDOT number costs $300 per type. Reinstatement fees are non-refundable once accepted, so fix the underlying issue first.

How long does it take to reinstate operating authority?

Operating authority is typically active within about a week of a complete reinstatement request with valid payment. It can run longer if FMCSA puts the request under additional review or needs more information, so check your status in Motus or the SAFER snapshot before you take loads.

What is the difference between an inactive USDOT number and revoked operating authority?

An inactive USDOT number is usually an administrative lapse, like a missed biennial update, and you restore it by filing an MCS-150. Revoked operating authority means the authority itself was pulled, often after an insurance or BOC-3 lapse, and you restore it with a reinstatement request. Out of Service is a separate, more serious status.

Why does my MC number show as Not Authorized?

Not Authorized means FMCSA does not currently show the entity as authorized for interstate, for-hire operations. Check the underlying registration action in Motus to determine whether the cause is revoked authority, a pending or dismissed application, missing filings, or no operating authority. Your insurer files coverage electronically, and the BOC-3 is filed separately by a process agent.

Do I need insurance on file to reinstate my operating authority?

Yes. FMCSA will not restore authority until the required coverage is on file, filed electronically by your insurer, meeting the minimums under 49 CFR Part 387, which vary by operation. Car haulers often need higher limits for brokers and marketplaces, plus separate cargo or on-hook coverage.

Getting Back on the Road

The fastest way back is to diagnose before you file. Check your status in SAFER and Motus, then match it to the right repair. Reactivating an inactive USDOT number means filing an MCS-150 in Motus. Reinstating revoked authority means getting your insurance and BOC-3 on file, confirming your USDOT number is active, and submitting the $80 request. A New Entrant revocation is its own path. Once you are active and Verified again, you are eligible for full marketplace participation, including requesting and bidding on loads. See how Super Dispatch helps car haulers keep their trucks loaded once their authority is back in good standing.