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Home / Biennial update in Motus

Independent Guide to Filing a Biennial Update in Motus

This site is not affiliated with FMCSA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Login.gov, or any government agency. It is an independent help site. The official Motus system is motus.dot.gov.

FMCSA lists the biennial update as something registrants do in Motus. Here is how to approach it, and what the current pause does and does not change.

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Last reviewed November 15, 2026, against FMCSA's public pages.

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Motus is where FMCSA says to submit it now

FMCSA lists "Submit a Biennial Update" among the actions registrants take in Motus. FMCSA also says updating your information is free.

Sign in, open your claimed company account, and file there

Sign in at motus.dot.gov. If you have not claimed your existing USDOT number yet, do that first. See how to claim your USDOT number. Then submit the update from your company account. Do not start a new registration to file an update. Menu names can change, so follow the labels Motus shows you. For other record changes, see claiming and updating your record.

When it is due, and the temporary pause

FMCSA requires most entities to update their information every two years, on a schedule set by the last two digits of the USDOT number. For due dates and penalties, see dotnumberhelp.com's biennial update guide.

Recurring deadline. FMCSA requires the biennial update every 24 months, even if nothing changed.

FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates, and the inactivation of USDOT numbers for missing one, during the Motus transition. FMCSA says registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026 get more time and will not have their USDOT number inactivated for failing to submit it. The update is still required.

Intrastate-only carriers

This page covers the federal update. If you operate only within one state, check FMCSA's current Motus guidance and your state's rules. This site does not track state requirements.

If you cannot get into Motus to file

See if you cannot claim your USDOT number, or ask for optional help. FMCSA's "Updating your registration" page (last updated October 22, 2025, before Motus launched) still describes uploading forms through Ask FMCSA or mailing them. Check with FMCSA before you rely on a paper path.

These are FMCSA's contact options, not ours. FMCSA lists its Registration Customer Service Center at 1-800-832-5660 (phone or chat) and asks people to report Motus problems through a support ticket at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov, then follow up on that ticket instead of opening duplicates. Check FMCSA's notice for current hours.

What this part of the process involves

  • Signing in and claiming your record first
  • Reviewing each section of your company information
  • Filing by your due month, every 24 months
  • Insurance and BOC-3 filings, which other companies file for you

Rather not work through every step yourself? A Personal Compliance Specialist can prepare and file the parts that can be handed off.

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Do it yourself, or hand it off

Do it yourself in Motus

  • No FMCSA charge for a USDOT number or for updates. Government fees still apply to things like operating authority.
  • You handle every screen, form and certification.
  • You track recurring deadlines, such as the biennial update, yourself.

Have a Personal Compliance Specialist handle it

  • A paid, optional service. The fee is quoted before work starts and is separate from government fees.
  • Once you designate them in Motus as a service provider, they can prepare filings and do data entry for you.
  • You still complete your own identity check and the final certification. No one can speed up FMCSA's review.

Related guides

Where this information comes from

We write these guides from FMCSA's public pages and update them when FMCSA changes its guidance. Check the source before you act:

Questions people ask

Can I file my MCS-150 biennial update in Motus?

Yes. FMCSA lists submitting a biennial update as a registrant action in Motus.

Is the Motus update free?

Yes. FMCSA says updating your information is free.

Do I still have to file during the inactivation pause?

Yes. FMCSA paused enforcement and inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, but the requirement itself still applies.

I do not have Motus access yet. Can I file the update?

You generally need to sign in and, if you already have a USDOT number, claim the record first.

Should I mail an MCS-150 instead?

Use Motus if you can. FMCSA's older update page describes upload and mail options, but it predates Motus. Check with FMCSA first, and use only the current form if a paper path is still offered.

Rather not work through every step yourself? A Personal Compliance Specialist can prepare and file the parts that can be handed off.

Consult with a Compliance Specialist
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