Last Updated March 20, 2026
Are you planning to exit the trucking business or sell your company to a new owner? From offloading physical assets like trailers to managing the legal paperwork, there’s a lot to consider if so. A common question for business owners in this scenario is whether you can sell or transfer a DOT number.
Unfortunately, selling or transferring DOT or MC numbers isn’t always straightforward. They’re not like trucks or trailers. You can’t just list them online and sell them to the highest bidder. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently reinforced that these identifiers should not be treated as commodities.
However, there are ways to legally transfer a DOT number or complete a DOT transfer through proper business structuring. If you’re also curious about whether you can sell your trucking authority or what happens when you’re selling a trucking business, this guide will walk you through what to consider before transferring ownership.
Why a Carrier Might Consider Transferring a DOT or MC Number
There are several strategic reasons why you might want to transfer a DOT number or change its ownership, including:
- Business sale: If you’re selling a trucking business, transferring the operating authority helps the new owner continue operations seamlessly.
- Merger or acquisition: During company mergers, carriers may want to retain existing numbers to preserve safety scores and compliance history.
- Maintaining authority: Rather than apply for new authority, it’s often more efficient to explore a DOT transfer through an ownership change. Plus, an MC number and DOT number with a proven track record can be valuable to a buyer who wants to avoid starting from scratch.
- Unnecessary ownership: This is rare, but you might have realized you’re exempt from needing a DOT number after already securing it.
Can You Sell Your DOT Number?
Technically, you can’t sell your DOT number on its own. A DOT number is assigned to a specific business entity and tied directly to its legal structure, safety record, and compliance history. Because of this, the DOT number itself is non-transferable.
Though while you can’t sell your DOT number by itself, there are scenarios where you can transfer DOT number usage indirectly, such as when you’re selling a trucking business and the buyer keeps the same business entity structure. In that case, the DOT number can remain active under the same name; however, this is a DOT transfer through an ownership change, not a true sale. Understanding these nuances can help you structure the sale or transition of your business correctly without risking compliance.
Can You Sell an MC Number?
When it comes to your motor carrier (MC) number, the rules are similar to a DOT number but with some added complexity.
Put simply, no, you can’t sell an MC number. Like a DOT number, an MC number is assigned to a specific legal entity and is not a standalone asset that can be sold or reassigned.
However, there is a workaround. If you’re selling a trucking business, and the business entity itself remains intact (including its employer identification number, or EIN), then both the DOT number and MC number can stay with the company. In this case, it’s not that you’re selling the numbers but rather the entity that owns them. This distinction matters legally and from a compliance standpoint.
While you can’t directly sell your MC number, transferring the full business through a proper change of DOT number ownership and trucking authority can achieve a similar outcome.
Related: MC vs. DOT Numbers: What’s the Difference?
March 2026 Update: FMCSA Advises Against Selling DOT Numbers
In March 2026, the FMCSA issued a formal warning advising carriers not to sell, purchase, or lease USDOT or MC numbers.
The agency made it clear that these numbers are permanently tied to a specific legal entity and cannot be transferred independently. Attempts to buy or sell them, especially through informal agreements or online listings, can lead to enforcement actions such as revocation of authority or deactivation of the DOT number.
The only legitimate way these numbers continue under new ownership is through the sale of the entire business entity, such as a corporation or LLC. Otherwise, new owners must apply for their own DOT and MC numbers.
The bottom line is that you are not selling the number. You are selling the company that holds it.
According to altLINE Freight Factoring Operations Manager Jennifer Lockett, selling or purchasing MC or DOT numbers carries a greater risk of fraudulent activity from at least one of the two involved parties.
“Too often, people purchase MC or DOT numbers with a clear record without looking into the owner. They only look at the MC and the great history that comes with it,” Lockett said. “But the previous owner could have a history of fraud. Plus, they have a window of time to do some fraudulent things, such as steal a high value load before the number is officially sold.”
In-Summary: Can You Change Ownership of a DOT Number?
You can’t transfer a DOT number in the traditional sense. Still, while the DOT number itself is not transferable, you can change ownership of a DOT number by selling or restructuring the legal entity that holds it. This means that if the business entity (with the same name and EIN) remains intact, the DOT number can continue under new ownership without interruption.
However, this isn’t about selling a number—it’s about managing the DOT transfer process correctly during a business sale or ownership transition.
If you’re considering selling a trucking business, it’s important to work with legal and compliance professionals who understand the details of FMCSA regulations. This ensures that your MC number, DOT number, and operating authority are handled properly without putting your business at risk.
Jennifer Lockett is the Freight Factoring Operations Manager at altLINE, the factoring division of The Southern Bank Company. Jennifer joined altLINE to spearhead the launch of the company’s new freight factoring program, bringing with her eight years of experience in the factoring industry and 18 years in the general trucking industry. Her firsthand experience working closely with drivers over the years has allowed her to carefully evaluate situations from a carrier’s point of view and navigate challenges effectively.
