The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets specific insurance requirements in accordance with 49 CFR Part 387 for entities who apply and obtain operating authority registration in accordance with 49 U.S.C. §§ 13906, 31138, and 31139. FMCSA will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file with FMCSA.

Insurance requirements vary depending on the entity type (motor carrier, broker, freight forwarder) and the entity’s type of operating authority(s), type of cargo, and vehicle type(s).

Once operating authority is granted, entities are required to maintain proof of insurance and designation of agents for process on file with FMCSA to avoid revocation proceedings.

New entities registering with the Agency for the first time should be prepared to contact their financial responsibility provider to request filing of the required forms immediately after obtaining their designated docket number.

Once an entity applies for Operating Authority (MC/FF/MX), a financial responsibility provider must file the appropriate insurance form(s) on behalf of the applicant.  If the entity fails to comply within 20 days from the date of publication in the FMCSA Register, an FMCSA decision will be served notifying the entity that their application will be dismissed unless they comply with the requirements within 60 days.

Registered entities are cautioned to ensure that the name and address of their business as set out in all pre-registration filings, such as secretary of state, match exactly the name and address provided in their application for operating authority filings. Any deviation results in the delay of granting of the authority.

It is the entity’s responsibility to monitor and maintain filings up to date and on file.

Motus Registration

To file proof of insurance for a registered entity, financial responsibility filers (insurance/surety companies and other financial institutions) must first register with FMCSA for a filer account.

Supporting companies, including financial responsibility filers and Blanket Companies, will have limited access to FMCSA’s new registration system, Motus, starting in December 2025. During this time, main account holders can establish a company account in Motus. After the company account is created, the main account holder can invite additional users to create their own user profiles and access the Motus company account.

For step-by-step instructions on creating your Motus account, along with FAQs and other important information, please visit the FMCS Registration Modernization Resources Hub.

FMCSA Portal and Login.gov

Supporting companies must continue to make filings in the FMCSA’s current system until Motus is open for all users in 2026. Until then, users must also register for an FMCSA Portal account to access the Licensing and Insurance system, where they can submit and manage their insurance and BOC-3 filings.

Step-by-step instructions to register for the FMCSA Portal are detailed in the FMCSA Portal Registration Guide For Insurance and BOC-3 Filers.

Important: FMCSA Portal Account Approval Process for Main Filers and Sub-Filers

• Main Insurance Filers: FMCSA will approve FMCSA Portal accounts for main filers within two (2) business days.
• Sub-Filers: Main account holders are responsible for approving or denying Sub-Filer accounts. The Sub-account holder should notify the main account holder once they submit their registration request.

Should you require any assistance or have any question, you may contact the FMCSA Contact Center online by submitting a ticket or call 1-800-832-5660.

If you already have FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I) and Portal accounts, you are considered an existing user and may now establish your Motus user and business profiles.

Step-by-step instructions to register for your Motus account, along with FAQs and other important information, are available on the FMCS Registration Modernization Resources Hub.

Important:

1. When registering for your Motus account,  be sure to “claim” your existing L&I account.
2. Claiming your account ensures that all current active filings will migrate to Motus in 2026, when Motus is fully implemented.
3. Until Motus is fully implemented in 2026, please continue to submit and manage filings through the Licensing and Insurance system.