# UCR Base State Rules

Canonical: https://www.fastucrfiling.com/guides/ucr-base-state-rules
Category: FMCSA Compliance
Published: 2026-04-24
Updated: 2026-05-02
Read time: 6 min read

> 41 states participate directly in UCR. If your principal place of business is in one of them, that’s your base state. If not, you pick a participating neighbor. Here’s how the rules actually work.

## TL;DR

> Forty-one U.S. states participate directly in UCR. Carriers domiciled in non-participating jurisdictions (AZ, FL, HI, MD, NV, NJ, OR, VT, WY, DC) select a participating neighbor as their base state — fees are identical regardless.

## Key takeaways

- 41 participating states, 9 non-participating states, plus the District of Columbia.
- Base state = principal place of business if it participates; closest participating neighbor if not.
- Fee is identical regardless of which neighbor a non-participating-state carrier picks.
- Base state can only be changed at the next annual renewal, never mid-year.
- Where the carrier operates does not determine base state — only domicile does.

## Cited entities

- 49 USC §14504a (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14504a)
- 49 CFR Part 367 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-367)
- UCR Plan (https://www.ucr.gov/)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/)

## FAQ

### Which states participate in UCR?

Forty-one states are UCR participating states. The non-participating jurisdictions are Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Non-participating states do not collect UCR fees directly, but carriers based in those jurisdictions are still federally required to register — they choose a participating neighbor as their base state instead.

### If I am based in a non-participating state, which state do I choose?

Any participating state, but the convention is to pick a neighbor so the administrative trail matches your geography. A Florida carrier typically chooses Georgia; an Oregon carrier typically chooses Washington or California; an Arizona carrier typically chooses California, Utah, or New Mexico. The choice does not change the fee — only which state’s UCR portal processes your paperwork.

### Can I change my base state?

Yes, during your next annual renewal. You cannot change base state mid-year once a registration is filed. Most carriers keep the same base state year over year because changing it creates friction with state-specific audit trails and renewals.

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Full article: https://www.fastucrfiling.com/guides/ucr-base-state-rules