Motus Login: FMCSA Sign-In and USDOT Claim Guide

Motus is FMCSA’s new registration system. It replaced the legacy Unified Registration System (URS), which went permanently offline on May 14, 2026. New USDOT applications, operating authority and registration updates now run through Motus.

Most login problems come from three places: the Login.gov account, the identity check, and claiming a USDOT number with the wrong email. This guide walks through each.

Step 1: Sign in through Login.gov

Open motus.dot.gov and choose the Login.gov option. You are sent to Login.gov to enter your email and password, then returned to Motus.

Login.gov always asks for a second factor, such as a one-time code sent to your phone or email. If you do not have a Login.gov account yet, create one first, and use an email you will keep.

Every person who uses Motus needs their own Login.gov account. Do not share one login between the owner, a dispatcher and an office manager.

Step 2: Verify your identity on your first login

The first time you sign in, Motus asks you to verify your identity. You follow the on-screen prompts to take pictures of your face and of a government-issued ID, so you need a phone or computer with a camera.

If you do not have a camera, FMCSA points you to an in-person enrollment location. If the check keeps failing, call the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660; they can refer you to a physical location to finish verification.

Step 3: Claim your existing USDOT number

If your company already has a USDOT number, the Company Official claims it so it shows up in the Motus account. The one rule that trips people up: sign in with the same Login.gov email the Company Official used in the FMCSA Portal. A different email will not find the record.

You do not need your USDOT PIN for this. FMCSA states that a PIN is not required to create a company account or register in Motus.

Sign in to Motus with Login.gov, set up your user profile and complete identity verification.
A pop-up lists the USDOT numbers tied to your Login.gov email. Choose "Link USDOT Number", select the number and click Continue.
Enter the verification code sent to your Login.gov email in the "Verify Your Identity" window.
Type your name as your electronic signature, check the confirmation box and click Accept.

If your USDOT number does not appear, or the claim pop-up never shows, contact FMCSA through motus.dot.gov/contact-fmcsa. Do not open a new USDOT number to get around it.

FMCSA Portal login vs. Motus login

The FMCSA Portal (portal.fmcsa.dot.gov) is the older site where a Company Official manages the company’s FMCSA account. Motus is where registration now happens. The two are tied together by your Login.gov email: to claim your USDOT number in Motus, sign in with the same Login.gov email you use as Company Official in the FMCSA Portal.

If you cannot get into the Portal because the account is disabled or archived, the FMCSA Contact Center can unlock it through AskFMCSA.

What you do in Motus now

Motus is where carriers apply for a USDOT number, apply for operating authority (the MC number), and keep their registration up to date. USDOT registration itself is free. Operating authority carries FMCSA’s own one-time fee of $300 per authority.

Supporting companies moved first: insurance filers and BOC-3 blanket companies started using Motus in Phase I on December 8, 2025. Guides that still show URS screenshots were written before the switch.

The MCS-150 biennial update during the transition

Every USDOT number normally needs an MCS-150 update every 24 months. During the Motus rollout, FMCSA gave extra time: registrants whose biennial update was due on or after June 1, 2026 will not have their USDOT number inactivated for missing it, and FMCSA says more guidance is coming.

Treat this as extra time, not an exemption. Once your account is claimed, file the update so your record stays current.

Where Form 2290 fits

Motus handles your federal registration with FMCSA. The Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is separate: it is filed with the IRS on Form 2290 for each truck with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more, and states ask for the stamped Schedule 1 before they register the truck. Both filings need your company’s EIN, not a Social Security number.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Motus login website?⌄

Motus is at motus.dot.gov. Choose the Login.gov option to sign in; you are sent to Login.gov to enter your credentials and a two-factor code, then returned to Motus.

Do I need a Login.gov account for FMCSA Motus?⌄

Yes. Motus signs users in through Login.gov, and each person who uses Motus needs their own Login.gov account with two-factor authentication.

Why can’t I find my USDOT number in Motus?⌄

The usual cause is the email. The Company Official has to sign in with the same Login.gov email used as Company Official in the FMCSA Portal. If the number still does not appear, contact FMCSA through motus.dot.gov/contact-fmcsa.

Do I still need my USDOT PIN?⌄

Not for Motus. FMCSA says a USDOT PIN is not required to create a company account or register in the new system.

What if Motus identity verification fails?⌄

Identity verification needs photos of your face and a government-issued ID taken with a camera. If you have no camera or the check keeps failing, call the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660; they can refer you to an in-person location.

Is the URS system still available?⌄

No. FMCSA took the legacy Unified Registration System permanently offline on May 14, 2026. Registration now runs through Motus.

Related guides

Official sources

Agency rules, fees and contacts can change — confirm current requirements with the agency before acting. This guide is general information for truckers, not tax or legal advice.

FMCSA Motus Login: Sign In, Verify Your Identity and Claim Your USDOT Number