IRP registration

If you’re in the trucking industry, you know that IRP registration is integral to staying compliant and running a successful business. IRP stands for International Registration Plan and is a uniform, international approach to licensing motor vehicles used in interstate commerce.

Understanding the different requirements and regulations associated with IRP registration is vital to operating your business successfully.

What is IRP?

The IRP is a cooperative program among the states and Canadian provinces regulating motor vehicles engaging in interstate commerce. To put it simply, if you plan on operating a motor vehicle used for commercial purposes across state lines or in different provinces, then you need to register it under the IRP.

The IRP ensures that commercial vehicles are registered, taxed, and insured.

What You Need to Know About IRP Registration

If you’re involved in the trucking industry, you must know some crucial facts about IRP registration. First, you need to make sure that you understand the registration requirements for each state and province in which you plan on operating your vehicle. This includes knowing what taxes you need to pay, what kind of insurance coverage is needed, and the specific registration fees for each jurisdiction. You also need to ensure your vehicle meets the legal requirements for registration, including having a valid U.S. DOT number and an IFTA decal.

In most cases, you must have a base jurisdiction in which your vehicle will be registered. This means you must find a state or province willing to serve as your base jurisdiction and from which you will file all your paperwork. You’ll also need to make sure that you register your vehicle with each jurisdiction in which you plan on operating it.

Benefits of IRP Registration

The International Registration Plan (IRP) is an agreement between the states, provinces, and districts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It lets motor carriers register vehicles in a fleet and pay license fees proportionately. 

Trucking companies that register with the International Registration Plan can drive legally in all states, provinces, and districts covered by the agreement. This saves trucking companies time and money, as they don’t need to register their vehicles in multiple states or provinces and don’t have to pay individual registration fees.

Benefits of IRP registration include:

Cost Savings

By registering with the International Registration Plan, trucking companies can save money on vehicle registration fees. Instead of paying multiple registration fees in different states, provinces, and districts, trucking companies only need to pay one fee proportionately distributed among all the states, provinces, and districts they operate in. This means that trucking companies can reduce their overall registration fees significantly.

Increased profitability can help trucking companies grow and expand their operations into additional areas.

Simplicity

The International Registration Plan makes it easy for trucking companies to keep track of their registration fees, as all the fees are paid in one lump sum. This eliminates the need for trucking companies to track multiple registration fees due in different states, provinces, and districts.

Legality

By registering with the International Registration Plan, trucking companies can be sure that their vehicles are legally registered in all the states, provinces, and districts they operate in. This means trucking companies can avoid fines for being unregistered or operating illegally in any state, province, or district.

Save Time

Trucking companies that register with the International Registration Plan can save time by not going through the registration process in every state. With IRP registration, all information is shared between states, and the process is much more streamlined. 

It’s easy to manage your fleet’s IRP registration with a single application and one or two payment options. You’ll also save time by no longer keeping up with registration renewals state-by-state.

Besides, IRP registration helps the trucking company stay ahead of the regulatory curve and avoid unnecessary fines or fees.

Access to New Markets

By registering with the International Registration Plan, trucking companies open up their business to a larger market. The ability to operate in multiple states, provinces, and districts means that trucking companies can access new business opportunities, ultimately leading to increased profits. 

Overall, the International Registration Plan offers trucking companies multiple benefits, including cost savings, simplicity, legality, and access to new markets. By registering with the plan, trucking companies can save time and money and get access to a larger market.

How IRP Registration Works

The International Registration Plan is a streamlined process that helps trucking companies save time and money. The process involves submitting one application to the base jurisdiction, which will then be shared with all the other member jurisdictions.

The application includes information about the vehicle registration fees that need to be paid and other important information, such as the number of vehicles and which states they will be operating in. Once the application is received, the base jurisdiction will calculate the fees due to each state, province, or district.

Once all the fees have been paid in full, the trucking company will receive an IRP plate, which allows the truck to operate legally in all the member jurisdictions. The IRP plate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

What Vehicles Qualify?

Regarding IRP registration, specific requirements must be met for a vehicle to qualify. Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulations require that any motor vehicle being operated as part of a for-hire or private fleet be registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) if it meets any of the following criteria:

Gross Weight

The vehicle must have a minimum gross weight or a combination of two or more vehicles that exceeds 26,000 pounds.

Jurisdiction

The vehicle must travel from one jurisdiction to another and operate in two or more jurisdictions. The minimum distance for this requirement is 5 miles. 

Miles Traveled

The vehicle must accumulate more than 5,000 miles in one or more jurisdictions each year. The vehicle must also be used as part of a fleet, meaning it is being placed into service regularly.

Types of Vehicles

Common vehicles subject to IRP registration include semi-trucks, buses, cargo vans, and pick-up trucks. Any vehicle used to transport hazardous materials will also require IRP registration.

Any vehicle owned and operated by a business that meets the above criteria must be registered with the IRP. Note that even if the vehicle is not owned by the business but is operated on behalf of the business, it must still be registered with the IRP.

Apportionment

It must be apportioned to ensure that the motor vehicle is properly registered with all of the necessary jurisdictions. This means that a portion of the fees paid for IRP registration will be given to each jurisdiction where the vehicle operates.

The apportionment fees are determined by the number of miles traveled in each jurisdiction. The IRP registration fees are based on a vehicle’s weight, meaning that the heavier the vehicle, the more it will cost to register with IRP.