FMCSA published a final rule on Sept. 1, 2026 adopting the UCR Board's recommended fee increase for registration year 2027 and subsequent years. It takes effect Oct. 1, 2026, which is also the day the 2027 registration window opens.
The increase averages 20% over the fee structure used for 2025 and retained for 2026. In dollar terms it ranges from $9 to $9,329 per entity depending on your bracket. FMCSA notes the 2027 fees are still lower than those in effect from 2019 through 2022.
This is a compliance summary, not legal advice. Confirm your bracket and file through official channels.
The 2027 fee table
| Bracket | Commercial motor vehicles | 2026 fee | 2027 fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | 0–2 | $46 | $55 | +$9 |
| B2 | 3–5 | $138 | $167 | +$29 |
| B3 | 6–20 | $276 | $333 | +$57 |
| B4 | 21–100 | $963 | $1,163 | +$200 |
| B5 | 101–1,000 | $4,592 | $5,548 | +$956 |
| B6 | 1,001 and above | $44,836 | $54,165 | +$9,329 |
Brokers, freight forwarders without vehicles, and leasing companies pay the B1 rate: $55 for 2027, up from $46.
The fees are codified at 49 CFR 367.50 for registration year 2027 and subsequent years.
Who has to register
UCR applies to entities engaged in interstate commerce:
- Motor carriers, both exempt and non-exempt
- Motor private carriers of property
- Brokers and freight forwarders
- Leasing companies
If you operate only intrastate and never cross a state line — and your cargo never moves in interstate commerce — UCR generally does not apply. That second condition catches people. Hauling a load within one state that is part of an interstate movement can still put you in scope.
Your bracket is based on the number of commercial motor vehicles you own or operate, which should tie to your MCS-150. Carriers who let their MCS-150 go stale routinely register in the wrong bracket, which is a problem in both directions: underpay and you have a compliance gap, overpay and nobody refunds you cheerfully.
Dates that matter
- Oct. 1, 2026 — new fees take effect and 2027 registration opens.
- Oct. 1, 2026 — deadline for petitions for reconsideration of the final rule.
- Dec. 31, 2026 — the conventional deadline to be registered for the 2027 year. States generally begin enforcing on Jan. 1.
FMCSA describes the collection mechanics this way: collections for a fee year begin Oct. 1 of the preceding year to allow advance registration, and the window stays open until Dec. 31 of the year following the fee year to accommodate late registrations and dispute resolution. That back end is administrative housekeeping, not a license to file late — enforcement at roadside and at audit keys off whether you are registered for the current year.
Confirm the operative dates for your states at the official UCR site before you rely on them.
Register through the official system
This is where carriers lose money every year. Search results for "UCR registration" are full of lookalike sites that charge a service fee on top of the actual fee, and some collect your DOT number and payment details while providing very little.
Register through the official Unified Carrier Registration national registration system at plan.ucr.gov, or through your base state's participating system. If a site is charging a "processing fee" well above the bracket amounts in the table above, you are not on the official system.
What to do
- Verify your vehicle count first. Count power units you own or operate in interstate commerce, and make sure the MCS-150 matches.
- Update the MCS-150 if it is wrong before you register, not after.
- Register early. The window opens Oct. 1. There is no discount for waiting, and December is when the official system is busiest.
- Keep the receipt with your other registration records. It comes up at audits — see our DOT audit document checklist.
- Budget for it if you are a larger fleet. A B5 carrier is paying almost $1,000 more this year; a B6 fleet is paying more than $9,000 more.
- Do not forget brokerage authority. If you hold both carrier and broker authority, check how your base state handles it.
Quick answers
How much is UCR for 2027? $55 for 0–2 vehicles, $167 for 3–5, $333 for 6–20, $1,163 for 21–100, $5,548 for 101–1,000, and $54,165 for 1,001 and above. Brokers and leasing companies pay $55.
When is the UCR 2027 deadline? Registration opens Oct. 1, 2026. Be registered before Jan. 1, 2027, when states generally begin enforcement.
Do brokers have to register? Yes. Brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies pay the lowest bracket fee.
What happens if I don't register? You can be fined at roadside, and non-registration surfaces during audits and at authority renewal. Penalties vary by state.
Why did the fee go up? The UCR Board recommended the increase on Sept. 18, 2025, based on revenue shortfalls relative to the amounts the plan must distribute to participating states. FMCSA adopted the recommendation.
