UCR 2027: Who Must Register and What Happens If You're Late

If you run trucks across state lines, here's what you need to know about who must register, what it costs, and what happens if you miss the deadline.

What Is UCR, and Who Must Register?

The Unified Carrier Registration program is a federally required annual registration for companies involved in interstate transportation. It's established by 49 U.S.C. 14504a, and the fees are set in 49 CFR Part 367. The money collected goes to participating states to support motor carrier safety programs and enforcement.

UCR is:

• Annual. You register for each calendar year, and each year is separate.
• Per company, not per truck. Your fee is based on the size of your fleet, but you pay one fee per company.
• Not prorated. Whether you start running in January or November, the fee for the year is the same.

You need UCR if your business operates in interstate or international commerce and you are a:

• For-hire motor carrier (property or passengers)
• Private motor carrier hauling your own goods across state lines
• Exempt carrier (carriers hauling commodities that don't require operating authority still need UCR)
• Freight broker
• Freight forwarder
• Leasing company

The vehicles that count toward your fleet size are commercial motor vehicles, which generally means vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, along with certain passenger vehicles.

Carriers that operate only within one state (intrastate) don't need UCR. Even owner-operators with a single truck do need UCR if they run interstate under their own USDOT number.

2027 UCR Fees and Key Dates

FMCSA finalized the 2027 fees in a rule published September 1, 2026 (91 FR 56063), now found at 49 CFR 367.50. Fees rose about 20% on average over the 2025–2026 schedule:

Brokers and leasing companies with no trucks pay the Bracket 1 fee of $55.

Picking the wrong bracket is an easy mistake. Register too low and you can end up owing the difference. Register too high and you've overpaid. MCS confirms your correct bracket before filing.

Key Dates

• October 1, 2026: 2027 registration opens.
• December 31, 2026: Deadline to have your 2027 registration in place.
• January 1, 2027: Participating states can begin enforcing 2027 UCR.

Registering for 2027 doesn't cover past years. If you ran interstate in 2026 without registering, that year is still owed.

What Happens If You're Late or Don't Register?

UCR is enforced by the participating states, and missing it can cost you more than the fee itself:

• Roadside citations and fines. Officers can check your UCR status during inspections and at weigh stations. Fines are set by each state and are charged on top of the UCR fee you still owe.
• Delays at the roadside. A UCR violation can turn a routine stop into a long one while you get it sorted out.
• Audit exposure. States review UCR compliance, and carriers who skipped years or registered in the wrong bracket can be asked to pay what they owe.
• Trouble with customers. Brokers and shippers who vet carriers may pass on a company that isn't current on its registrations.

The simplest way to avoid all of this is to register before December 31.

How MCS Handles Your UCR Registration

Multimodal Compliance Services takes UCR off your plate:

• We confirm you need UCR and what type of entity you're registering as.
• We determine your correct fleet bracket so you don't overpay or underpay.
• We complete your 2027 registration, with the UCR plan fee included in our price.
• We send you confirmation once your registration is done.

MCS UCR service starts at $189, plan fee included, priced by fleet size. Need other filings handled too? We also take care of BOC-3 process agent filings, MCS-150 biennial updates, and Form 2290.