How to buy an MC authority the legal way

You buy the company, not the number

FMCSA assigns a USDOT number and MC operating authority to a specific legal entity, usually an LLC or corporation. In a March 2026 bulletin, FMCSA warned that USDOT and MC numbers may not be sold, purchased or leased outside of a legitimate corporate transaction, and that it will deactivate numbers and revoke registrations that are transferred improperly.

A legitimate purchase looks like this: you buy the LLC (its membership interest) or the corporation (its stock). The same legal entity keeps its USDOT number, MC authority and history, and FMCSA’s records are then updated to show the new owners and officers.

Why buy an existing company at all?

Many brokers and shippers won’t set up a carrier until its authority has been active for 6 months to 2 years. A company that is already past that point lets you start booking loads right away instead of waiting out the clock. We cover this in detail in Aged MC authority vs. a new authority.

What to check before you buy

Every company you consider should pass these checks. Most of them use free public FMCSA data.

• Entity type: an LLC or corporation, in good standing with its state.
• Authority status on FMCSA SAFER: active, with the grant date matching what the seller claims.
• Safety rating: Satisfactory or Not Rated is normal. Conditional or Unsatisfactory needs an explanation.
• Inspections and out-of-service rate over the last 24 months, compared with the national average.
• Crashes over the last 24 months.
• Insurance history on FMCSA L&I: look for lapses or cancellations.
• Loss runs from the insurer, showing any claims.
• Open liens, debts, lawsuits or unpaid taxes. FMCSA’s records don’t show these, so ask, and search state and court records.
• Who the current owners and officers are, and proof the seller is authorized to sell.

Every listing on our listings page shows authority age, inspections, out-of-service rate and crashes up front. After you sign an NDA, we share the MC and USDOT numbers so you can verify everything yourself.

The buying process, step by step

1. Get pre-qualified so sellers know you’re a serious buyer.
2. Sign an NDA and receive the MC and USDOT numbers. Verify them on SAFER.
3. Sign a letter of intent and place a refundable deposit in escrow.
4. Due diligence: review loss runs, records and documents in the data room.
5. Sign the purchase agreement and close through escrow.
6. Update FMCSA with the new officers and contact details, and file your own insurance.

Most deals close in 2 to 6 weeks. See the transfer process after you buy for what happens with FMCSA after closing.

Red flags

• Someone offering to sell “just the MC number,” or to lease you their authority.
• Sellers who won’t share the MC or USDOT number even after an NDA.
• Pressure to pay by wire, Zelle or crypto directly to the seller instead of through escrow.
• An authority run as a sole proprietorship.
• No written purchase agreement.

Have your own attorney review the final agreement. Liabilities from before the sale should stay with the seller, and the agreement is where that is set out.

Frequently asked questions

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