How to Complete California DMV Form MC 706 M: Motor Carrier Permit

To apply for a California Motor Carrier Permit, complete DMV form MC 706 M — either through the DMV’s online motor carrier portal or on paper mailed to the Registration Operations Division in Sacramento — after you have secured a CHP-issued CA number, liability insurance that meets the coverage floor for your operation, workers’ compensation proof, and, if you employ commercial drivers, an Employer Pull Notice requester code. The permit runs for 12 months from issuance.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits

Who Has To File

Vehicle Code Section 34620 requires any motor carrier of property that operates a commercial motor vehicle on a California public highway to hold a valid MCP.2California Legislative Information. California Code VEH – Section 34620 That covers for-hire carriers moving other people’s goods for compensation and private carriers hauling their own property as part of a business.

A “commercial motor vehicle” for MCP purposes includes any motortruck of two or more axles with a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 pounds, a truck tractor pulling a trailer, or any other motor vehicle used to transport property for compensation.3Justia. California Code Vehicle Code 34600-34606 – Motor Carriers of Property Permit Act A commercial pickup can trigger the requirement if it clears the weight threshold or matches the axle configurations in Section 34500.

Section 34622 exempts a few operations: vehicles that are themselves exempt from registration fees (including certain government-owned vehicles under Sections 5004 and 5011) and household movers already permitted by the California Public Utilities Commission under Business and Professions Code Section 19241.4California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 34622 Interstate-only carriers operating under FMCSA authority are also exempt from the MCP itself, though they remain subject to CHP terminal inspections.

What To Have Ready Before You Apply

Most rejections come from a missing prerequisite, not a bad form. The DMV verifies your CHP credentials, insurance, and workers’ compensation before it issues anything, and a gap in any one sends the package back.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits

A CA Number From the CHP

Every applicant needs a California carrier identification number issued by the CHP. Apply online through the CHP’s CA Number portal or submit CHP Form 362 (Motor Carrier Profile) to the nearest CHP Division office.5California Highway Patrol. Commercial Vehicle Section The CHP will issue only one CA number per person or entity, no matter how many DBA names the business runs.6California Highway Patrol. CHP 362 – Motor Carrier Profile If you already have one, use it.

Tax ID

The application asks for a Federal Employer Identification Number, or a Social Security Number if you are a sole proprietor without employees.

Liability Insurance

You cannot receive an MCP without proof of financial responsibility: a currently effective certificate of insurance from a company licensed in California, a surety bond, or DMV-approved evidence of self-insurance.7California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 34630 The required combined single-limit coverage ranges from $300,000 to $5,000,000 depending on the vehicle and cargo.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits Most general freight carriers with trucks over 10,000 pounds must carry at least $750,000. Standard hazardous materials or oil hauling typically requires $1,000,000. High-risk hazmat operations — large tanks of petroleum, explosives, poison gas — require $5,000,000 regardless of vehicle size.

The insurer must agree to give the DMV at least 30 days’ written notice before cancellation. If coverage lapses, the DMV suspends the permit automatically on the date coverage ends.7California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 34630

Workers’ Compensation

Every applicant must submit one of three things:8California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 34640

  • A certificate of workers’ compensation coverage from an admitted insurer.
  • A certification of consent to self-insure from the Director of Industrial Relations, together with the plan administrator’s identity.
  • A statement under penalty of perjury that you do not employ anyone subject to California’s workers’ compensation laws. If you later hire an employee, you must immediately notify the DMV and file a certificate of coverage.

If coverage lapses or terminates without replacement, the permit is suspended.8California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 34640

Employer Pull Notice Requester Code

If you employ any driver holding a Commercial Class A or Commercial Class B license, or a Class C license with a hazardous materials endorsement, you need a valid Requester Code from the DMV’s Employer Pull Notice program before submitting the application. Vehicle Code Section 15278 requires it so the DMV can flag driver record activity to you on an ongoing basis.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits

Filling Out and Submitting Form MC 706 M

The MC 706 M is available as a downloadable PDF on the DMV’s motor carrier permits page, or you can complete the same application through the DMV’s online MCP portal.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits

On the form, you will identify your operation type. The DMV distinguishes for-hire carriers (moving other people’s property for compensation), private carriers (moving their own goods), and exempt carriers. The classification affects both your fee and the regulatory expectations attached to the permit.

You will also report the number of power units in your fleet, counting every vehicle you own, lease, or operate as a motor carrier.9California DMV. Motor Carrier Permit FAQs Leased vehicles count toward your total; the entity with operational control is responsible for permitting the truck, not the lessor. That number drives your fee, so get it right. If any vehicles carry hazardous materials, you will specify the types, which feeds into your insurance tier and CHP oversight.

Where To Send It

The DMV does not accept MCP applications at branch field offices.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits The online portal is the fastest route: you fill in the same fields, upload insurance documentation, and pay electronically.

If you file the paper form, keep a copy for your records and mail the application, supporting documents, and fee payment to:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Registration Operations Division
PO Box 932370 – MS H875
Sacramento, CA 94232-3700

For overnight delivery, use the street address:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Registration Operations Division
2415 1st Avenue – MS H875
Sacramento, CA 95818

A physical drop box is available at the DMV’s Building West Lobby, 2570 24th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818. Pay by check or money order made out to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Fees and Permit Term

MCP fees depend on whether you are a for-hire or private carrier and on the number of power units in your fleet.9California DMV. Motor Carrier Permit FAQs The DMV does not publish a fee table on its public page; the online application calculates the amount from what you enter, and the paper form’s instructions reference the applicable schedule. A single-truck operation pays far less than a large fleet, so verify the exact amount during the application process.

Each permit is valid for 12 months from issuance.10Cornell Law Institute. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 13, 220.04 – Expiration and Renewal You can renew a permit that has been expired for less than a year.1California DMV. Motor Carrier Permits Let it lapse beyond that, and you will likely have to apply as a new carrier.

Late fees escalate quickly under Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7236:11California Legislative Information. California Revenue and Taxation Code 7236

  • 30 days to one year late: 60 percent of the required fee added as a penalty.
  • One to two years late: 80 percent penalty.
  • More than two years late: 160 percent penalty.

Penalties keep accruing until every outstanding fee is paid.

Keeping the Permit Alive

Once the DMV has your complete application, it cross-references your insurance certificate, CHP records, and workers’ compensation status. If anything is missing or does not match, the agency returns the package with a correction request. Keep copies of everything you submitted so you can respond fast.

After issuance, the permit stays valid only as long as your underlying insurance and workers’ compensation coverage stay active. A lapse triggers automatic suspension on the day coverage ends, with no warning and no grace period.8California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 34640 Your insurer’s required 30-day cancellation notice to the DMV is the only window you get to arrange replacement coverage before suspension.7California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 34630

What Happens If You Operate Without a Valid Permit

Continuing to operate after suspension is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, up to three months in county jail, or both. A CHP officer who finds a truck on the road being operated in violation can impound the vehicle on the spot.12California Legislative Information. California Code VEH – 34660 Roadside checks are routine, and the cost of even one impoundment far exceeds the cost of keeping the permit current.