MCS-150 Biennial Update Due Date and Filing Status
On this page
- How the last two USDOT digits set the deadline
- Official filing-month schedule
- Three quick due-date examples
- Can an update be filed early?
- How to check the last MCS-150 update
- Active, inactive, out of service, and authorized are not synonyms
- How to confirm a submitted update
- Check current FMCSA alerts before assuming a missed deadline changed status
- FAQs
How the last two USDOT digits set the deadline
The deadline uses the final two digits of the USDOT number for two different jobs. Read them separately: the next-to-last digit controls the year, while the last digit controls the month.
- Look at the next-to-last digit. An odd digit means the update cycle falls in odd-numbered calendar years; an even digit means even-numbered years.
- Look at the final digit. That digit maps to the filing month in FMCSA’s schedule.
- File by the last day of the assigned month in the correct odd or even year.
Official filing-month schedule
| Final USDOT digit | Filing month | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | Last day of January |
| 2 | February | Last day of February |
| 3 | March | Last day of March |
| 4 | April | Last day of April |
| 5 | May | Last day of May |
| 6 | June | Last day of June |
| 7 | July | Last day of July |
| 8 | August | Last day of August |
| 9 | September | Last day of September |
| 0 | October | Last day of October |
Three quick due-date examples
| USDOT ending | Year rule | Month | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 4 is even | 2 = February | February of even-numbered years |
| 79 | 7 is odd | 9 = September | September of odd-numbered years |
| 10 | 1 is odd | 0 = October | October of odd-numbered years |
Can an update be filed early?
FMCSA advises entities to update registration information whenever important information changes; there is no reason to preserve inaccurate information until the biennial month. FMCSA also explains that an update completed within the applicable period before the scheduled deadline may satisfy the upcoming biennial requirement.
Do not confuse “filing early” with submitting duplicate actions while an earlier transaction is still pending. Review the Motus transaction status before beginning another filing.
How to check the last MCS-150 update
Use the FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot to search by legal name, USDOT number, or MC number. The public record can display the MCS-150 form date and the USDOT status. Motus is the more direct place to review the entity’s registration actions and pending submissions.
- Search the exact company in SAFER and confirm that the USDOT number and legal name match.
- Locate the MCS-150 form date and compare it with the assigned odd/even filing cycle.
- Read the USDOT status separately from the operating-authority status.
- If a recent submission is not visible, review Motus for a pending or returned action before filing again.
Active, inactive, out of service, and authorized are not synonyms
A USDOT registration status and an operating-authority status answer different questions. An “active” USDOT record does not by itself prove that a for-hire carrier has active authority, insurance, BOC-3, or every other required registration. Conversely, an authority problem may require a separate reinstatement action even after the USDOT record is current.
| Term | What it generally describes |
|---|---|
| USDOT active | The USDOT registration record is active. |
| USDOT inactive | The registration is inactive and the reason must be identified before choosing the corrective action. |
| Out of service | An order or status may prohibit operation; a routine update alone may not resolve it. |
| Authority authorized | The operating-authority record is authorized, subject to its separate requirements. |
| Authority not authorized | The carrier cannot rely on a current MCS-150 alone to restore authority. |
How to confirm a submitted update
Keep the transaction confirmation or tracking information produced by the filing system. Then compare the Motus action status with the public record after processing. Processing time can vary when identity verification, supporting documents, manual review, or conflicting registration data are involved, so avoid promising a universal same-day result.
- Save the submission or transaction reference.
- Check for returned-action notices and document requests.
- Confirm the public legal name, address, status, power units, drivers, mileage, and MCS-150 date after processing.
- Escalate a material mismatch through the official FMCSA support channel rather than repeatedly resubmitting identical information.
Check current FMCSA alerts before assuming a missed deadline changed status
FMCSA may issue temporary operational notices during system transitions. As of the review date for this draft, the agency had temporarily suspended certain USDOT inactivations associated with missed biennial updates during the Motus transition. The filing obligation and the current status of a specific company should still be verified from official sources.
Need assistance completing your update?
Motus DOT Compliance offers private filing assistance for companies that prefer help reviewing and submitting an MCS-150 biennial update.
Review MCS-150 Filing Assistance →Frequently Asked Questions
When is an MCS-150 due?
By the last day of the month assigned by the final USDOT digit, in the odd or even year determined by the next-to-last digit.
What if my USDOT number ends in zero?
Zero corresponds to October.
Are any filings due in November or December?
Those months are not assigned in the routine last-digit schedule, although a company may still need to report a change or take another registration action then.
Does an update reset the two-year cycle?
An update made within the applicable pre-deadline period may satisfy the upcoming biennial requirement, but the USDOT-number schedule remains the controlling cycle.
Where do I see the last MCS-150 date?
Check the FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot and the company’s Motus account.
Does an active USDOT number mean my MC authority is active?
No. USDOT status and operating-authority status are separate.
How quickly does SAFER change after filing?
Timing varies by transaction and whether review or supporting documents are required. Keep the transaction reference and monitor Motus rather than relying on a universal promise.
Can I file before my assigned month?
Yes when a registration change is needed. Confirm how the timing affects the upcoming biennial requirement under current FMCSA guidance.