Indiana Trucking Authority: Filings, Costs, and Timeline for 2026
Getting an Indiana trucking authority is one of the faster, cheaper state-side processes in this series, with one catch: whether you need a separate state intrastate credential depends on cargo type in a way that trips up new carriers. Interstate general commodity carriers already holding FMCSA authority are exempt from Indiana's intrastate filing even when they run Indiana-only miles. Intrastate-only property carriers over 10,001 pounds still file a BAS-1. Household goods and passenger carriers face the strictest rule of all: a full Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity regardless of interstate status. Add Indiana's unusually fast LLC formation and its biennial, not annual, report cycle, and the state has its own rhythm worth planning around. The tool above builds a checklist specific to your setup; the sections below explain each requirement.
Interstate vs. intrastate authority in Indiana
A USDOT number is federal and applies no matter where you're based. What else applies in Indiana depends on both interstate status and cargo type, more than in most states.
Interstate general commodity carriers who already hold FMCSA operating authority don't need a separate Indiana intrastate credential, even for the portion of their runs that stay inside Indiana. This exemption doesn't extend to household goods or passenger carriers, who need a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Department of Revenue regardless of whether they also operate interstate.
An Indiana-based carrier that only hauls property intrastate, at 10,001 pounds GVWR or more, files a Business Authorization and Safety Application (BAS-1) instead, a lighter-weight filing than the household goods and passenger process. Not sure which category applies to you? The new authority checklist sorts that out before you file anything.
The filing sequence for an Indiana authority
- File your Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State. $95 online through INBiz, typically approved within one business day. Every filing after this one needs to reference the exact legal name on this document.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. Free, same-day online, and keeps your Social Security number off public FMCSA lookup tools.
- Register through FMCSA's Motus system. This handles your USDOT number and, if you're hauling interstate, your MC number request together. Use your Indiana legal name exactly as it appears on your Articles of Organization.
- File the appropriate Indiana intrastate credential if it applies: a BAS-1 and $10 per-vehicle fee for intrastate property carriers over 10,001 pounds, or a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity application ($100, 30–60 day processing) for household goods or passenger carriers.
- Pay the $300 FMCSA authority fee if you requested interstate operating authority. Non-refundable, per authority type.
- File BOC-3. A federal filing, not an Indiana one, designating a process agent in every state you'll operate in. $20–$100 through a filing service.
- Have your insurer file proof of coverage. For interstate authority, your insurer files Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA. Indiana intrastate credentials require a Form E filed with the state instead.
- Wait out the 10-day federal protest period if you applied for interstate authority, per 49 CFR 365.203T.
- Register for UCR if you're operating interstate.
- Add IRP if you're crossing state lines with your own truck, and register for either an Indiana IFTA license (fleets running outside Indiana) or an Indiana MCFT intrastate fuel tax permit (Indiana-only fleets).
Once your authority is active, FMCSA schedules a new entrant safety audit within 18 months for interstate carriers. The DQF builder and FMCSA out-of-service risk assessment help you walk into that audit with your paperwork already in order.
2026 Indiana cost breakdown
| Filing | 2026 cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana LLC Articles of Organization | $95 online | Indiana Secretary of State |
| USDOT number | $0 | FMCSA (Motus) |
| FMCSA operating authority (MC number) | $300 per authority type, non-refundable | FMCSA (Motus) |
| BAS-1 intrastate property authority | $10 per vehicle, annual renewal | Indiana Department of Revenue |
| CPCN (household goods/passenger carriers) | $100, non-refundable, annual renewal | Indiana Department of Revenue |
| BOC-3 process agent filing | $20–$100 | Process agent service |
| UCR registration (0–2 trucks) | $46 per year | UCR Plan |
| Indiana IFTA license + decals | $25 flat fee, decals free | Indiana Department of Revenue |
| HVUT (Form 2290, trucks 55,000 lbs+) | $100–$550 per year, prorated by month in service | IRS |
| Commercial liability insurance | $800–$2,500 per month for a new one-truck authority | Insurance carrier |
Federal and state fees for an Indiana authority total roughly $460 to $520 before insurance and IRP for a general freight carrier that qualifies for the interstate exemption, among the lowest totals in this series. Insurance still decides the real startup budget. For the full national breakdown by line item, see trucking startup costs and new authority cost.
Timeline: day by day
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Indiana LLC filing (online, INBiz) | Often same day, typically within 1 business day |
| EIN from the IRS | Same day, online |
| FMCSA Motus application processing | 20–25 business days |
| Federal public protest period (interstate only) | 10 days, runs alongside processing |
| CPCN application (household goods/passengers only) | 30–60 days; not authorized to operate until approved |
| BOC-3 filing | 1–2 business days once ordered |
| Total, application to ACTIVE status (interstate general freight) | 3–5 weeks in most cases |
Indiana-specific data: offices, corridors, and permits
Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services handles IRP, IFTA, MCFT, UCR, BAS-1, and CPCN filings together through its online portal, reachable at (317) 615-7200 for the Intrastate Operating Authority section specifically.
Major freight corridors: I-65 (running north-south from Chicago through Indianapolis to Louisville), I-70 (east-west through Indianapolis connecting Columbus, Ohio to St. Louis), I-69 (running diagonally from Michigan through Indianapolis toward Evansville and beyond), I-74 (connecting Indianapolis to Cincinnati and Champaign), and I-80/94 (crossing the state's northern tier through Gary and South Bend).
Largest freight hubs: Indianapolis, often called the crossroads of America alongside Illinois for its interstate density, is one of the busiest inland logistics and air-cargo markets in the country, anchored by the FedEx Express national hub at Indianapolis International Airport. Fort Wayne, Evansville, and the Gary/Northwest Indiana corridor along Lake Michigan round out the state's other major freight markets.
Standard legal limits in Indiana are 80,000 pounds gross weight without a permit, and the Indianapolis interstate interchange sees some of the heaviest weigh station enforcement in the Midwest given the volume of through-freight converging there. Check limits before dispatching with the truck weight limit calculator.
Mistakes Indiana carriers make
- Filing a BAS-1 when the interstate exemption already applies. Interstate general commodity carriers with FMCSA authority don't need Indiana intrastate authority even for Indiana-only legs, and filing for it anyway wastes time and money.
- Registering for IFTA when MCFT applies, or vice versa. A fleet mixing IRP apportioned trucks with Indiana-only base-plated trucks needs a single IFTA license covering everything, not a split account.
- Missing the biennial Business Entity Report because the reminder was set for every year instead of every two years. Indiana can administratively dissolve an LLC that lets this lapse too long.
- Assuming a CPCN processes as fast as a BAS-1. Household goods and passenger carriers wait 30 to 60 days and can't operate at all during that window, unlike the faster property-carrier filing.
For the longer national list, see trucking authority mistakes and first load after authority.
Indiana authority checklist
- ☐Indiana Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State via INBiz
- ☐EIN issued by the IRS
- ☐USDOT number registered through FMCSA's Motus system
- ☐MC number requested and $300 fee paid, if hauling interstate
- ☐BAS-1 filed, if intrastate property carrier over 10,001 lbs and not exempt
- ☐CPCN applied for, if hauling household goods or passengers intrastate
- ☐BOC-3 filed with a process agent in every operating state
- ☐Insurance bound and BMC-91/91X or state Form E filed
- ☐10-day federal protest period cleared, if applicable
- ☐UCR registered for the current registration year
- ☐IRP account opened, if crossing state lines with your own truck
- ☐Indiana IFTA or MCFT account opened, decals received
- ☐Form 2290 filed and Schedule 1 in hand, for trucks 55,000 lbs+
- ☐Drug and alcohol testing consortium joined and Clearinghouse registration complete
- ☐Biennial Business Entity Report deadline calendared for two years out
FAQ
Do I need Indiana intrastate authority if I already have a USDOT number?
It depends on your cargo type and whether you also hold interstate authority. Indiana exempts general commodity carriers who already hold interstate operating authority from needing a separate state intrastate credential when they also run loads inside Indiana. But an Indiana-based, intrastate-only for-hire property carrier at 10,001 pounds GVWR or more still has to file a Business Authorization and Safety Application (BAS-1) with the Department of Revenue. Household goods and passenger carriers face a stricter rule: they need a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from Indiana regardless of interstate status.
How much does it cost to start a trucking company in Indiana in 2026?
Formation and federal filings run lower than most states, roughly $850 to $2,650 before insurance. An Indiana LLC costs $95 to file online through INBiz, with no annual report in year one, just a $32 Business Entity Report every two years. FMCSA operating authority is $300 per authority type through Motus. BOC-3 runs $20 to $100. UCR is $46 a year for a one- or two-truck fleet. Indiana's IFTA license is a flat $25 with free decals. Insurance remains the largest variable, typically $800 to $2,500 a month for a new one-truck authority.
What's the difference between Indiana's IFTA and MCFT fuel tax accounts?
IFTA covers carriers who travel in Indiana plus at least one other state or Canadian province. Indiana's own Motor Carrier Fuel Tax (MCFT) account covers carriers that operate only within Indiana. A fleet running a mix of IRP-apportioned trucks and Indiana-only base-plated trucks needs an IFTA license covering the entire fleet, not a split between the two systems. Getting this wrong is one of the more common Indiana-specific filing mistakes.
Why does Indiana's LLC report catch new owners off guard?
Indiana runs a biennial Business Entity Report cycle, due every two years in the LLC's formation anniversary month, rather than the annual cycle most states use. Owners who set a yearly reminder based on habits from other states often miss the actual filing window entirely, since it only comes around once every 24 months, and the state can administratively dissolve an LLC that lets it lapse too long.
Do I need IRP registration if I only haul within Indiana?
No. IRP only applies to vehicles that operate in Indiana and at least one other jurisdiction, since it apportions your registration fee by mileage. An Indiana-only carrier registers with a standard Indiana plate instead and files under the MCFT intrastate fuel tax system rather than IFTA. Given how many interstates converge around Indianapolis, though, carriers who start local often need IRP within their first year.
How do I register for UCR in Indiana?
Indiana participates in the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement, and interstate carriers register online at the national UCR portal. It's due annually between October 1 and December 31 for the following registration year. Indiana Motor Carrier Services recommends updating your MCS-150 with FMCSA before paying UCR fees, since a stale MCS-150 can cause registration mismatches.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Indiana?
Online filing through INBiz is one of the fastest in the country, typically approved within one business day, sometimes within hours if submitted on a weekday morning. Mail filings take longer and cost $100 instead of $95. Most new authorities can have an approved LLC within a day or two, which matters because your EIN, insurance certificate, and FMCSA application all need to reference the exact legal name on that filing.
Does Indiana require separate authority if I only run inside the state?
It depends on cargo type. Indiana-based intrastate property carriers at 10,001 pounds GVWR or more file a BAS-1 with the Department of Revenue and pay $10 per vehicle, renewed annually with Form E insurance on file. Household goods and passenger carriers need a full Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, a $100 non-refundable application processed in 30 to 60 days, renewed every year by November 30. Interstate general commodity carriers running some Indiana intrastate miles are exempt from the state requirement entirely.
What insurance does Indiana require for intrastate authority?
Indiana has adopted federal insurance standards for intrastate carriers: $750,000 combined single limit for most common and contract carriers, dropping to $300,000 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds GVWR hauling non-hazardous freight, up to $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 CSL depending on cargo, and at least $5,000,000 for contract carriers transporting railroad employees. A Form E certificate of insurance has to be filed as proof.
What's the Form 2290 (HVUT) requirement for a new Indiana authority?
Any truck with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more needs Heavy Vehicle Use Tax paid to the IRS through Form 2290, and Indiana's Motor Carrier Services requires the stamped Schedule 1 before it will process IRP registration. The tax is due annually and prorated for trucks put into service partway through the July-to-June tax year.
Where do I file BOC-3 for an Indiana-based authority?
BOC-3 isn't filed with any Indiana agency. It's a federal filing that designates a process agent in every state where you operate, submitted to FMCSA through Motus by a process agent service. FMCSA doesn't charge for the filing itself, but almost every carrier pays a service $20 to $100 for nationwide coverage.
How much does Indiana truck insurance cost for a new authority?
New one-truck authorities based in Indiana commonly see $800 to $2,500 a month, driven mainly by driver experience, cargo type, radius of operation, and CSA history. Carriers running the Indianapolis distribution belt, one of the densest logistics hubs in the Midwest, sometimes see rates shaped by claims density in that corridor as much as by driver risk factors.
What triggers a roadside issue for a new Indiana carrier?
The most common causes are a missing BAS-1 or CPCN for intrastate carriers, missing UCR registration, no IFTA or MCFT decal on a qualifying vehicle, and a missing HVUT Schedule 1 for trucks over 55,000 pounds. Indiana State Police and INDOT jointly run weigh station and roadside checks along I-65, I-70, I-69, I-74, and I-80/94, and a lapsed filing in any one system is enough to get a truck placed out of service.
Can I lease onto another carrier instead of getting my own Indiana authority?
Yes, and it's the faster path if the goal is hauling loads sooner rather than owning a docket number. Leasing onto an established carrier skips the FMCSA processing wait, the protest period, any Indiana intrastate filing, and often the insurance minimums required under your own MC number, since you operate under the carrier's authority instead.
How long does the whole process take for an Indiana interstate authority?
Most new Indiana carriers see ACTIVE status 3 to 5 weeks after starting the FMCSA application through Motus. FMCSA typically processes a first-time application in 20 to 25 business days, and a 10-day public protest period runs under 49 CFR 365.203T before authority can go active. Indiana's own LLC filing is one of the fastest steps in the sequence, often done in a day, so the FMCSA timeline is usually the bottleneck.
Do I need a drug and alcohol testing consortium in Indiana?
Yes, if you operate commercial motor vehicles requiring a CDL. Federal law requires enrollment in a drug and alcohol testing program and registration in the FMCSA Clearinghouse, and this applies in Indiana exactly as it does everywhere else. A single-driver operation still needs a random testing consortium, since FMCSA doesn't allow an owner-operator to self-administer random selection.
Related tools and guides
Every filing above has a matching tool or guide. Use them once your Indiana authority is active, or while you're still deciding what applies to you.
Running loads in more than one state? See CDL requirements by state before you cross into Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, or Kentucky.
Sources
- Indiana Department of Revenue — Motor Carrier Services
- Indiana DOR — Intrastate Passenger & Household Goods Authority
- Indiana Secretary of State — INBiz
- FMCSA — Get Operating Authority (Docket Number)
- Unified Carrier Registration Plan — 2026 Fee Brackets
- IRS — About Form 2290 (Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax)
- FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
- Indiana Code 8-2.1-24 (Intrastate Motor Carrier Safety and Insurance Certification); 49 CFR Part 365 (operating authority procedures) and Part 366 (BOC-3 process agents)
Fees and processing times above reflect Indiana Department of Revenue, Indiana Secretary of State, and FMCSA schedules published for 2026. Confirm current figures on in.gov/dor, in.gov/sos, and fmcsa.dot.gov before filing, since state and federal fees can change between updates to this page.