How to buy old MC number?

meh, kind of like starting your checks at 5000 instead of 0001. The only people it's gonna matter too are corporate morons. I could have used my brother in laws old numbers when I started but got my own. But whatever, you want me to check with him ? How much money do you want to spend ?

 

I would say you have to buy their Corporation the MC # is connected to and just change the address for everything.

 

It doesn't really work that way. In order to keep it active they would have to keep paying their insurance and nobody is going to pay thousands $$$$ per year to keep up with an authority they are not using. Brokers/customers will see it was inactive/revoked and would probably view it as worse than having a new authority. It won't help you out or open any new doors.

 

Lower MC #s says they have been around a while with experience and not just a fly by nite operation. If you are dealing with Brokers it better make difference on extending credit to a new MC # compared to an old low number one that has a longer credit history to verify.

 

Before I got our MC, I thought about the same thing. In my research, I read several articles and talked to a couple of brokers that all said an older MC that has been inactive for a long time and then becomes active with a new address, etc. raises red flags. They worry about people doing double broker scams or worse, stealing freight with a purchased MC. It's common in other businesses to do something similar but for an MC, it was frowned upon so we started new. Who knows what the real story is but unless it's been active the entire time, I don't know if it's worth it as it will probably get viewed as a new MC until its been active again for as long as a new MC would have been.

Good luck with it.

 

When attempting to piggyback on a old MC you also assume all if any reports bad or good. Best to start fresh with your own.

 

Unless it is an active MC number it won't do you much good. Besides, whatever is on their CSA will stay with the number. There is a fee you will need to pay the fmcsa. I would need to check, but I believe it costs the same filing fee when you sell the number to someone as it does to just get your number from the beginning. If the number has been inactive it will have the same effect as if it was a new number when it comes to brokers and/or shippers who may want you to have been in business a certain amount of time before doing business with you. If it is an active number the owner may also want a premium for selling their number to you. You would probably do just as well by getting your own number. Only a few brokers want you to be in business for a minimum amount of time. Most don't care as long as you have current authority and insurance.

 

Well said,

I may also ad that if anyone does adopt a old MC you must also have in your possession any documentation for audits.