Step by Step Guide to Registering With The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)
1. Determine the Number of Qualified Commercial Motor Vehicles in Your Fleet
A qualified motor vehicle must meet the following:
- Cargo: With a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or greater
- Passenger: Be designed to carry more than 10 passengers (including driver)
- Any vehicle that transports hazardous materials in quantities requiring placarding under federal regulations
2. Contact Your Base Jurisdiction’s Unified Carrier Registration Office or Register Online
Each member jurisdiction maintains its own UCR registration office.
You can also register online through the State of Indiana’s portal. You may use the State of Indiana’s system no matter where your jurisdiction is located.
Check our list of local UCR registration offices to find yours.
3. Register and Calculate Your Fees
Once you’ve contacted your jurisdiction’s UCR registration office (or registered online), you’ll need to calculate your fees. Fees are based on the number of qualified motor vehicles in your fleet.
Fleet Size Fee Per Company
0 – 2 $76
3 – 5 $227
6 – 20 $452
21 – 100 $1576
101 – 1000 $7511
1001 – Over $73,346
*Please note that fees are Per Company, NOT Per Vehicle
Motor private carriers of passengers are exempt from registration and fees.
4. Pay Your Fees
You pay fees to your base jurisdiction, or through the State of Indiana’s portal if you register online.
UCR Registration FAQ
How do I pay my Unified Carrier Registration fees?
You can sign up for UCR System Mobile to pay using your smart phone. To do so, you only need to access the UCR home page from your smart phone.
You can also send payments to your state’s participating UCR registration office.
When do I have to register in order to be in compliance?
You must complete UCR registration by November 30 to be in compliance for the following year.
Do I have to count my vehicles if they conduct only intrastate commerce?
No. Vehicles involved only in intrastate commerce are not subject to UCR fees. However, you must maintain a form of registered exempt vehicles with the UCR.
What if my vehicles are less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or have a gross weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds? Do I have to count them in my UCR fees?
The Unified Carrier Registration governs only vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross weight rating of 10,000 pounds and greater. If your fleet consists of vehicles weighing below this mark, then these vehicles are not counted.
However, carriers must still register with the UCR and pay at the lowest bracket (0 – 2). This means that even if your entire fleet consists of vehicles smaller than 10,000 pounds you must still pay the $76 fee assessed at the lowest bracket.
I am a freight broker/freight forwarder/leasing company. Do I still have to pay UCR fees?
Yes, if you are engaged in interstate commerce you must complete UCR registration and pay annual fees.
Brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies pay in the lowest fee bracket. The fee is $76.
If your company also owns and operates its own vehicles, however, then you must register as a motor carrier and pay your fees based on those rates.
I operate a driveaway/towaway operation. Do I have to pay Unified Carrier Registration fees?
Yes, if you are engaged in interstate operations. In this case, you must register and then pay in the lowest fee bracket ($76).
I operate in a federally recognized commercial zone. Do I still have to register?
Yes.
I am a for-hire motor carrier hauling exempt goods. Do I need to register?
Yes, if you are operating commercial motor vehicles and engaged in interstate commerce.
I operate vehicles that only travel through non-participating states. Do I still have to register?
Yes.
I am both a motor carrier and a freight broker. Do I have to pay twice?
No. As long as your two operations are run under one business entity, you only need to register and pay the motor carrier rates.
However, if you have separated those two services into two separate business entities, then yes, you have to register each individual business and pay fees for both.
I am a carrier leasing vehicles to other motor carriers. Which one of us pays UCR registration fees?
If you are both registered with the FMCSA as interstate motor carriers, then both of you pay. If you have leased all of your vehicles under a long-term lease contract, then you will only need to pay according to the lowest fee bracket ($76).
Are fire trucks and emergency vehicles subject to the UCR?
No. These vehicles are exempt.
Non-emergency vehicles used to support these operations, however, are subject to the UCR.
Are charities and non-profit organizations required to complete UCR registration and pay fees?
Yes. Charities and non-profits are not exempt.
Am I required to file with the UCR each year?
Yes. UCR fees are paid each year.
What happens if I don’t comply with UCR registration?
Enforcement officials may detail your vehicles and subject them to enforcement action. States may conduct an audit of your company in order to determine whether or not you are in compliance. Lack of compliance will result in various actions depending upon the state in which your vehicles are stopped.
I filed already this year, and then I purchased new vehicles for my fleet. Do I have to send a separate payment for those new vehicles?
No. Those vehicles will be registered the following year.
How do I determine my base state?
This is the state in which your principal business office resides, unless it resides in a non-participating state.
Non-participating states are: Arizona, Hawaii, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming and Washington DC.
My state does not participate in the UCR registration. How do I determine my base state?
If your principal place of business is in a non-participating state, but you have an office or operating facility in a UCR-participating state, then you can designate that UCR-participating state as your base state.
If your principal place of business is in a non-participating state and you have no office or operating facility in a UCR-participating state, then you must select a base state that is nearest to the location of your principal place of business.
If your principal place of business is located in Washington DC, Maryland, New Jersey or Vermont or the Canadian province of ON, NB, NL, NS, PE or QC, you may select any of the following: CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NY, PA, RI, VA, WV.
If your principal place of business is located in Florida or a state of Mexico, you may select one of the following: AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX.
If your principal place of business is located in the Canadian province of ON or MB, you may select one of the following: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI.
If your principal place of business is located in Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon or Wyoming or the Canadian province of AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, SK, or YT, or a state of Mexico, you may select of the following: AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NM, SD, UT, WA.