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Can You Buy an MC Number? The Honest Answer for 2026

A man stands beside a black semi truck with blurred cab lettering in a daytime yard.

Short answer: No. You cannot legally buy an MC number by itself. In a March 19, 2026 bulletin, FMCSA told the industry not to sell, purchase or lease a USDOT number or operating authority "outside of a legitimate corporate transaction." If FMCSA finds that kind of deal, it says it will start proceedings to inactivate the USDOT number and revoke the related registrations. What you can buy is a whole company, an LLC or corporation, that holds its own USDOT number and authority. FMCSA says that when a corporation is sold, "the USDOT Number goes with the company."

Below: what the numbers really are, how "aged MC" scams work, and a 10-minute seller check.

What an MC number is (and what it isn't)

The USDOT number is the company's identity. FMCSA compares it to a driver's license or ID number. It "belongs to the same legal person forever and may not be sold, transferred, rented, or leased." That "person" can be one individual or a business entity like an LLC or corporation.

The MC number is a docket number for operating authority. Operating authority is the permission a for-hire carrier needs to haul regulated freight across state lines. FMCSA's FAQ says MC numbers "were never a statutory or regulatory requirement." They track the authority's file, not a specific owner.

So an MC number is not:

  • A product. FMCSA says operating authority "is not a distinct commodity."
  • Portable. The authority belongs to the registered company responsible for safety and compliance.
  • Proof of age. Under Motus, FMCSA's new registration system, newly issued USDOT and docket numbers are randomized to help prevent fraud. The real history lives in FMCSA's records, not in the number.

Will MC numbers go away? FMCSA says it is "considering phasing out MC Numbers" in favor of suffixes on the USDOT number. For now, existing numbers will not change, and any future elimination of docket numbers will be open for public comment in a proposed rule. There is no official date.

What FMCSA allows, and what it doesn't

Not allowed:

  • Buying, selling, renting or leasing a USDOT or MC number "online or elsewhere from an unknown person."
  • Using someone else's authority as if you were the registered company responsible for safety.
  • Buying a sole proprietor's USDOT number. FMCSA's example: if John Doe runs Doe Trucking in his own name, "no one else can ever 'become' John Doe." His buyer needs their own USDOT number.

Allowed:

  • Buying a company. If John forms John Doe, Inc., "John can sell the company and the USDOT Number goes with the company," because the corporation is a separate legal person. FMCSA says this covers "any legal Business Organization," which includes LLCs.
  • Normal equipment leasing. The bulletin does not cover leasing trucks or drivers under compliant arrangements (49 CFR Part 376 and Part 390, Subpart G). An owner-operator leasing onto a carrier is a different, permitted setup.

After a company sale, the new owners "should update FMCSA records immediately." FMCSA's FAQ says that when officials change but the business stays the same legal entity, the USDOT number stays, and an updated Form MCS-150 is due within 30 days. In many corporate deals, carriers "are only required to report ownership or corporate officer changes," with no transfer needed.

Does FMCSA approve the sale? FMCSA ended its former authority-transfer approval process in 2013. A transfer may be recorded as part of a purchase of an entire operation, with documentation from both parties. FMCSA says the operation must continue with the same safety management oversight and controls; a new entity may instead need new authority. This is not a purchase of an MC number by itself. Confirm the required filings with FMCSA and your attorney (ownership-change FAQ; March 19, 2026 bulletin).

What about "reinstatement"? In Motus, registrants can reinstate a suspended authority or reapply after revocation. Reinstatement restores authority for the registered company. It does not transfer authority to a different company or replace the filings needed when the company's owners change (FMCSA: Move into Motus). And federal rules bar operating until required insurance is in place (49 CFR 387.7).

Why "aged MC for sale" offers are risky

People hunt for an "aged" MC because they've been told older authority gets loads faster. The pitch usually takes one of four forms, and each one puts the buyer at risk.

1. "Buy the MC number." No company changes hands, just a number. This is exactly what FMCSA's bulletin targets. If FMCSA finds it, the USDOT number can be inactivated and the registrations revoked, and you start over.

2. "Rent or lease my MC." You run under someone else's authority for a monthly payment. FMCSA says authority may not be leased or rented for use "as if that party were the registered entity." You'd have no authority of your own, under a company you don't control.

3. "I'll give you my FMCSA login." This is the most dangerous version. Motus user profiles "are unique to one person," protected by Login.gov and identity verification. FMCSA says using another carrier's USDOT number without permission is fraud and identity theft, and "criminal acts." The seller can also change the password, take the authority back or let it lapse at any time.

4. Authority hijacking. Scammers steal a real carrier's identity: they copy its name and number, change contact details, or impersonate FMCSA. FMCSA publishes a list of fake Motus and SAFER look-alike sites and phishing emails. Some "aged MC" sellers are offering a company they never owned.

FMCSA's own words are summarized in our post FMCSA says don't buy an MC number.

The 7 red flags of an MC scam

Stop the deal if you see any of these.

  1. They sell "just the MC." No LLC or corporation, no ownership papers. Only a number.
  2. They ask for FMCSA, Motus or Login.gov credentials, or 2FA codes. Never share your FMCSA login, and never accept a seller's. After a real company purchase, the new company official claims the company in Motus with their own identity.
  3. They want an upfront fee. A "reservation fee" or "deposit to hold the authority," sent to a person, a payment app, gift cards or crypto.
  4. They send you the escrow link. Escrow.com warns that a site that looks similar to Escrow.com "is likely fraudulent," and that a site asking you to pay an individual instead of a company is fraudulent. Type escrow.com into your browser yourself.
  5. They use many names. The names on the ad, email, contract and FMCSA record don't match, or the phone number isn't the one in SAFER. FMCSA says to confirm phone numbers in SAFER and call the number posted there.
  6. A sole proprietor is "selling the authority." FMCSA says that USDOT number can never pass to a buyer.
  7. They rush you or promise results. "Three other buyers today." "Guaranteed loads." The FTC lists guaranteed income and pressure to act now as classic scam signs.

FMCSA also warns that "even insurance certificates can be fraudulent." A PDF from the seller proves nothing. FMCSA's records do. More examples: our MC scam guide and the fake escrow scam.

If you want an existing USDOT number, authority and track record, buy the legal entity that holds them. That means buying an LLC's membership interest or a corporation's shares. The company stays the same legal person, so its numbers and history stay with it.

What comes with the company:

  • The entity itself, with its state registration
  • Its USDOT number and operating authority (MC)
  • Its FMCSA record: inspections, crashes, safety rating, authority history
  • Whatever accounts, contracts and assets the purchase agreement lists
  • Its past. Under general company law, debts and obligations usually stay with the company when owners change. Check before you pay, and talk to your own lawyer and accountant.

What to check before you buy:

  • The seller really owns it (state records, ownership documents, ID)
  • It's an LLC or corporation, not a sole proprietorship
  • USDOT and authority are active, with no revocations you can't explain
  • Insurance is on file, and you have a plan for your own filing with no gap
  • Liens, unpaid taxes and open claims
  • After closing: ownership reported to FMCSA, MCS-150 updated, company claimed in Motus by the new official

Our free due-diligence checklist covers each item, and MC and USDOT explained goes deeper on the numbers.

Where TruckBiz fits. TruckBiz USA is a marketplace for buying and selling whole U.S. trucking companies with their own MC and USDOT numbers. We never sell a bare number. Company records are checked against FMCSA, and the buyer's money is held by Escrow.com until the handover. Browse companies for sale or see how a deal works.

How to verify a seller in 10 minutes

All free. Do it before you talk money.

Minutes 1–3: SAFER Company Snapshot. Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov yourself and search the USDOT or MC number. Check:

  • Legal name and USDOT number: do they match the company documents? Verify LLC or corporation status separately through state records.
  • Registration and authority: check the current record in Motus. An active USDOT number alone does not establish permission to haul regulated freight for hire.
  • MCS-150 form date: check the filing schedule and whether the information is accurate. FMCSA has paused biennial-update enforcement and USDOT inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026 (FMCSA notice).
  • Phone and address: call the SAFER number, not the one in the ad.
  • Inspections, crashes, safety rating. "Unrated" only means no rating was assigned (49 CFR 385.3), not unsafe.

Minutes 4–6: Registration and filing checks. Check the current registration record in Motus. Use L&I for older authority and insurance history only; FMCSA says Motus filings do not appear in L&I.

Minutes 7–8: Insurance reality check. Confirm current coverage directly with the insurer using contact details you found independently. Check the current FMCSA filing; an old L&I entry does not prove coverage is active today.

Minutes 9–10: Name history and owner. Search the state business registry. Is the entity active? Who are the members, managers or officers? Any recent name changes? A name change isn't automatically bad, but you should know why. Then ask for the seller's ID and proof of ownership. If anything doesn't line up, stop.

To report a scam, FMCSA points to its Contact Center (1-800-832-5660), the DOT Inspector General hotline ((800) 424-9071), the National Consumer Complaint Database, the FTC and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

FAQ

Is it illegal to buy an MC number?

FMCSA says USDOT numbers and authority may not be sold, purchased or leased outside a legitimate corporate transaction, and it will move to inactivate and revoke when it finds those deals. Buying a whole company that holds its own authority is the lawful route. This is general information, not legal advice.

Can I rent or lease someone's MC instead?

No. What is allowed is leasing your truck onto a carrier as an owner-operator under FMCSA's equipment leasing rules. Then you haul under the carrier's authority as its contractor. You're not renting its MC.

Does FMCSA have to approve a company sale?

FMCSA's FAQ says it ended its transfer approval process in 2013. When an LLC or corporation is sold and stays the same entity, the new owners update FMCSA records, often just ownership and officers. Confirm your steps with FMCSA.

How old is the authority, really?

Check grant dates, revocations and reinstatements in FMCSA records. Use L&I for older history and Motus for subsequent records; the MC number itself does not prove age.

A seller asked for my FMCSA login, or I already paid. What now?

Don't share any password, Login.gov access or 2FA code. If you did, change passwords now and call FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660. If you sent money, call your bank immediately, then report to the DOT OIG, the FTC and the FBI's IC3. Want to buy a company the right way? Call TruckBiz at (888) 616-8249.

General information only, as of the date above. Not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules change, so check the official sources below. TruckBiz is a marketplace, not a law firm, insurance agency or escrow company, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by FMCSA, the U.S. DOT or Escrow.com.

Sources