When is your MCS-150 biennial update due?
Enter your USDOT number to get your exact FMCSA biennial-update deadline in seconds — plus how the date is calculated and what happens if you miss it. Nothing is stored; we only use the last two digits.
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We only use the last two digits — nothing is sent anywhere or stored.
This estimate uses FMCSA’s published schedule (last digit = month, second-to-last digit = odd/even year). It’s general information, not legal advice — confirm your status anytime on the FMCSA SAFER and Login.gov portals.
How your MCS-150 due date is calculated
FMCSA doesn't pick your biennial-update date at random — it's encoded in your USDOT number, which is why the tool above can tell you instantly. There are just two rules:
- 1
The last digit sets the month. 1 = January, 2 = February, on through 9 = September — and 0 = October. So a USDOT number ending in 8 is due in August.
- 2
The second-to-last digit sets the year. If it's odd, you file in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027…). If it's even, you file in even-numbered years (2026, 2028…).
The update is due by the last day of that month. For example, a USDOT number ending in 35 is due by the last day of May in odd years — so May 31, 2025, then May 31, 2027, and so on.
What happens if you miss the biennial update
This is the part that catches small carriers off guard: FMCSA never sends you a bill or a reminder. Miss the deadline and FMCSA can mark your USDOT number Inactive, which can stop you from operating legally until you update it — and you can face civil penalties (up to $10,000). An Inactive number can ripple into your loads, your insurance, and your operating authority, so it's worth far more than the five minutes the update takes.
How to file your MCS-150 update
Filing the update directly with FMCSA is free — you don't need to pay a third-party service for a routine update. In short: log in to the FMCSA registration portal (via Login.gov), open your carrier record, review and confirm your information (operation type, vehicle and driver counts, mileage), and submit. Confirm your status afterward on FMCSA SAFER. If your number went Inactive, filing the update is what reactivates it.
Stop tracking deadlines by hand
The MCS-150 is just one date. Between your medical card, CDL, insurance, IFTA, drug-and-alcohol queries, and driver qualification files, a small carrier is juggling dozens of expirations that no agency reminds you about. Fleetive watches every one of them and alerts you before anything lapses — so a forgotten date never turns into an Inactive number or an out-of-service order. Learn the rest in our plain-English guide to the most confusing parts of FMCSA compliance.
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MCS-150 questions
Is the MCS-150 due every year or every two years?
Every two years. The MCS-150 (the biennial update) must be filed every 24 months, even if nothing about your operation has changed. The exact month and year are set by your USDOT number.
How do I know my MCS-150 due date from my USDOT number?
Use the last two digits. The last digit sets the month (1 = January through 9 = September, and 0 = October). The second-to-last digit sets the year: if it is odd, you file in odd-numbered years; if it is even, you file in even-numbered years. The update is due by the last day of that month.
What happens if I miss my MCS-150 biennial update?
FMCSA can mark your USDOT number Inactive, which can stop you from operating legally until you update it, and you can be subject to civil penalties (up to $10,000). The fix is to file the update — but an Inactive number can disrupt loads, insurance, and authority in the meantime.
How much does it cost to file the MCS-150?
Filing the MCS-150 update directly with FMCSA is free. You can do it yourself online through the FMCSA portal — you do not need to pay a third-party service to file a simple update.
Do I have to file the MCS-150 if nothing changed?
Yes. The biennial update is required on schedule regardless of whether your information changed. Filing it confirms your data is current; skipping it because "nothing changed" is one of the most common ways carriers end up Inactive.
My MCS-150 deadline has passed — what should I do?
File the update as soon as possible to reactivate your USDOT number, and confirm your status on FMCSA SAFER. Then set a reminder for the next cycle (two years out) so it does not happen again — or let software track it for you.
Never miss a compliance deadline again
Fleetive tracks your MCS-150, medical cards, CDLs, insurance, and DQF expirations — and reminds you before they lapse. Start your 14-day free trial, no card required.