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Authority Age and History Checker for Owner Operators

See how long an MC number has held authority, every grant, reinstatement and revocation, and every insurance filing, from FMCSA's open data.

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Data: FMCSA's open data files on data.transportation.gov (carrier records, authority history, revocations and insurance filings), updated by FMCSA and read live. It shows what FMCSA has on file for one docket number. It is not a credit check or a safety rating. Confirm anything that matters on FMCSA's own Licensing and Insurance site, and call the insurer to check a policy before you haul.

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How do you check MC authority age and history?

Enter an MC or USDOT number. The tool reads five FMCSA files and shows when the authority was first granted, how long the current authority has been active, each revocation and reinstatement, the insurance in force today and every insurance filing on record. It states facts and gives no score.

  1. Choose MC number or USDOT number and type it in.
  2. Read the authority age. It counts from the first grant on file. Some old dockets have no grant on file, and the tool says so.
  3. Read current authority since. It counts from the last grant or reinstatement after any revocation.
  4. Check the revocations and dropped notices. A dropped notice never took effect.
  5. Check insurance today and the history table for cancellations and gaps over 7 days.
  6. Confirm anything that matters on FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance site and with the insurer.
What each file in the tool tells you
FMCSA fileWhat it showsHow the tool uses it
Carrier recordName, docket, USDOT, authority status, insurance required and on fileStatus chips and insurance today
Authority historyGrants, reinstatements and revocations with datesAuthority age and current authority since
Revocation ordersEffective dates and kind of revocationRevocation count and dropped notices
Insurance historyEvery filing, when it started and how it endedCancellations and gaps over 7 days
Insurance in forceFilings active todayInsurance today table

Data is read from FMCSA's open data files on data.transportation.gov. Dollar amounts in those files are in thousands, and the tool shows full dollars. The tool shows what FMCSA has on file for one docket number. It is not a credit check or a safety rating.

Last reviewed September 2026. Sources: FMCSA: how to reinstate operating authority; FMCSA: insurance filing requirements; FMCSA: Form OP-1 (application for operating authority); data.transportation.gov: FMCSA Company Census and Licensing and Insurance files.

Frequently Asked Questions - Authority Age and History Checker

How do I check how old an MC authority is?
Enter the MC or USDOT number in this tool. It reads FMCSA's open data files and shows the date the authority was first granted, how long ago that was, and how long the current authority has been active. FMCSA's own Licensing and Insurance site also lists the dates, but this tool puts the history in one place.
How long has my MC number been active?
Look at the current authority since figure. It counts from your last grant or reinstatement. The authority age figure counts from the first grant on file. If your authority was revoked and later reinstated, the two figures are different.
How long does it take for an MC number to become active?
FMCSA publishes the application and opens a 10-day protest period. The authority is issued once your insurance and BOC-3 are on file. FMCSA says you may not haul freight until the Licensing and Insurance system shows the authority as Active. Check the dates in this tool to see when yours started.
Why is my MC number inactive?
The two common reasons are that insurance was cancelled or lapsed and that the carrier asked to give up the authority. FMCSA can also revoke authority for other reasons. This tool lists every revocation order and the insurance filings that ended, so you can see what happened and when.
How do I reinstate a revoked MC authority?
FMCSA says the request costs $80. You must have your BOC-3 and your insurance filing in place first, or the request is put on hold. FMCSA also says you cannot request reinstatement if you were put out of service as an imminent hazard or got a final unsatisfactory safety rating.
What does a dropped revocation notice mean?
It means FMCSA started a revocation and then dropped it before it took effect. That can happen when the carrier fixes the problem in time, such as a lapse in insurance. The tool counts dropped notices apart from real revocations.
Does a new MC authority mean a carrier or broker is bad?
No. Every carrier starts new. But some brokers and shippers look at authority age when they pick who to book, and a new authority has less history to check. This tool shows facts from FMCSA's files and does not give a score or a rating.
What is a gap in insurance on the record?
A gap is a time over 7 days when FMCSA had no primary liability filing in force for the docket. A gap can also fall in a time when the carrier had no authority at all. Call the insurer or ask for a certificate to check today's coverage.
How current is this data?
The tool reads FMCSA's open data files on data.transportation.gov each time you search, and results are kept for up to an hour. If something looks wrong, check FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance site before you act.

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Go Further With Authority Age and History Checker

Guides, services and reference pages that go with this tool.

Terms explained in the Authority Age and History Checker