Home / Ownership change
Ownership changeWhat happens to a DOT number when a company changes owners?
It depends on who the legal person is after the deal. If the same company keeps operating, the number stays with it and the record gets updated. If the company is dissolved, the business that carries on needs its own number.
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Rather not deal with this? Hand it to a compliance specialist.
Consult with a Compliance SpecialistThe number stays with the legal person, not the human owner
FMCSA's bulletin on USDOT numbers uses a corporation example: John can sell John Doe, Inc., and the USDOT number goes with the company, because the corporation is a separate legal person from John. If John Doe, Inc. keeps operating as a corporation after a merger or acquisition, the number stays with John Doe, Inc.
Update the record right away
FMCSA says new corporate owners should update FMCSA records immediately to note the ownership change and any other details that changed. FMCSA's name and form-of-business guidance says an updated Form MCS-150 is required within 30 days of a change in demographic information, and FMCSA's Move into Motus page lists updating business information as a Motus action.
Why this takes time: ownership, officer and address details all need to match across the USDOT record, authority, insurance and BOC-3.
If the old company is dissolved
FMCSA says that if the old corporation is dissolved under state law and operations continue only under another company, the continuing company needs its own USDOT number and may not use the dissolved company's number. The old number should be deactivated on Form MCS-150 using the reason "out-of-business."
Why this takes time: a new number for the continuing company and an out-of-business filing for the old one are two separate filings.
Rather not deal with this? Hand it to a compliance specialist.
Consult with a Compliance SpecialistOperating authority may need its own step
FMCSA says that in corporate transactions it will record a transfer of operating authority only if operations continue with the same safety management oversight and controls. In many cases only an ownership or officer update is needed; in others a transfer may be recorded or new authority may be required.
Why this takes time: whether FMCSA records a transfer depends on the details of the deal, which can mean back-and-forth with FMCSA.
That is a lot of forms and logins for one fix. Hand it to a compliance specialist.
Consult with a Compliance SpecialistDo not start a second number "just to be clean"
If the same corporation continues, a new application creates a duplicate. See what to do if you applied twice.
This is not a way to leave a safety record behind
Federal rules let FMCSA act when a new identity is used to avoid a compliance history. See what happens to safety history.
Recurring deadline: FMCSA says an updated MCS-150 is due within 30 days of a change in company details (source). For a name change on operating authority, FMCSA says the amended BOC-3 and proof of insurance must be filed within 30 days (source).
Common questions
If I sell my corporation, does the buyer get the USDOT number?
If the corporation continues as the same legal person, FMCSA says the number stays with that corporation. The record should be updated.
If I sell only the trucks and the trade name, does the buyer get my number?
Not if you, as the legal person, still own the number and the buyer is a different person. FMCSA's sole proprietor example says the buyer needs their own number.
Should the buyer apply for a new number anyway?
Not if they bought a continuing legal entity that already has one. That creates a duplicate.
Do the new owners need to go through Motus identity verification?
FMCSA says each person creates a user profile and completes identity verification to log in to Motus.
Is there a fee?
FMCSA says updating your USDOT information is free. A name change on an operating authority record has a $14 fee under FMCSA's name change FAQ. For an authority transfer, check with FMCSA.
Still have questions about your record? Ask one of our Personal Compliance Specialists.
Consult with a Compliance SpecialistRelated guides
- You cannot sell a DOT number
- Name change or new number?
- Sole proprietor to LLC
- Applied for a DOT number twice
- Safety history with two numbers
You can sort this out yourself. Search the public record, including the SAFER company snapshot, and use FMCSA registration resources or Motus. Or request a record review and we will look at what appears on the public record.
Do it yourself
- Updating your USDOT information with FMCSA is free, according to FMCSA.
- You set up Login.gov and complete identity verification for Motus.
- You find the right forms, versions and supporting documents.
- You match names, numbers and addresses across the record, authority, insurance and BOC-3.
- You track the deadlines and follow up with FMCSA yourself.
Have a specialist handle it
- Our Personal Compliance Specialists review the public record and explain what they see.
- They help prepare the filings and gather the supporting documents.
- They help line up authority, insurance, BOC-3 and UCR with one number.
- Paid service. Government fees, where they apply, are separate.
- You still sign and certify, and FMCSA still decides.
Sources
Public pages checked on November 15, 2026. FMCSA can change its process at any time, so check the current page before you file.