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Should you file it yourself?

RS
Reviewed by Ray Sandhu DOT compliance, 14 years. Former safety director, 40-truck fleet.
Quick answer

Often, yes. The MCS-150 is free at FMCSA and most people can do it. Do it yourself if you can get into your own account, you know your mileage and vehicle counts, and you have the evening. Pay somebody if you are locked out, if you are already late, if English is not your first language, or if you do not want to track 6 filings across 5 government systems for the rest of your working life.

What each one actually costs

FilingGovernmentA serviceFiled
USDOT update (MCS-150)$0$109–$199 $109
Interstate registration (UCR)$46–$59 state fee $50–$75$75
Truck tax (Form 2290)The tax, $100–$550 $15–$30$15
Fuel tax (IFTA)What you owe$25–$89 $89
Drug and alcohol pool$0 to government $85–$299 a yearIncluded
Everything, one year—Varies widely $199
On these numbers: the government figures are what the agencies charge. The service range is what is publicly advertised by filing companies as of September 2026. Several will not publish a price until you call, which is its own answer.

Do it yourself if

Pay somebody if

What no service can do

Worth knowing before you pay anybody, because some advertise otherwise.

If a service says it will handle your identity verification, it is either wrong or it is asking for your government password. Never give anybody that password, including us.

What you are actually buying

Not the filing. The filing is free or nearly free. What costs money is:

Not sure which you are?

Put in your USDOT number. We will show you exactly what you owe and when, for free. If it turns out you can handle it yourself, do that — we would rather you looked than paid us for nothing.

No account. No card. We only charge if you ask us to file something.
When is my MCS-150 due? Work it out from your own DOT number. Locked out of Motus? The most common reason people stop doing it themselves. Every filing a trucking company owes All 6, with what each one is.
Filings USDOT details update Interstate registration Annual truck tax Fuel tax
Help Locked out of Motus About Filed [email protected]
Filed

We work out what your trucking company owes the government, and we file it.

We are a private company. We are not part of FMCSA, the IRS, the U.S. Department of Transportation, or any state agency. Every filing described here can be made by you, directly, for the government's own fee.