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How to Apply for a USDOT Number Online

The current place to file a new USDOT number is Motus, at motus.dot.gov. This website is an independent compliance filing service. It is not Motus, and it is not FMCSA.

The current system is Motus, at motus.dot.gov

FMCSA moved registration into Motus, which you reach at motus.dot.gov. Sign in as a regulated entity through Login.gov. FMCSA describes the change in Move into Motus. This site cannot sign you in and does not collect Login.gov passwords or identity documents.

The time-consuming part is getting into Motus, not finding the website. Login.gov and identity verification happen before you can finish a new registration.

Older pages that say to use URS are out of date

Some FMCSA FAQ pages still tell first-time applicants to use the Unified Registration System. One example is How do I register for a USDOT number?, last updated May 20, 2023. That path is no longer current. Use Motus instead of URS.

Using an outdated path wastes time and can land you on a system that is no longer current.

The online path, in order

Each of the steps below is its own login, form, or decision. They have to be done in order, and a wrong turn at the last step can create a second number.

1. Create or sign in with a Login.gov account.

   Account creation and two-factor authentication are a separate login before the USDOT form itself.

2. Complete Motus identity verification (a government-issued ID and a photo of you, often with a phone camera or a QR code).

   You need a valid government-issued ID and a camera, and the person signing in has to complete this personally.

3. Create a Motus user profile and a company account.

   The company account has to exist before you can start or claim a registration, so this is a separate step from the application questions.

4. If the company does not already have a USDOT number, start a new registration, then certify and submit.

   Certification and submission come only after the sign-in and identity steps, and the details have to match the legal company.

5. If the company already has a USDOT number, claim that record. Do not start a new registration to get another number.

   Confirming whether a number already exists, then claiming it, is slower than clicking "new" and is how you avoid a second record.

FMCSA describes claiming an existing number in the Claim a USDOT Number in Motus job aid. For sign-in trouble, see USDOT application sign-in and fmcsamotus.help.

Motus adds Login.gov, identity verification, and business verification before a filing is complete. Do not assume the number will appear the moment you begin the form. Track the registration action in Motus after you submit.

What you need in front of you

Have the legal name, tax ID, officer details, and a phone with a camera ready. The full checklist is on what you need before you apply.

Having the legal name, tax ID, and ID card ready saves you from stopping mid-form to hunt for them.

You can do this yourself at no charge, or request optional help

There is no FMCSA charge for a USDOT number. You may file in Motus on your own, or ask this service to prepare and file for a service fee. See USDOT application fees for how government fees differ from service fees.

Optional help is paid and is not required. Filing yourself is free at FMCSA for the USDOT number, but you still have the Motus steps above.

Frequently asked questions