About the IRP:

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Currently, the 48 contiguous US states, the District of Columbia and ten Canadian Provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan) participate in the International Registration Plan which authorizes registration of over 1.7 million commercial vehicles. North Carolina became a member of the Plan in 1977.

Will participation in the International Registration Plan help my trucking operation?

Reciprocity agreements historically have restricted your operations in other states to interstate commerce leaving you with the burden of purchasing a full fee plate in each state in which your vehicle(s) must conduct intrastate operations. Under the Plan, your apportioned vehicles may conduct both interstate and intrastate operations. The Plan does not, however, prevent the need to register with other state agencies (such as the Fuel Tax Division) or to have appropriate intrastate authority from each state’s regulatory commission to conduct intrastate for-hire operations.

Fee Requirements:

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Will participation in the IRP cost my company more money?

If your interstate operations have been conducted in the past under pure reciprocity agreements, the answer will depend on the relationship of your base state’s fees to those of other International Registration Plan states in which you conduct operations. If your base state has a low fee structure and the other states have relatively higher fee structures, IRP participation will result in higher registration costs. The percentage of fees paid to a state is based on the distance traveled in that state during a specified reporting period.

Insurance Requirements:

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In accordance with Federal Regulations, a for-hire operation engaged in interstate or foreign commerce with a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 10,000 pounds or more and transporting non-hazardous property, the minimum liability required is $750,000.00

The Motor Vehicle Laws of North Carolina states that any owner of a commercial motor vehicle shall have financial responsibility for the operation of the motor vehicle in an amount equal to that required for for-hire carriers transporting non-hazardous property in interstate or foreign commerce. (G.S. 20-309. a1) The minimum required is $750,000.00.

You are required by law to provide proof of liability insurance coverage when registering a vehicle and the insurance must remain in effect with continuous coverage until the registration is terminated.

Insurance Requirements by Fleet Type:

When vehicles are registered in IRP they are set up in a fleet. Each fleet is identified by a Fleet Type based on your operation and the commodities transported. The minimum insurance requirements by fleet type are as follows: Private - minimum $750,000.00 single limits liability; must self certify to insurance company name and policy number. Common or Contract - minimum $750,000.00 single limits liability for non-hazardous property; must have Form BMC-91X on file with FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and the IRP/Motor Carrier office. For-Hire Leased - (operating under another person or company's FMCSA authority and insurance) - must have a valid copy of the authority holder's RS-3 (Single State Registration Receipt) and an insurance card; if providing your own liability insurance, you must have a copy of the authority holder's RS-3 and a Form E (Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Certificate of Insurance) on file with the IRP/Motor Carrier office in your account name . For-Hire Exempt and Rental - must have a minimum of $750,000.00 single limits liability and must have a Form E on file with the IRP/Motor Carrier office.

IRP Record Keeping:

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As an IRP Registrant you are required to record your mileage for each state traveled and report this mileage on your IRP renewal application for the reporting period required. Mileage reported shall include all movement (Interstate and Intrastate) including loaded, empty, deadhead and/or bobtail miles.

Unified Carrier Registration Program (UCR):

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The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Program requires individuals and companies that operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate or international commerce to register their business with a participating state and pay an annual fee based on the size of their fleet. Companies operating solely as brokers, freight forwarders or leasing companies are also required to register and pay a fee of $39. Companies providing both motor carrier services as well as broker, freight forwarder or leasing services are required to pay the fee level set at the motor carrier level.

A "commercial motor vehicle" is defined as a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways in commerce principally to transport passengers or cargo, if the vehicle:

1. has a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more;
2. is designed to transport 11 or more passengers (including the driver); or
3. is used in transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding.

You must pay UCR fees annually in order to operate in interstate commerce. This has taken place of your Single State Registration System (SSR) and Interstate Exempt System (IEX). To be able to register properly with Unified Carrier Registration system, we strongly recommend that you use the National Registration Website or, you may mail your payment together with your completed UCR application form to:

International Registration Plan Section
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
1425 Rock Quarry Rd., Suite 100
Raleigh, N.C. 27610

To access their system please click www.ucr.in.gov.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you operated in the prior year and did not register in the UCR, you must pay both last year's and the current year's UCR fees to avoid possible enforcement action. North Carolina will mail the UCR registration renewal invitations to all North Carolina carriers annually.

If you have any questions, please call North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles-International Registration Plan (IRP) Unit at (919) 861-3720.