Guides / Base state
UCR Base State: Participating States and How to Choose Yours
The 41 participating states, the 9 states plus DC that don't participate, and the official rule for choosing a base state when yours doesn't — including Canadian and Mexican carriers.
Updated November 4, 2026 · 6 min read · sources cited inline
UCR works on a base-state model. You register and pay through one state; that registration is recognised in every participating state. The fee does not depend on which base state you use.
The 41 participating states
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Nine states and DC that don't participate
Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
The mistake: “My state isn't in UCR, so I don't have to pay.” Wrong. If you operate interstate you owe UCR; you simply register through a different base state. The first time you enter a participating state without it, you can be cited.
How to choose a base state (UCR Plan FAQ)
- Your principal place of business is in a participating state → that is your base state. No choice.
- Your principal place of business is in a non-participating state but you have an office or operating facility in a participating state → that state is your base state.
- Neither → choose the nearest participating state, or any state from the group for your region:
| Principal place of business | Choose a base state from |
|---|---|
| DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec | CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NY, PA, RI, VA, WV |
| Florida; Mexican states | AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX |
| Ontario, Manitoba | IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI |
| Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Yukon; Mexican states | AK, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NM, SD, UT, WA |
Use the base state finder to resolve yours in one click. Source: UCR Plan FAQ; participating states.
Canadian and Mexican carriers
Carriers based in Canada or Mexico that operate in the United States must register. They choose a base state from the table above; Ontario carriers may use either the north-east or the midwest group. Everything else — brackets, counting rules, deadlines — is the same as for a US carrier.