Alerts

News

International registration plan (IRP)

IRP is a method of registering fleets of vehicles that travel in two or more member jurisdictions. All states (except Alaska and Hawaii), Washington D.C., and all Canadian provinces (except Northwestern Territories, Nunavut and Yukon) are members of the plan. Persons who operate “qualified motor vehicles” are subject to IRP licensing, reporting and record-keeping requirements unless the vehicle is exempt or a trip permit is obtained as described below.

Motor carriers that qualify for IRP must register fleets of vehicles in their home or “base” jurisdiction. A fleet, for IRP purposes, is comprised of one or more vehicles that pay registration fees in multiple states. The base jurisdiction collects the appropriate registration fees and distributes them to the other jurisdictions in which the carrier requested IRP registration. IRP registration fees are determined by the type of operation requested (private, for-hire, or rental) and by the:

• Percentage of miles traveled in each member jurisdiction 
• Registered gross weight of each vehicle 
• Number of vehicles in the carrier’s fleet

IRP distributes the registration revenue among the member jurisdictions. Each member jurisdiction receives its proportional share of registration fees for each vehicle registered under the IRP fleet.

Credentials

Carriers are issued one registration cab card and one license plate for each vehicle in their fleet. Vehicles registered under IRP are considered registered, for vehicle registration purposes only, and does not exempt carriers from any jurisdiction's requirements including:

• Operating authority requirements 
• Vehicle size and weight requirements 
• Motor fuel or road tax licensing and reporting 
• Insurance filing requirements 

Qualified motor vehicle

Registration through IRP is required for vehicles that are used for transporting persons or property, travel in two or more IRP jurisdictions (including Wisconsin), and:

• Have a registered gross vehicle weight or actual weight in excess of 26,000 pounds (property carrying vehicle); or
• Are power units with three (3) or more axles regardless of weight, including buses; or
• Are used in combination and the actual weight of the combination exceeds 26,000 pounds

Exemptions

Vehicles that are exempt from IRP registration include:

• Government-owned vehicles
• Trailers and semi-trailers 
• Charter buses 
• Vehicles displaying restricted plates such as equipment, dealer or farm plates
• Recreational vehicles, such as motor homes, that are not used in connection with a business

Reciprocity

Wisconsin has an IRP licensing reciprocity agreement with Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota. This agreement replaces IRP licensing and reporting requirements for the following vehicles:

• All qualified motor vehicles owned or leased and operated by a resident of either state that operate no further than 30 miles from the Wisconsin/Iowa state border, the Wisconsin/Michigan state border or Wisconsin/Minnesota state border.
• All qualified motor vehicles owned or leased and operated by the state or any political subdivision of the state, while operated in official capacity and displaying tax exempt, municipal or state owned registration plates.
•  All school buses owned and operated by a resident of either state while used in the transportation of pupils to and from school related and/or sponsored events.

Application forms

Wis. IRP Application Schedule A - form MV2914

Wis. IRP Amendment Schedule B - form MV2912

New Operations for Wisconsin IRP: Checklist

New Operation Schedule B - Wisconsin IRP Application - form MV2854

Lease verification

Trip permit

Instead of an IRP registration, a 72-hour trip permit can be purchased from a permitting service or self issued. See trip permits.

Online access

The WisCRS IRP and IFTA online application is here; sign up today. Many Wisconsin carriers have discovered the benefits –join them!

Follow us on Twitter!

IRP information may be obtained by contacting:

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Motor Carrier Services 
P.O. Box 7955
Madison WI 53707-7955
Telephone: (608) 266-9900
Email: irp-ifta@dot.wi.gov