UCR 2026-Enforcement, Deadline, Fees

What Is UCR (Quick Recap) UCR is a federally mandated registration program for carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies that operate commercial motor vehicles across state lines.  

It applies to interstate (and international) operations; if your operation meets those conditions, you must register annually—even if you run only a few vehicles or even none (in the case of brokers/leasing firms).    

2026 UCR: Key Dates & Deadlines The registration period for 2026 opens October 1, 2025 via the official National Registration System (NRS).  

The deadline to complete registration and pay fees is December 31, 2025.  

Enforcement begins on January 1, 2026 in all participating states.  

If you operate interstate and don’t have valid 2026 UCR registration by Jan 1, you risk enforcement actions.    

2026 Fee Schedule For 2026, the UCR fees (which are the same as for 2025) are based on the number of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in your fleet (power units only — trailers are not counted).  

Fleet size (CMVs) Fee (Carrier / Forwarder) Fee (Broker / Leasing Company)

0–2 US$ 129.00  
3–5 US$ 275.00
6–20 US$ 499.00
21–100 US$ 1,785.00
101–1,000 US$ 9,985.00
1,001 or more US$ 119,745.00

Even if you are a broker or leasing company — meaning you might not operate any vehicles yourself — you're still subject to the minimum fee (US$ 129).  

Note: fees are fixed per entity for the registration year. They’re not prorated based on months of operation.    

Enforcement & Compliance for 2026 As of January 1, 2026, carriers operating interstate without a current UCR registration may be subject to enforcement actions by states.  

The enforcement code used in inspections is Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 392.2 “UCR – Failure to pay UCR fees.” This can result in citations, fines, and — depending on state — possible out-of-service orders or other penalties.  

Carriers are required to maintain accurate records regarding their fleet (i.e., number of power units), as regulatory audits or compliance checks may verify that information.  

No physical “UCR card” is required in the vehicle. Compliance is verified electronically via national databases such as SAFER or the UCR enforcement portal.    

What Happens If You Don’t Register or Miss the Deadline You risk being flagged on roadside or port-of-entry inspections — violation code 392.2 may be issued.  

You may face fines, citations, or out-of-service orders, depending on the state’s enforcement regulations.  

Any interstate operations with unregistered vehicles are subject to enforcement — even if you’ve just “forgotten” to renew. Many carriers who missed registration in previous years are advised to register retroactively — sometimes paying back fees — to mitigate enforcement risk or legal consequences.   

What You Should Do (Checklist) Mark October 1, 2025 as the opening date for 2026 registration.  


Plan to submit registration and payment by December 31, 2025.  

Confirm the exact number of power units (CMVs) in your fleet, excluding trailers — this determines the fee bracket.  

Keep documentation and fleet records — they might be audited.