UCR Registration Fees for 2026 and 2027: Who Pays and How Much

Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is a yearly federal-state registration for companies that operate in interstate commerce. It's one fee per company, not per truck, and for most owner-operators it's one of the smallest bills of the year. But if you skip it, you can face enforcement action from the states. Here's what it costs for 2026 and 2027 and how to figure your bracket.

Who has to register

UCR covers interstate for-hire motor carriers of property or passengers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. You register once a year through your base state, which is usually the state of your principal place of business. You pay the same fee no matter which states you run or how many miles you drive.

Not sure if you're covered? The UCR Plan has a "Do I need to register?" page that walks through it.

What counts toward your fleet size

Carriers pay by the number of commercial motor vehicles they own or operate. For UCR, that means a self-propelled vehicle used on the highways in commerce to haul cargo or passengers that:

• has a gross vehicle weight or weight rating of at least 10,001 lb (or 10,001 lb combined with its trailer), or
• carries placarded amounts of hazardous materials, at any weight, or
• is designed to carry more than 10 passengers, including the driver.

"Self-propelled" is the key word. Trailers don't count. A one-truck owner-operator with two trailers counts one vehicle.

The fee is based on the vehicles you operated in the prior year. If you add a truck in March, you don't file anything extra. It shows up in next year's count.

2027 UCR fees

FMCSA set new fees for registration year 2027 in a final rule published September 1, 2026, effective October 1, 2026. The 2027 registration portal opens October 1, 2026.

• 0–2 vehicles (B1): $55
• 3–5 vehicles (B2): $167
• 6–20 vehicles (B3): $333
• 21–100 vehicles (B4): $1,163
• 101–1,000 vehicles (B5): $5,548
• 1,001 and above (B6): $54,165

Brokers and leasing companies pay the B1 fee, $55.

2026 UCR fees

If you still owe for 2026, these are the amounts in effect for that registration year:

• 0–2 vehicles (B1): $46
• 3–5 vehicles (B2): $138
• 6–20 vehicles (B3): $276
• 21–100 vehicles (B4): $963
• 101–1,000 vehicles (B5): $4,592
• 1,001 and above (B6): $44,836

Brokers and leasing companies paid the B1 fee, $46.

Worked example

You and your brother each run a tractor under your authority, and last year you added a third truck with a hired driver. That's three power units, all over 10,001 lb. You also own four trailers, which don't count.

• Vehicles counted: 3
• Bracket: 3 falls in 3–5, so B2
• 2027 fee: $167

If you had only two trucks, you'd be in B1 at $55. That third truck costs you $112 more in UCR for 2027 ($167 − $55). The bracket ends are inclusive: 5 trucks is still B2, and the 6th truck moves you to B3 at $333.

Compare that with 2026: the same three trucks paid $138. The 2027 increase is $29 for this fleet.

When to pay

Register and pay before January 1 of the registration year. After that date the fee is still due, and until you pay you can face enforcement action from the states. For 2027, that means paying between October 1 and December 31, 2026.

You can register online through the UCR National Registration System at ucr.gov. The UCR Plan doesn't issue a cab card, so there's nothing to carry in the truck. Keep the payment receipt anyway.

Mistakes that cost money

• Counting trailers. Only self-propelled vehicles count. Counting trailers can push you into a higher bracket.
• Paying a middleman more than the fee. Some third-party sites add their own service charge on top. The fee is the table amount above. Check that you're on ucr.gov.
• Forgetting after you get your authority. New carriers often register for UCR when they first file, then forget the renewal the next fall.

Run your numbers

The UCR fee calculator finds your bracket for 2026 or 2027. While you're paying annual fees, check your Form 2290 tax, and if you're just starting out, the startup cost calculator puts UCR, 2290, and your authority fee in one budget.