Can I reinstate a revoked MC after 1 year?
Yes — most revoked MCs can be reinstated within 1 year of revocation through the §365 reinstatement process. The reinstatement application is filed through the FMCSA Portal with the $300 filing fee, fresh BMC-91 BIPD insurance evidence, current BOC-3 process-agent designation, and any documentation addressing the underlying revocation cause. After 1 year, reinstatement becomes harder; after 2-3 years, FMCSA may require a fresh authority application instead.
The 49 CFR §365 reinstatement process is the standard path for recovering revoked MC authority. The window for reinstatement is not strictly defined in regulation but FMCSA practice generally accepts reinstatement applications within 12-24 months of revocation. Beyond 24 months, the carrier may face additional requirements (fresh new-entrant audit, full reapplication) depending on the revocation cause and the time elapsed.
The reinstatement application package includes: (1) the formal reinstatement application through the FMCSA Portal, (2) the $300 filing fee paid via the FMCSA Payment Portal, (3) fresh BMC-91 BIPD insurance evidence on the §387.9 minimums, (4) current BOC-3 process-agent designation, (5) any documentation addressing the original revocation cause (corrective action plan for safety revocations, payment confirmation for unpaid fines, etc.), and (6) a current MCS-150 if the carrier's data has changed since revocation.
For revocations caused by routine compliance lapses (insurance lapse, BOC-3 lapse, MCS-150 deactivation that escalated to revocation), reinstatement is generally straightforward — the carrier remediates the underlying cause, files the application, and authority typically reactivates within 4-6 weeks. For revocations caused by serious safety violations or unsatisfactory new-entrant audits, the path is longer and may require additional FMCSA Field Office engagement.
For carriers who let revocation extend past 2-3 years, reinstatement may not be available at all. FMCSA may require a fresh authority application via URS, treating the carrier as a new applicant. The new application gets a new MC number; the old MC is permanently retired. For carriers in this situation, the practical path is forward not backward — get a fresh MC and treat the prior history as closed.