Cost to start a trucking company in Indiana: fee guide

Starting a trucking company in Indiana means fees to the Indiana Secretary of State, FMCSA, the IRS, UCR and the Indiana Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier Services. Most are fixed. Registration, tax and insurance depend on your trucks. Here is each fee with its official source.

The fees at a glance

Item	Paid to	Fee
Indiana LLC articles of organization	Indiana Secretary of State	$95 online through INBiz, $100 on paper
USDOT number	FMCSA	No charge
Operating authority (MC number)	FMCSA	$300 per type of authority
UCR, 2027 registration year	UCR	$55 for 0 to 2 vehicles, $167 for 3 to 5, $333 for 6 to 20
Heavy vehicle use tax (Form 2290)	IRS	$100 plus $22 per 1,000 pounds over 55,000; $550 over 75,000
Registration, truck or tractor over 78,000 pounds	Indiana DOR Motor Carrier Services	$1,692 a year in Indiana; under IRP, each state's share by miles, plus excise tax
Semitrailer pulled by an IRP truck	Indiana DOR Motor Carrier Services	$82 permanent registration
IFTA account	Indiana DOR Motor Carrier Services	$25

Federal fees

USDOT number. Indiana DOR's Commercial Motor Vehicle Guide says there is no fee for a USDOT number.
Operating authority. 49 CFR 360.3T sets $300 for an application for motor carrier operating authority, with a separate fee for each type of authority. The older section 360.3 is suspended, so 360.3T is the one in force.
UCR. Registration year 2027 fees took effect Oct 1, 2026 (49 CFR 367.50, FMCSA final rule, Sep 1, 2026, UCR fee brackets). Indiana DOR does not take UCR payments. You pay UCR directly.
Heavy vehicle use tax. For trucks at 55,000 pounds or more, the tax is $100 a year plus $22 per 1,000 pounds over 55,000, and $550 over 75,000 (26 U.S.C. 4481). You file Form 2290. A truck expected to run 5,000 miles or less in the period can claim suspension. IRP asks for the Schedule 1.

Indiana fees

Your business. Indiana law sets $75 for an electronic LLC filing and $100 on paper (IC 23-0.5-9-19). Filing online through INBiz adds a $20 enhanced access fee (75 IAC 8-3-4), so it comes to $95. The paper form, State Form 49459, lists $100.
Registration and IRP plates. Indiana's full-year fee for a truck or tractor declared over 78,000 pounds is $1,692, with lower tiers for lighter trucks (IC 9-18.1-5-9). Under IRP, Indiana bills each state's fee by your share of miles in that state. Indiana also collects commercial vehicle excise tax and a transportation infrastructure improvement fee on the same registration (IRP, Inc. notice, Sep 4, 2026). Indiana issues IRP plates through DOR, not the BMV.
Trailers. A trailer pulled by an IRP truck registers as a semitrailer, with an $82 permanent registration (IC 9-18.1-5-10). It renews each year to pay excise tax, with no renewal fee.
IFTA. Indiana DOR charges $25 to open an IFTA account. Fuel tax is paid on quarterly returns.
Hauling only inside Indiana. For-hire carriers file Form IOA-1 with DOR, and their insurer files a Form E (DOR checklist). See Indiana intrastate trucking requirements.

Costs that vary

Insurance. Your insurer must file proof of liability with FMCSA before your authority is granted (FMCSA). The price depends on your trucks, drivers, cargo and operation. See insurance on file for a new MC authority and what drives truck insurance cost.
BOC-3 process agent. The price is set by the process agent company you choose.
Drug and alcohol testing. Carriers with CDL drivers need a testing program under 49 CFR Part 382. The provider sets the price.

A first-year cost list

Business filing: $95 online for an Indiana LLC.
USDOT number: no charge. Operating authority: $300 per type.
Insurance: get it in place so your insurer can file before your authority is granted.
UCR: $55 for up to 2 trucks in 2027.
Form 2290 for each truck at 55,000 pounds or more.
IRP registration for each truck and trailer, then IFTA at $25.

The steps in order: the Indiana filing checklist. Plates and fuel tax for one truck: Indiana owner-operators: IRP and IFTA. Comparing states? See the cost to start a trucking company in Ohio.

Starting in Michigan instead? See the cost to start a trucking company in Michigan.

FAQ

How much does it cost to start a trucking company in Indiana?

The fixed fees are $95 to form an Indiana LLC online, $0 for a USDOT number, $300 per type of FMCSA operating authority, $55 for 2027 UCR with 0 to 2 trucks and $25 to open an IFTA account. Registration, heavy vehicle use tax and insurance depend on your trucks and operation.

How much does an LLC cost in Indiana?

Indiana law sets $75 for an electronic filing and $100 on paper (IC 23-0.5-9-19). Online filings through INBiz add a $20 enhanced access fee (75 IAC 8-3-4), so the online price is $95.

How much are IRP plates in Indiana?

Indiana's full-year registration fee for a truck or tractor declared over 78,000 pounds is $1,692 (IC 9-18.1-5-9). Under IRP, Indiana bills each state's fee by your share of miles there, and adds commercial vehicle excise tax and other fees. Trailers pulled by an IRP truck take an $82 permanent semitrailer registration.

How much does an IFTA license cost in Indiana?

Indiana DOR charges $25 to open an IFTA account. You pay fuel tax on quarterly IFTA returns, based on miles and gallons by state.

Is a USDOT number free in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana DOR's Commercial Motor Vehicle Guide says there is no fee for a USDOT number. FMCSA charges $300 for each type of operating authority (49 CFR 360.3T).

How much does trucking insurance cost for a new authority?

There is no fixed price. Each insurer prices on its own, using the trucks, drivers, cargo, radius and record. Our guide to what drives truck insurance cost explains the factors.

This guide is general information, not advice on any policy. For your own costs, check with the agencies linked below.

Sources

Indiana Secretary of State: Articles of Organization, State Form 49459 (PDF) (form revised Jan 2026)
Indiana Code 23-0.5-9-19: Articles of organization fees (Justia) (2025 Indiana Code)
75 IAC 8-3-4: Enhanced access fee, articles of organization (Cornell LII) (filed Jun 19, 2025)
Indiana DOR: Commercial Motor Vehicle Guide (PDF) (last revised Apr 2025)
49 CFR 360.3T: Filing fees (last amended Sep 29, 2022)
49 CFR 367.50: UCR fees for registration year 2027 and after (effective Oct 1, 2026)
Federal Register: Fees for the UCR Plan and Agreement, final rule (published Sep 1, 2026)
Unified Carrier Registration Plan: Fee brackets (accessed Oct 28, 2026)
26 U.S.C. 4481: Heavy vehicle use tax (Cornell LII) (accessed Oct 28, 2026)
IRS: Instructions for Form 2290 (revised Jul 2026)
Indiana Code 9-18.1-5: Vehicle classification and registration fees (PDF) (Indiana Code 2026 edition)
Indiana DOR Motor Carrier Services: International Registration Plan (accessed Oct 28, 2026)
IRP, Inc.: 2027 Indiana registration and CVET fee updates (posted Sep 4, 2026)
Indiana DOR Motor Carrier Services: New IFTA account registration (accessed Oct 28, 2026)
Indiana DOR MCS: UCR, USDOT numbers and Indiana operating authority checklist (accessed Oct 28, 2026)
FMCSA: Insurance Filing Requirements (last updated Mar 26, 2026)

Cost to start a trucking company in Indiana: the government fees