Set up your Login.gov and FMCSA MOTUS account
FMCSA requires applicants to access MOTUS through Login.gov and verify their identity. This guide explains how to complete the registration yourself using the official government sites.
The short version
You own and control the account.
Login.gov identity verification must be completed by the real applicant or company owner using their own email, phone, and ID. Keep the credentials and recovery methods under your control.
Have this ready
- ✓A working email address you can access immediately
- ✓A mobile phone that can receive text messages
- ✓Your government-issued photo ID
- ✓Your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID
- ✓About 10–15 quiet minutes — yes, the government made account setup a tiny side quest
Login.gov → MOTUS → your registration
What the video should say
No jargon. No panic. Just get them unstuck.
- 1. “Before we can file your authority, FMCSA needs you to prove your identity.”
- 2. “Go to motus.dot.gov and sign in with Login.gov.”
- 3. “Create Login.gov, verify your email, add text-message codes, and complete identity verification.”
- 4. “Back in MOTUS, start New Registration.”
- 5. Complete the registration yourself, review each answer carefully, and save your confirmation details.
Step-by-step
Do these in order
Do not skip identity verification. A basic Login.gov account is not enough if MOTUS asks you to verify your identity.
Open MOTUS
Go to motus.dot.gov. Use the official .gov site only — not a sponsored ad or a random filing service page.
Open motus.dot.gov →Choose Sign In Login.gov
In the Regulated Entities & Supporting Companies section, click the Sign In Login.gov button.
Create or sign into Login.gov
If you already have Login.gov, sign in. If not, create an account with an email address you control and can check right now.
Confirm your email and password
Login.gov will email you a confirmation link. After confirming, create a 12+ character password using uppercase, lowercase, numbers, or symbols.
Set up a sign-in code method
Text message is the easiest option for most applicants. Enter your phone number, then enter the code Login.gov sends you.
Verify your identity
Complete identity verification using your legal name and government ID. MOTUS will use the name from your ID for your user profile, and it cannot be changed casually later.
Return to MOTUS and create your profile
After Login.gov sends you back to MOTUS, agree and continue into the application and finish creating your user profile.
Start a New Registration
On the MOTUS home page, click Register in the New Registration block. This is where USDOT number, operating authority, and other registration work begins.
Important note
Your MOTUS profile name comes from your government ID.
FMCSA says the name on your User Profile is pre-populated from the government ID used for identity verification and cannot be changed. That includes first name, middle name or initial, last name, and suffix. Use your legal ID information carefully.
FAQ
Why do I have to do this myself?
FMCSA requires each applicant to prove their own identity through Login.gov before using MOTUS.
Is there a fee to get a USDOT number?
No. FMCSA says there is no fee to apply for a USDOT number. The government fee applies to operating authority, not the USDOT number by itself.
What if I already have Login.gov?
Use your existing Login.gov account. If it has not been identity-verified yet, MOTUS may ask you to complete identity verification before continuing.
What if identity verification fails?
Check that your legal name, address, date of birth, and ID information match. If it still fails, contact Login.gov support for help with the identity check.
Which email should I use?
Use an email address you control and can access. The Login.gov account belongs to you.
After you finish
Save your MOTUS confirmation screen or request number with your business records. Use the official FMCSA help channels if the government site blocks your registration.