Biennial update scams: how to spot them
FMCSA does not charge for the MCS-150 biennial update. Letters and emails that look official, threaten fines and ask you to pay to file are selling a service, and some are outright scams. File it yourself for free in Motus.
Warning signs
- It asks for payment. The update itself is free. Any fee is for a third-party service.
- It threatens fines or immediate shutdown. Pressure to pay today is the point of the message.
- It looks official but isn't from a .gov address. Look-alike letterheads, seals and domains are a common tactic. Check the sender's address and every link.
- It links to a site other than motus.dot.gov or fmcsa.dot.gov. Type the address yourself instead of clicking.
- It knows your USDOT number. That doesn't make it official. Carrier details are public, which is how these senders find you.
Trade press and state agencies have warned carriers about these messages for years, including the Wisconsin DOT together with FMCSA.
How to check safely
- Check your real due date. Look up your USDOT number. If you aren't due, a message saying you are is a red flag.
- Check the official record. Search your number in Motus Public Search.
- File it yourself if you're due. It takes a few minutes in Motus once you're logged in. See the step-by-step guide.
About this site
We don't file forms, charge for filing, or email carriers who haven't asked us to. Reminder emails, when we offer them, only go to people who sign up. See about and data sources.
Questions
Is it illegal to charge for filing the MCS-150?
Filing services can legally charge for doing the work for you. The problem is messages that look like they come from FMCSA, threaten fines, or imply the fee is required.
What should I do with a suspicious letter or email?
Don't use its links or phone numbers. Go to motus.dot.gov yourself, or call FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660 using the number from FMCSA's own site.
I already paid. What now?
Check in Motus whether an update was actually filed. If you believe you were defrauded, contact your bank or card issuer, and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Related
- MCS-150 due dates by USDOT number
The full schedule: which month and which years, with worked examples.
- How to update your MCS-150 online in Motus
Log in, claim your USDOT number and submit the biennial update. Free.
- The MCS-150 form: which version and what it asks
MCS-150, MCS-150B or MCS-150C, and the details to have ready.
- The DOT biennial update explained
Who has to file, how often, and what happens if you don't.
- Missed your MCS-150 update?
What happens to your USDOT number and how to get current.