About International Registration Plan (IRP) in Manitoba

International Registration Plan (IRP) is a vehicle registration system for trucks and buses operating inter-jurisdictionally between Manitoba and other provinces or states throughout North America.

If you are not currently an IRP customer, please visit the Apply for IRP Registration in Manitoba page for more information about how to apply. IRP members can also sign up for our MPI Registration – IRP system, which allows IRP customers to perform many self-serve transactions.

Vehicle Eligibility

A vehicle is eligible for registration under IRP if the vehicle is intended for operation in two or more jurisdictions and meets at least one of the following conditions:

• registered weight of 11,794 kg or more
• three or more axles regardless of weight
• has a combined weight of 11,794 kg or more in combination with a trailer or semi-trailer
• has a regular bus route or buses used in the transportation of chartered parties
• will be operating in a jurisdiction that requires IRP registration for a particular class or weight of vehicle

Vehicles with a registered weight of 11,794 kg or less are eligible for registration under IRP if they are intended for operation into or through jurisdictions where IRP registration is required at lower weight thresholds.

For further information on IRP and the application forms, see the Apportioned Registration Manual.

Registering under IRP

The International Registration Plan (IRP) is a vehicle registration system for trucks and buses operating inter-jurisdictionally between Manitoba and other provinces or states throughout North America.

Under the IRP Agreement, carriers are required to register vehicle(s) in their base jurisdiction. If carriers have established a base of operations in more than one member jurisdiction, they must register applicable vehicles operating from that base in that jurisdiction. Base plate shopping is not allowed.

Carriers may apportionably register their vehicle(s) if the vehicle(s) travels into two or more  IRP jurisdictions and is used to transport passengers for hire or is designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and meets at least one of the following conditions:

• two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 11,794 kgs or 26,000 lbs
• is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight
• is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 11,794 kgs or 26,000 lbs gross vehicle weight
• has a regular route bus or buses used in the transportation of chartered parties

Vehicles, or combinations thereof, having a gross vehicle weight of 11,794 kgs or 26,000 lbs or less, or two-axle vehicles may be proportionally registered at the option of the registrant.

The IRP exempts the following vehicles from IRP registration. However, a regular Manitoba plate must be obtained and displayed on:

• Vehicles operating under separate reciprocity agreements that are not superseded by the IRP.
• Commercial vehicles used solely within the Province of Manitoba.
• Recreational vehicles used for personal pleasure or travel by an individual or family.
• Government-owned vehicles.
• Commercial vehicles displaying restrictive plates which have geographic area, distance or commodity restrictions.

Due to jurisdictional statutes and regulations, some exemptions may not be recognized. A carrier should check with a jurisdiction prior to conducting operations.

Resources

For more information about IRP, you can review the following resources:

• Apportioned Registration Manual. This contains detailed information on how IRP works, how to register IRP vehicles, allowed and exempt vehicles, prerequisites, Manitoba’s prorate vehicle tax and record keeping requirements.
• Distance Reporting Period Chart.
• IRP Fee Estimator.

Contact us

We’re here to help. You can reach us using the contact information below.

Additional information

Electronic credentials

As of January 1, 2019, motor carriers are allowed to carry their IRP cab cards and IFTA licences in electronic format. Motor carriers can choose to carry this documentation either in electronic or paper format in their vehicles.

The use of electronic images of IRP cab cards and IFTA licences will be accepted by all jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. Documentation shown in an electronic image must be accessible by computer, tablet, smart phone or other electronic device.

If you choose to maintain an electronic format of this documentation, it is strongly recommended that the document is saved as a file such as PDF, and stored on an electronic device for each vehicle. This approach enables you to have access to the documentation at any time, even when access to mobile and/or wireless service may be interrupted.

Regardless of the format (either electronic or paper), the document must be accurate, valid, legible, and be accessible on demand when requested by law enforcement. If you are unable to provide acceptable proof of credentials, you may be charged by law enforcement and required to purchase a permit to complete your trip.

Charter buses

All charter buses operating in an interprovincial and interstate manner are required to obtain IRP registration or purchase trip permits.

Benefits include:

• registering once for all the jurisdictions
• paying registration fees based on the distance operated in each jurisdiction
• paying only to the base jurisdiction
• requiring one license plate (or set of plates) and one cab card

For more information please call the IRP Prorate office at 204-985-7775 or 1-866-798-1185, or email [email protected].

Calculating fees if no actual distance

Registration fees for new fleets and renewals for fleets that did not accumulate any actual distance in the reporting period will be calculated using the Manitoba Average Per Vehicle Distance (APVD) chart for all jurisdictions. This chart is based on the average distance reported by vehicles registered in Manitoba for all IRP jurisdictions.

A new fleet can only use the Average Per Vehicle Distance chart to determine fees for all jurisdictions. IRP carriers will not estimate any distances.

Fees are not recalculated in the subsequent year. A new registrant simply pays the fee shown on the APVD chart and in subsequent years pays on the basis of actual distance traveled in the reporting period.

Definitions

Cab card: A registration document issued by the base jurisdiction for a vehicle registered under IRP. The cab card identifies the vehicle, the base plate, and the carrying capacity within each jurisdiction where the vehicle is authorized to travel.

Apportionable vehicle: Any power unit that is used or intended for use in two or more member jurisdictions, is used for the transportation of persons for hire or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and either

• has two axles and a registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 11,794 kgs or 26,000 pounds
• has three or more axles, regardless of weight
• is used in combination, when the gross vehicle weight of such combination exceeds 11,794 kgs or 26,000 pounds

U.S. DOT numbers

A carrier only requires a DOT number if it operates in the U.S. Please note that IRP registration does not exempt carriers from obtaining any additional permits that may be required by a jurisdiction in which they are travelling in.

Insurance and jurisdictions

Insurance is issued separately from registration in IRP. In general, insurance premiums are determined by a carrier’s actual operation. However, if a carrier is changing their operations (such as the jurisdictions in which they operate), they will not need to add the jurisdiction to the cab card but may need to discuss the changes with their insurance provider.

24-Hour Rule

The 24-hour rule that was previously in place for pending transactions was removed to help us improve processing times. This means that if your paperwork is incomplete or incorrect, the transaction is now placed into pending until all necessary changes or documents are received. Your place in the queue is only set once your paperwork is complete.

Please note: supplement packages will not be reviewed prior to carriers/consultants submitting them to be processed. If you have a one-off document you’re unsure of, please email the document to [email protected], then contact our office by phone prior to submitting the supplement package.

In order to ensure customers are supported through this change, the IRP Prorate Office will be providing the following additional support for carriers and consultants:

• Checklists: The following Checklists are available for Add Vehicle/Transfer and Lease Buy-Out/Ownership Change as an optional guide to help ensure you have all the correct documentation prior to submitting your supplement.
• In-person training and virtual meetings: If you’d like in-person guidance or a virtual/telephone meeting to receive assistance with documentation and/or the requirements of The Plan, please contact our office and speak to the IRP Prorate Office Supervisor to arrange a time.

International Registration Plan (IRP) is a vehicle registration system for trucks and buses operating inter-jurisdictionally between Manitoba and other provinces or states throughout North America.