MCS-150 biennial update

MCS-150 Biennial Update Letter: Is It Real?

FMCSA requires every entity under its jurisdiction to update its information every two years, even if nothing changed. Because every carrier has the same duty and the due dates can be worked out from public USDOT numbers, carriers get a steady stream of letters, emails and calls about it.

Two facts settle most of them. FMCSA says updating your information is free. And your real due month and year come from the last two digits of your USDOT number, not from the date printed on a letter.

Check an MCS-150 notice Read FAQ

Quick answer

When is my MCS-150 biennial update due?

The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month: 1 is January, 2 is February, and so on through 9 for September, with 0 for October. The next-to-last digit sets the year: if it is odd you file in odd-numbered years, and if it is even you file in even-numbered years. You file by the last day of that month.

Free check

Paste the MCS-150 letter or email to check it

The sample shows a "past due" notice that charges for a free filing. Replace it with the wording of the letter, email or text you received.

Sample loaded

Your real due date, from your USDOT number

  • Last digit 1: January. 2: February. 3: March. 4: April. 5: May. 6: June. 7: July. 8: August. 9: September. 0: October.
  • Next-to-last digit odd: file in every odd-numbered year. Even: file in every even-numbered year.
  • Example: a USDOT number ending in 47 files by the last day of July in even-numbered years.
  • You must also file before you begin operations, and FMCSA asks you to update whenever your legal name, address or other details change.

What happens if you really miss it

FMCSA says failing to complete a biennial update results in deactivation of your USDOT number and may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, not to exceed $10,000. That is why the threat in a misleading letter sounds believable. The penalty is real. The fee is not.

It is free, and you can file it yourself

FMCSA's page says: "Updating your information is free." FMCSA strongly encourages submitting through its Ask FMCSA website, ask.fmcsa.dot.gov, and also accepts the form by US Mail. The instructions are on FMCSA's update page.

  • A private company can file it for you and charge for that. That is legal, as long as it does not pose as FMCSA.
  • A letter that looks like a government invoice and demands a "processing fee" is misleading: FMCSA does not charge for the update.
  • FMCSA says it does not charge a fee for its downloadable forms.

Signs the letter is not from FMCSA

  • It demands payment to avoid deactivation.
  • The website does not end in .gov, even if it contains "dot" or "fmcsa".
  • The due date does not match the month and year from your USDOT number.
  • It asks for your PIN, SSN, EIN or bank details.
  • It gives a deadline of hours or days. FMCSA says "respond within a day or be fined" is not its practice.

Example: a "past due" biennial update notice

Input

FINAL NOTICE - USDOT Biennial Update Past Due. Your MCS-150 has not been filed. Pay the $149 processing fee today at https://dot-biennial-update.example to avoid deactivation of your USDOT number and civil penalties.

What to notice

  • FMCSA says updating your information is free. A processing fee paid on a non-.gov site goes to a private company, not to FMCSA.
  • Check the due date against your USDOT number before you believe "past due".

MCS-150 biennial update FAQ

Is the MCS-150 biennial update really free?

Yes. FMCSA's page on updating your registration says: "Updating your information is free."

Do I have to file if nothing changed?

Yes. FMCSA says the update is required every two years even if your information has not changed, even if you stopped interstate operations, and even if you are no longer in business and did not tell FMCSA.

What is the penalty for not filing?

FMCSA says failure to complete the biennial update results in deactivation of your USDOT number and may bring civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, not to exceed $10,000.

How do I find my due month and year?

Use the last two digits of your USDOT number. The last digit is the month (1 January through 9 September, 0 October). The next-to-last digit is the year: odd means odd-numbered years, even means even-numbered years.

Can I pay someone to file it for me?

Yes. Filing services are legal. Just know that the fee is theirs, not FMCSA's, and that the form is free to file yourself.

Where do I see what FMCSA has on file for me?

FMCSA points carriers to the SAFER System's Company Snapshot to view their current information.

Is ScamSpot part of FMCSA or the government?

No. ScamSpot is an independent website. It is not FMCSA, USDOT or the UCR Plan. It compares the message you paste with rules those agencies publish, and links to the official page behind each one.

Official sources

The schedule, the penalties and the "free" statement come from these official pages, read on September 21, 2026.

ScamSpot is an independent website. It is not FMCSA, USDOT or the UCR Plan.