International Registration Plan (IRP)
The International Registration Plan is an agreement that provides for the apportioned registration of commercial motor vehicles, allowing a qualifying commercial vehicle to travel through several states with one license plate, provided the apportioned registration fees have been paid for each state of travel shown on the cab card.
IRP registration is based upon “apportioning” the fees, which means paying fees in proportion to the distance traveled in each jurisdiction. A carrier registers in a single base state or province (base jurisdiction), declaring all member jurisdictions in which he will operate, plus the actual or estimated mileage of operations in each declared jurisdiction.
IRP Credentials: The base jurisdiction collects the fees, sends each jurisdiction its share, and issues a single IRP cab card and apportioned vehicle registration plate that allows travel in each jurisdiction listed on the IRP cab card.
All vehicles properly registered under the IRP receive one“apportioned” license plate from their base jurisdiction, and a cab card. The cab card lists all the member IRP jurisdictions in which the vehicle is qualified to operate, plus the registered weight the vehicle must comply with to operate in each jurisdiction.
Cab cards are vehicle specific, and the original cab card must be carried in the vehicle for which it was issued. Copies are not allowed.
Vehicles registered under the IRP are authorized to travel either interstate or intrastate in the jurisdictions listed on their cab card. No additional vehicle registration is required for intrastate travel.
A temporary trip permit is necessary to travel in any member jurisdiction for which fees have not been paid.
Eligibility under the IRP
“Apportionable Vehicle” means (except as provided below) any power unit that is used or intended for use in two or more member jurisdictions and that is used for the transportation of persons for hire or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and:
 

• has two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds (11,793.401 kilograms), or

• has three or more axles, regardless of weight, or

• is used in combination, when the gross vehicle weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds (11,793.401 kilograms).

 

A recreational vehicle, a vehicle displaying restricted plates, a bus used in the transportation of chartered parties or a government-owned vehicle, is not an apportionable vehicle; except that a truck or truck tractor, or the power unit in a combination of vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds (11,793.401 kilograms), or less, and a bus used in the transportation of chartered parties, nevertheless may be registered under the Plan at the option of the registrant.
Non-IRP qualified vehicles
Charter buses and vehicles 26,000 pounds or less may apportion under the IRP if they wish, but are not required to do so. Vehicles choosing not to apportion are subject to individual jurisdiction registration laws.
Jurisdictions vary in their requirements for such vehicles; in some cases, reciprocity may be granted. Other jurisdictions may require a temporary trip permit, or in some cases full registration.
Carriers should verify the requirements of the state of travel before entering the jurisdiction.
Determining your base jurisdiction
Under the IRP, “Base Jurisdiction” means the jurisdiction where the registrant has an established place of business, where mileage is accrued by the fleet and where operational records of the fleet are maintained or can be made available.
An “Established Place of Business” means a physical structure owned, leased or rented by the fleet registrant.
The physical structure must be designated by a street number or road location, be open during normal business hours, and have located within it:
A telephone or telephones publicly listed in the name of the fleet registrant,
A person or persons conducting the fleet registrant’s business, and
The operational records of the fleet (unless such records can be made available).
The trucking-related business within the base jurisdiction must constitute more than just credentialing, distance and fuel reporting, and/or answering a telephone. Employees in the permanent employment of the registrant, not contractual labor, must be performing the trucking-related duties. A jurisdiction may require whatever information the jurisdiction deems pertinent to show that the registrant has an established place of business within the jurisdiction and that all proper fees and taxes are paid.
Apportioned registration under the IRP applies only to the vehicle licensing; it does not satisfy operating authority (UCR), fuel tax (IFTA), or any other taxes required by other state agencies.