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Home / Login.gov and ID check

Login.gov sign-in and the Motus identity check

What the first sign-in asks for, how the photo ID step works, and what to do if verification will not go through.

Truck driver sitting in his cab checking his phone while typing on a laptop

Two separate steps

People often mix these up. Login.gov is the sign-in service: an email, a password and a second factor such as a code sent to your phone. FMCSA uses it because federal rules require multi-factor sign-in for government systems. The identity check is a separate step inside Motus the first time you sign in. FMCSA has partnered with IDEMIA for identity document capture and verification.

What to have ready

  • A Login.gov account. If you used the old FMCSA Portal, use the same email address. Creating an account is free.
  • A smartphone, tablet, or a computer with a webcam for the identity step.
  • A valid government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, passport, identity card or resident card.
  • Access to the phone or method you use for your Login.gov second factor.

How the first sign-in goes

  1. Choose to sign in with Login.gov from the Motus home page, in the section for regulated entities and supporting companies.
  2. Sign in or create your Login.gov account and complete two-factor authentication.
  3. Open the identity verification tool and follow the prompts to capture images of your face and your ID. On a computer, scan the QR code on screen with your phone's camera. On a phone, use the link under the QR code to use that device's camera.
  4. Complete your user profile. Your name fills in exactly as it appears on your ID, then you add your address and phone number.
  5. Choose your workflow: link an existing USDOT number, start a new registration, or register as a supporting company.

This step has to be you. The identity check matches your face to your ID, so no filing service can do it for you. We can help you prepare, explain what each screen means, and handle the paperwork after you are in.

Practical tips for the photo step

These are general good habits, not FMCSA rules: use good, even light, avoid glare on the ID, keep the whole card in the frame, hold the phone steady, and make sure your ID is current. If your name on the ID does not match how your company records list you, sort that out before you file anything else.

If identity verification fails

FMCSA says that if you have trouble completing identity verification, you can contact the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660, and you may be referred to a designated physical location to finish the process. FMCSA also offers chat and an online ticket through Ask FMCSA.

Main account holders and sub-account holders

Motus company accounts are set up at the company level. The first person from your company to register creates the company account and becomes the main account holder, who can invite other users and manage their access. Sub-account holders should wait for the email invitation before they create a profile. Each person needs their own Login.gov account.

Where this information comes from

We write these guides from FMCSA's public pages and update them when FMCSA changes its guidance. Check the source before you act: