IRP British Columbia
You’ve finally decided to venture into the lucrative trucking industry. Whether you intend to drive the truck yourself or hire other drivers, you’ll have to fulfill a number of legal requirements. These include getting the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) stickers and dealing with all the involved paperwork. More importantly, you will need IRP credentials if you intend to take your business beyond British Columbia.
What Exactly Is IRP?
IRP is an acronym for International Registration Plan. It is a federally-backed program and vehicle registration agreement between particular provinces in Canada and most states in the U.S.
The sole purpose of this program is to provide a central point for payment of license fees based on distance traveled in the various jurisdictions. What’s incredible about this program is, you only get one license plate and registration cab card for each truck, even when your fleet operates in multiple states/provinces. So if you’re going to be hauling goods outside British Columbia boundaries and want this kind of convenience, IRP registration is probably your next move.
Qualified Vehicles
Not all motor vehicles are required to register under IRP in British Columbia. The program only allows motor vehicles that:
- Have a declared GVW of at least 11,793 kilograms (26,000 pounds)
- Have a minimum of three axles no matter the weight
- Are used in combination with a GVW of more than 11,794 kilograms (26,000 pounds)
- Are designed, used or maintained for the transportation of property or persons for hire
Truck tractors, trucks, and combinations of vehicles having a GVW of 11,794 kilograms or less as well as buses used in the transportation of charter parties are not necessarily required to register under IRP. However, you as the registrant may do so at will.
IRP Renewal
Renewals of a prorate fleet account in British Columbia requires the completion of a Prorate Vehicle Application(s) and Prorate Fleet Application. This should be done and submitted to the ICBC Prorate Office at least six weeks before the expiry of your account. The renewal document should contain the most accurate and up-to-date information about your fleet. Therefore, spare an extra minute to review your renewal application carefully to eliminate possible omission of pertinent information. This will help you avoid being charged incorrect, processing delays, or maintaining inaccurate records. Upon successful processing, you’ll get the renewal cab card that displays all 59 jurisdictions alongside the provided weights.
A motor vehicle that does not operate in more than one jurisdiction for at least 18 months is not eligible for IRP renewal.
British Columbia Registration Does Not:
- Exempt a carrier from filing any proof of liability coverage in each State/Province where required, or
- Allow registrants to exceed the axle limitations, width, height or maximum length, or
- Replace or waive the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) requirements, or
- Exempt or waive a truck operator from getting authority to operate from any State/Province in which the prorated motor vehicle travels.
Need Help? TruckingOffice is Here for You
Staying up to date on the time-sensitive IRP filing requirements is not an easy thing to do. Things are no better, especially if you have a large fleet. Inaccurate reporting and processing delays can cost you a fortune. That’s not a position that you want your company in. But don’t worry! At TruckingOffice, we offer a trucking management solution to help you streamline your IRP and IFTA reporting to allow you more time to focus on what you do best.
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