CA DOT Number Requirements: USDOT, CA Number and MCP

CA DOT number requirements cover three different numbers: a USDOT number from the federal government, a CA number from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and a Motor Carrier Permit (MCP) from the DMV. The DMV uses the CA number as the permit number, but you still apply to two agencies. Which ones you need depends on your truck's weight, what you haul, and whether you cross state lines. The steps below follow the order the agencies expect.

Which number is which

USDOT number

FMCSA says companies that operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce must have a USDOT number (FMCSA). FMCSA also lists California among the states whose intrastate carriers may need one, so a truck that only runs inside California can still need it. For the weight test, read who needs a USDOT number.

CA number

The CHP issues the CA number to identify motor carriers. The DMV uses it as the Motor Carrier Permit number (DMV). A carrier that must hold a permit has to display the CA number, and the CHP says a valid USDOT, PUC or Cal-T number can be shown in its place (CHP FAQ).

Motor Carrier Permit (MCP)

The DMV says a permit is needed for vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more, and for anyone paid to transport property regardless of vehicle size, type or weight (DMV). The CHP counts a pickup as a motortruck under its definition. A carrier that operates only in interstate commerce is not subject to the permit program, but an interstate carrier that wants to haul intrastate loads must get one (CHP FAQ).

The order to apply

1. Get the USDOT number first. New numbers are applied for in FMCSA's Motus system at motus.dot.gov. You create a user profile with identity verification through Login.gov and a government ID, then a company account, then the USDOT registration. The FMCSA Motus guide explains each step. The old Unified Registration System is permanently offline.
2. Get the CA number from the CHP. The CHP's three-step process starts with the USDOT number and then uses the Motor Carrier Profile, form CHP 362, to issue your CA number (CHP FAQ).
3. Apply for the MCP at the DMV. The DMV issues the permit on form DMV MC 706 M (CHP FAQ). Fees and processing times are on the DMV's permit pages.

Where to look a carrier up

• USDOT or MC number: FMCSA's SAFER Company Snapshot is free for one carrier at a time. Search by USDOT number, MC number or company name.
• Registration record: the Motus public search takes a USDOT number, legal name or DBA and shows the registration record (FMCSA).
• Look-alike sites: FMCSA warns about fake Motus and SAFER sites. Use only motus.dot.gov and the SAFER address above (FMCSA fraud alerts).
• CA number: the official pages on this topic do not give a public search, so contact the CHP to confirm a CA number.

Can the USDOT number replace the CA number?

Yes, for the number on the truck. California's Vehicle Code 34507.5 says the both-sides CA number rule does not apply to a vehicle that displays a valid USDOT number (Vehicle Code 34507.5). That substitution is about the marking only. It does not change who must hold a Motor Carrier Permit, and the CHP ties the substitution to a valid number. Confirm with the CHP before you remove the CA number from a truck that already carries a USDOT number.

The federal marking rule asks for your legal name and USDOT number on both sides of the power unit, readable from 50 feet while stopped (49 CFR 390.21T). Our USDOT display rules page explains it in plain words.

Other California markings on the same truck

• DMV weight decal: commercial vehicles registered under the Commercial Vehicle Registration Act with a declared weight of 10,001 pounds or more display DMV weight decals on the right and left sides. A decal that does not match the declared weight is unlawful to display (DMV CVRA handbook). See GVWR and weight stickers on trucks.
• Company name: Vehicle Code 27900 requires the name or trademark of the operating person on both sides of listed vehicles (Caltrans). Section 27902 exempts vehicles with an unladen weight of 6,000 pounds or less from that name rule. The exemption is from the name rule only.

Mistakes that cause trouble

• Mixing up the MC number and the CA number. The MC number is FMCSA's operating authority docket number. The CA number is the CHP's number. FMCSA says no federal marking requirement exists for the MC number (FMCSA).
• Applying in the wrong order. The CHP and DMV steps expect the USDOT number first.
• Using a name that does not match your federal registration. The name on the truck must be the legal name or single trade name on your Form MCS-150 (49 CFR 390.21T).
• Assuming the permit goes away. A USDOT number on the door settles the number on the truck, not the permit.
• Assuming a decal is a certificate. We print the text you enter. You are responsible for the numbers and for compliance, and rules change, so confirm with FMCSA, the CHP and the DMV.

Ordering the numbers on your truck

If you already have your numbers, our CA number decal prints the CA number you type on a rectangle in your background color. If you want USDOT, MC, CA and a weight line on one door, the four-line decal holds all four. The USDOT decal covers the USDOT number alone. Decals are priced per decal, so order 2 for both doors, or lay them out in the door builder.