Vermont Apportioned Registration Plan (IRP)

The International Registration Plan (IRP) is a registration reciprocity agreement between all jurisdictions (except Alaska & Hawaii) of the United States and several Canadian provinces for payment of registration fees for highway transport vehicles. The fee is based on fleet miles operated in member jurisdictions.

The unique feature of this plan is that even though registration fees are paid to member jurisdictions in which fleet vehicles are operated, only one state issues the plates and cab cards for each fleet vehicle when registered under the plan. A fleet vehicle is an apportionable vehicle and this vehicle, so far as registration is concerned may be operated both interstate and intrastate.

It is the purpose of this program to promote and encourage the fullest possible use of the highway system by authorizing the proportional registration of fleets of vehicles and recognition of vehicles proportionally registered in other jurisdictions, thus contributing to the economic and social development and growth of the jurisdiction.

Under the IRP program the interstate carrier is required to file an application with the jurisdiction in which the carrier is based. The base jurisdiction issues a base “apportioned” license plate and cab card. The base plate and cab card are the registration credentials required to qualify the carrier to operate interstate for intrastate in member jurisdictions. The cab card will list those jurisdictions to which the operator has paid apportioned registration fees. The base jurisdiction collects the registration fees (“apportioned fees”) for each jurisdiction at one time and divides them among the other jurisdictions according to mileage traveled in each state.

Apportioned Registration Does Not:

• waive, or exempt a truck operator from, obtaining authority from an State/Province in which the apportioned vehicle travels (either inter or intra); or
• waive, or replace the requirements of the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA); or
• waive, or exempt the payment of reporting of other taxes (income tax, sales tax, etc.); or
• allow registrants to exceed the maximum length, width, height or axle limitations; or
• allow registrants to violate “bridge laws”; or
• waive, or exempt the payment or reporting of the Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (Form 2290)

Who Should Obtain Apportioned Registrations and Exemptions

You must register your fleet apportionally if the fleet travels in Vermont and any other IRP jurisdictions and:

• Is used for transportation of persons for hire or is designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and
• Is a power unit having a gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds and/or
• Is a power unit having three or more axles regardless of weight and/or used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
• Is a commercial vehicle operating intrastate in 2 or more jurisdictions regardless of weight

Vehicles, or combination thereof, having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less and two axle vehicles may apportionally registered at the option of the registrant.

Exemptions

The following vehicles are exempt from the apportioned registration program:

• Government owned vehicles
• City pick up and delivery vehicles
• Buses used in transportation of chartered parties
• Recreational vehicles (defined as a vehicle used for personal pleasure or travel by an individual or family)
• Vehicles operating with a restricted plate that has time (less than a year registration), geographic area, mileage or commodity restrictions

To obtain an IRP registration you must have an established place of business in Vermont. Established Place of Business if construed to mean a physical structure owned, leased or rented by the fleet registrant, the location of which is designated by street number or on a road location, and which is open during normal business hours and in which are located:

• a telephone or telephones publicly listed in the name of the fleet registrant; and
• a person or persons conducting the fleet registrant’s business; and
• the operational records of the fleet or such records can be made available at the site
• Mileage accrued in Vermont

IRP Registrations can only be done at Commercial Vehicle Office at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Montpelier. Office hours are Monday through Friday 7:45 am to 4:30 pm. For further information you can call 802-828-2071 or Email your IRP questions.

AAMVA's IRP home page