Unified Carrier Registration is one of the simplest filings a motor carrier makes and one of the most commonly botched — usually because a carrier assumes their state is not involved, or pays a mailer that has nothing to do with the program.
Here is who must file, what it costs, and what is actually changing.
Who Must File UCR
UCR applies to motor carriers, motor private carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies operating in interstate commerce. Fees are based on the number of commercial motor vehicles in your fleet.
The most consequential misunderstanding: carriers based in a state that does not participate in the UCR Plan are still required to register and pay. Non-participation means the state does not collect and retain the revenue — it does not exempt that state’s carriers. Carriers based in non-participating states register through a participating base state.
Arizona is among the states that do not participate, which means Arizona-based carriers routinely assume UCR does not apply to them. It does.
Current Fee Brackets
Fees are codified at 49 CFR §367.50, which sets the schedule for registration years 2025 and thereafter:
| Bracket | Commercial motor vehicles | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | 0–2 | $46 |
| B2 | 3–5 | $138 |
| B3 | 6–20 | $276 |
| B4 | 21–100 | $963 |
| B5 | 101–1,000 | $4,592 |
| B6 | 1,001 and above | $44,836 |
Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies without commercial motor vehicles pay the lowest bracket.
What FMCSA Has Proposed for 2027
FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on April 7, 2026 at 91 FR 17618 (Docket FMCSA-2025-0655) proposing new fees for registration year 2027 and subsequent years.
These are proposed, not final. As of this writing FMCSA has not issued a final rule, and the fees in §367.50 remain the operative schedule. The proposal would raise fees by roughly 20% on average:
| Bracket | Current | Proposed 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (0–2) | $46 | $55 |
| B2 (3–5) | $138 | $167 |
| B3 (6–20) | $276 | $333 |
| B4 (21–100) | $963 | $1,163 |
| B5 (101–1,000) | $4,592 | $5,548 |
| B6 (1,001+) | $44,836 | $54,165 |
Treat any source presenting the 2027 numbers as settled fact with caution — until a final rule publishes, they are a proposal.
When Registration Opens
UCR operates on a pre-registration window: a three-month period opens on October 1 preceding the registration year, with fees due on January 1 of that year. The 2026 registration portal opened October 1, 2025, following that pattern.
For 2027, the UCR Board recommended FMCSA set fees no later than September 1, 2026 so collections could begin October 1, 2026. Whether that schedule holds depends on the fee rule being finalized — worth watching if you are budgeting.
Avoiding UCR Scams
UCR generates a reliable annual wave of official-looking mailers and lookalike websites charging inflated “processing fees” for a filing that is inexpensive and straightforward. The tells are familiar: urgent deadline language, a fee well above the published bracket, and a return address with no connection to your base state or the national registration system.
If a notice arrives that does not match the bracket table above, verify before paying. The same advice applies to Clearinghouse mandate letters, which follow the same playbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to file UCR?
Motor carriers, motor private carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies operating in interstate commerce, with fees based on fleet size.
Do I have to file if my state does not participate in UCR?
Yes. Non-participation affects whether the state collects revenue, not whether carriers based there must register. You file through a participating base state.
How much does UCR cost?
Under 49 CFR §367.50 the current brackets run from $46 for 0–2 commercial motor vehicles up to $44,836 for fleets of 1,001 or more.
Are UCR fees going up in 2027?
FMCSA has proposed an increase averaging about 20% (91 FR 17618, April 7, 2026), but it is a proposed rule. Until a final rule issues, the fees in §367.50 apply.
When does UCR registration open?
A three-month pre-registration window opens October 1 before the registration year, with fees due January 1.
How do I know if a UCR notice is legitimate?
Compare the amount against the published bracket for your fleet size. Fees substantially above the schedule, urgent deadline pressure, and unfamiliar payment addresses are common signs of a solicitation rather than an official notice.
File UCR Correctly With Vertical Identity
UCR is a small filing with real consequences — an unregistered carrier can be stopped and fined for a form that costs $46.
Vertical Identity handles UCR registration alongside the rest of your authority filings — BOC-3, MCS-150 biennial updates, and IRP — so nothing lapses and you never pay a mailer for something we already track.
Call (602) 899-1606 or enroll today.