Will I lose my USDOT number if I can't finish my biennial update in Motus?

Almost certainly not right now. FMCSA suspended USDOT inactivations on June 1, 2026 because of the Motus rollout problems and has kept the pause in effect. A biennial you can't submit due to a system lockout should not cost you your number while the pause holds — but reconfirm the current status at fmcsa.dot.gov.

Why won't Motus let me claim my USDOT number?

The most common reason is an email mismatch: Motus ties to the "Company Official" email on your old FMCSA Portal record and verifies you through Login.gov. If those two emails don't match exactly, it won't recognize you. Line them up and try again.

Do I need to pay a service to fix my Motus login?

No. Claiming your record and filing your biennial update are free through FMCSA. Any letter or call demanding a few hundred dollars to "fix your Motus" is a third-party outfit, not FMCSA. If you're stuck, call FMCSA registration at 1-800-832-5660.

You can't claim your USDOT number in Motus — here's the fix

Motus won't let you claim your number and your biennial update is stuck. Two things: you're almost certainly not getting deactivated over it, and the lockout is usually one fixable setting. Here's the plain version.

Good news: inactivations are paused

FMCSA suspended USDOT inactivations on June 1, 2026 specifically because of the Motus rollout problems, and confirmed the pause is still in effect with no end date. A biennial update you can't submit right now should not cost you your number. Always reconfirm the current status at fmcsa.dot.gov.

Why you can't claim your number (it's usually an email mismatch)

Motus verifies you through Login.gov against whoever is listed as the "Company Official" on your old FMCSA Portal record. If the email on your Portal record doesn't EXACTLY match the email on your Login.gov account, Motus won't recognize you as the owner — and it won't let you claim your number.

This one mismatch is the most common reason owner-operators get locked out. Your record isn't gone; the system just can't tie your new Login.gov identity to your old carrier record.

You're not getting inactivated over a stuck biennial

The Motus rollout broke access for a lot of carriers, so FMCSA paused USDOT inactivations starting June 1, 2026 — the guidance was that carriers should not worry about inactivation from Motus-related access or system issues.

So the panic is understandable but usually misplaced: a biennial update you physically cannot submit right now is not going to get your authority pulled while the pause is in effect.

How to fix the lockout (free — don't pay a "Motus service")

1
Log into your FMCSA Portal record and note who the "Company Official" is and what email is on file for them.
2
Set your Login.gov account to that SAME email (or update the Company Official email to match your Login.gov), then try to claim your number again.
3
If it still won't budge, call FMCSA registration at 1-800-832-5660 or open a ticket at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov — they can push a claim through by hand. Hold times are long right now; keep trying.
4
Ignore the "we'll fix your Motus for $300" mailers and robocalls. This is a free fix on your end — FMCSA does not charge you to claim your own record.

Claiming your number and filing the biennial update are free through FMCSA/Motus. If you're stuck, FMCSA registration (1-800-832-5660) and ask.fmcsa.dot.gov can push it through by hand — you never pay a third party to claim your own record.

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Common questions

Will I lose my USDOT number if I can't finish my biennial update in Motus?: Almost certainly not right now. FMCSA suspended USDOT inactivations on June 1, 2026 because of the Motus rollout problems and has kept the pause in effect. A biennial you can't submit due to a system lockout should not cost you your number while the pause holds — but reconfirm the current status at fmcsa.dot.gov.
Why won't Motus let me claim my USDOT number?: The most common reason is an email mismatch: Motus ties to the "Company Official" email on your old FMCSA Portal record and verifies you through Login.gov. If those two emails don't match exactly, it won't recognize you. Line them up and try again.
Do I need to pay a service to fix my Motus login?: No. Claiming your record and filing your biennial update are free through FMCSA. Any letter or call demanding a few hundred dollars to "fix your Motus" is a third-party outfit, not FMCSA. If you're stuck, call FMCSA registration at 1-800-832-5660.

Fact-checked June 2026 · always reconfirm at fmcsa.dot.gov — fees, screens, and timelines change.