UCR registration for 2027 is open, and the deadline is December 31, 2026. If your USDOT number is set to interstate, you owe it. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies owe it too. This guide covers the new 2027 UCR fees, who has to register, when it's due, and the fastest way to get it filed.
The price changed this year. FMCSA raised UCR fees by about 20 percent for 2027, so last year's amount won't match this year's bill.
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is a yearly federal registration for interstate carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. For 2027, the fee starts at $55 for companies with 0 to 2 trucks and goes up with fleet size. Registration opened October 1, 2026, and you must pay before January 1, 2027. TIPS files it the same day for $97, government fee included.
2027 UCR registration is open now. The national system opened October 1, 2026. Pay by December 31 and you're covered for all of 2027. Starting January 1, officers in UCR states can ticket you for running without it.
What is UCR?
UCR stands for Unified Carrier Registration. It's a yearly registration and fee for companies that operate in interstate commerce. The money goes to state programs that pay for truck safety and enforcement.
UCR is a base state system. You register once a year, and that one registration covers you in all 41 states that take part in the program. You don't file state by state.
UCR is separate from your USDOT number and MC authority. Having those doesn't mean your UCR is done. You renew UCR every year, even when nothing about your company changed.
Who has to register for UCR?
If your USDOT number is set to interstate, plan on filing UCR every year. That holds even if your trucks rarely leave your home state. These types of companies register:
- For-hire carriers that haul property or passengers across state lines, including exempt carriers.
- Private carriers that haul their own goods across state lines.
- Freight brokers, including brokers who never own a truck.
- Freight forwarders.
- Leasing companies that lease trucks to interstate carriers.
Carriers that only run inside one state with an intrastate USDOT number don't file UCR. Not sure which one you are? Check the operation type on your USDOT record. Or send us your USDOT number and we'll check it for you.
What if my state doesn't take part in UCR?
Nine states and Washington, D.C. don't take part in UCR: Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Wyoming. If you're based in one of them and you run interstate, you still register. You file through a nearby participating state instead. We file for carriers in those states too.
How much does UCR cost in 2027?
FMCSA sets UCR fees, and they're the same no matter which state you register through. Your fee depends on how many power units you run, meaning trucks, tractors, and buses. Trailers don't count.
| Trucks (power units) | 2027 fee | 2026 fee |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | $55 | $46 |
| 3 to 5 | $167 | $138 |
| 6 to 20 | $333 | $276 |
| 21 to 100 | $1,163 | $963 |
| 101 to 1,000 | $5,548 | $4,592 |
| 1,001 or more | $54,165 | $44,836 |
The fee is per company, not per truck. A company with two trucks under one USDOT number pays one $55 fee for both. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies with no trucks pay the lowest bracket, $55, no matter how large they are.
Those are the government fees. When TIPS files your UCR, the total for the 0 to 2 bracket is $97, and that includes the $55 government fee.
How much is UCR for one truck?
For 2027, UCR for one truck is $55 in government fees, the same as for two trucks. Through TIPS, the total is $97 with the filing done for you.
When is UCR due?
UCR runs on the calendar year. Registration for the next year opens October 1, and you must pay before January 1. For 2027, that means paying between October 1 and December 31, 2026. Enforcement starts January 1, 2027.
If you start a new interstate company in the middle of the year, register for the current year before you start hauling. You don't wait for October.
What happens if you don't register for UCR?
Each UCR state sets its own penalties. Officers check UCR at roadside inspections and weigh stations by looking up your USDOT number. If yours is missing, you can get a ticket, and in some states an officer can hold the truck until you register.
Paying late doesn't erase the fee. You still owe the government fee for that year, plus any ticket you picked up along the way. A single ticket usually costs more than the fee itself.
How to register for UCR
There are two ways to register. You can file through the national registration system at ucr.gov, or you can have TIPS file it for you.
Most carriers we work with hand it to us. The form is short, but the work around it is where carriers get stuck. You have to pick the right bracket, match the truck count on your USDOT record, and remember to file again next October. When TIPS files your UCR, here's how it goes:
- You place the order and give us your USDOT number.
- We pull your USDOT record and check your truck count and operation type.
- We confirm your bracket and your total with you before anything is paid.
- We file your UCR the same day and send you the confirmation.
- Next fall, we remind you before the 2028 deadline.
All you need is your USDOT number, the number of trucks you run, and a way to pay.
How to make sure you're in the right bracket
Your UCR bracket comes from the number of power units on your USDOT record, and that number comes from your MCS-150. If it's wrong, your bill is wrong. Say a carrier sold four of its five trucks last year and never updated its MCS-150. It can end up paying $167 for the 3 to 5 bracket instead of $55.
The fix is an MCS-150 update. We can update your MCS-150 before we file your UCR, so the bracket matches what you run today. Our MCS-150 guide explains how that record works.
Also watch your mail. Every fall, carriers get official-looking letters and emails about UCR from companies they've never heard of. Some charge two or three times the government fee. Before you pay anyone, check who sent it and what the total is. Our total for the 0 to 2 bracket is $97, and we tell you the exact amount before we file.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need UCR if I only drive in my state?+
Not if your USDOT number is intrastate only. UCR applies to companies in interstate commerce. If your USDOT number says interstate, you need to file, even if your trucks rarely cross a state line.
Do freight brokers need UCR?+
Yes. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies all register for UCR. With no trucks, they pay the lowest bracket, which is $55 for 2027. Starting a brokerage? Our freight broker guide covers the rest of the setup.
How much is UCR for one truck in 2027?+
The government fee is $55, the same as for two trucks. TIPS files it for $97 total, and that includes the government fee.
Do I have to register for UCR every year?+
Yes. UCR doesn't carry over from year to year. You register and pay for each calendar year between October 1 and December 31 of the year before.
How do I check if my UCR is current?+
Call or text us with your USDOT number and we'll check it for you. We can see which years are paid and which aren't.
My state doesn't take part in UCR. Do I still register?+
Yes, if you run interstate. Carriers based in a state that isn't part of UCR register through a nearby participating state instead of their own.
Is UCR the same as IRP or IFTA?+
No. UCR is a yearly federal registration fee. IRP covers your apportioned plates, and IFTA covers fuel tax. Most interstate trucks need all three. Our IFTA guide explains how fuel tax reporting works.
Your 2027 UCR, filed the same day.
Send us your USDOT number. We check your truck count, confirm your bracket, file your 2027 UCR, and send your confirmation. $97 for the 0 to 2 bracket, government fee included.
Questions first? Call (208) 278-6722 or text (208) 398-0635
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Sources: Federal Register: UCR fees for registration year 2027 · UCR Plan · FMCSA: Unified Carrier Registration
Last updated October 7, 2026. Fees and dates reflect the 2027 UCR registration year.