International Registration Plan
Learn about the International Registration Plan (IRP) for commercial carriers and how to complete transactions in Ontario.
Offices reopening
As of May 16, 2022, all International Registration Plan (IRP) offices are open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Contact your local IRP office to book an appointment or if you need more information.
Online services
Use the free, secure online system to complete and pay for registrations.
Depending on the type of transaction, you may still need to submit supporting documents to your local IRP office. You can save your online application and finalize the transaction online or at a local office after you submit the required documents.
Overview
The International Registration Plan (IRP) is an agreement between certain Canadian provinces and U.S. states that distributes commercial vehicle registration fees based on the total distance travelled in each place.
The plan allows vehicles to travel between participating provinces and states with one licence plate and registration document.
If you are not registered with the IRP you must purchase trip permits to travel outside of Ontario.
Who should register in the IRP
All carriers who plan to travel outside of Ontario should register in the IRP if they operate vehicles that either have:
- gross weights over 11,793 kg
- three or more axles
If you plan to make more than 12 trips outside of Ontario, it usually costs less to register in the IRP than to purchase single trip permits.
Vehicles with farm plates
Some jurisdictions require farm vehicles to join the IRP or purchase trip permits. Contact the jurisdiction where you plan to travel directly to find out their requirements.
Farm vehicles with licence plates from outside of Ontario who are operating here and carrying their own goods do not need to join the IRP or purchase single trip permits.
Tow trucks
If you operate a tow truck to pick up vehicles outside of Ontario, you must register for the IRP or purchase single trip permits.
If your tow truck has a flatbed to transport the entire weight of the towed vehicle, you must register for IRP using the combined gross weight of the tow truck and the heaviest vehicle you plan to tow.
If your tow truck carries only part of the weight of the towed vehicle and one axle of the towed vehicle rests on the highway, you should register for IRP using the gross weight of the tow truck only.
Joining the IRP program
You can submit an application to join the IRP to a local IRP office.
Depending on the type of application, you may be required to show original documents such as:
- original ownership, new vehicle information statement (NVIS), out of province (OOP) ownership, title (or letter from registrar for OOP)
- bill of sale or lease agreement
- letter of authorization to plate
- 36 day safety standards certificate (SSC)
- emissions test
- Form 1, B3, B15 for imported vehicles
- letter of release (for lease buyouts)
- original power of attorney
Be sure to read the application form or contact your local IRP office directly to confirm which documents you will need to provide.
After we process your application you will receive a fee notice. You can submit your payment at an IRP Office or by mail. If you pay in person at an IRP office, you will receive your credentials on the spot. If you apply by mail, we will mail you your credential. Courier service is also available at your expense.
Renewals
As of January 1, 2020, we are no longer mailing renewal packages. You must use the online service to get the forms and information you need to renew your IRP membership.
Emissions tests
When you access your renewal package online, look for an asterisk (*) next to the VIN number to see if you require an emission test. If you need help, contact the DriveON or call
Cab cards
Ontario issues cab cards to IRP participants in both paper and electronic formats, and either format is accepted by all IRP jurisdictions in Canada and the USA. You must provide a valid and legible cab card for your vehicle when requested by law enforcement and/or the International Registration Plan Registrar.
If you are using an electronic cab card:
- the image must be accessible by computer, tablet, smart phone or other electronic device
- you should save it as a PDF on your device so you can access it without wireless or mobile service
- you should carry a paper copy as backup in case you are in an area without access to wireless or mobile service, or your device fails
Fees
Registering in the IRP lets you drive in any of the participating jurisdictions without having to pay fees separately to each one.
When you first join the IRP, or if your fleet didn’t travel in the last reporting year, your registration fees will be divided among all participating IRP jurisdictions. Those fees will be split based on the average distance travelled in each location by other carriers registered in Ontario (Ontario’s average per vehicle distance chart).
After that, your fees will be calculated based on the distance you travel in each IRP jurisdiction and the annual registration fees in those locations. You will pay a prorated percentage of the annual registration fees in each jurisdiction, depending on what percent of your total distance you drove there.
For example, if 40% of your total distance travelled is in Ontario and 60% is in New York, you would pay 40% of Ontario’s annual registration fee and 60% of New York’s annual registration fee.
Some jurisdictions charge additional fees for all carriers, which are separate from IRP fees. Check with the jurisdiction you plan to travel to find out if any will apply to you.
If you do not travel out of the province, you will pay 100 per cent of Ontario’s registration fees. Carriers who don’t travel out of the province over a long period may not be able to renew in the IRP.
Reporting distance
The IRP distance reporting period is from July 1 to June 30 of each year, which will be used to calculate your fees when you renew in the program. If your fleet’s renewal date is on or before September 1, you may use the July 1 to June 30 period from the previous year.
Adding a vehicle to your fleet
Anytime you add a vehicle to your fleet, IRP fees will be based on the purchase price of the vehicle.
The purchase price is the full amount paid by the current owner to the seller to get ownership of the vehicle, including:
- documentation
- accessories
- service
- finance charges
- any other charges incurred to complete the sale
- cost of capital modifications made to the vehicle within 30 days of the vehicle’s acquisition date
It does not include retail sales taxes or harmonized sales tax. A trade-in cannot be used to reduce the taxable purchase price.
Online IRP services
IRP online services is a free, secure service that allows carriers to complete and pay for registrations online instead of manually preparing and mailing forms. It is available 24/7.
Online services are only available to carriers who are already registered with the IRP.
To get an online services account:
- complete the application form
- contact the Ministry of Transportation IRP Program Office at [email protected] or
416-235-3923 for a User ID
Depending on the type of transaction, you may still need to submit supporting documents to your local IRP office. You can save your online application and finalize the transaction online or at a local office once you have submitted the required documents.
Please note that if you make any updates to vehicles/fleets, you will be required to bring your vehicle permits to the IRP office.
Payment options
You can pay online using a credit card for transactions in Canadian dollars or with a pre-paid account for transactions in either Canadian or U.S. dollars.
To sign up for a pre-paid account, please submit this form by email to your local IRP office or drop it off in person.
Pre-loading funds on your IRP account lets you pay for certain transactions without having to visit an IRP office.
Pre-payments must include your IRP account number and currency type (US or CAN). You can pre-pay by:
- cheque
- cash
- credit card (Canadian funds only)
- debit card (Canadian funds only)
- money order
You will not be able to make changes online once the system generates an invoice for your transaction. If you need to make changes, please contact the IRP Program Office at
Forms and resources
Read Ontario’s IRP carrier manual (PDF) for full details about the program.
You can download forms online to submit with your IRP application or transactions. Please do not include any credit card information on IRP forms.
IRP application forms
- Form 1 - Carrier Fleet Information
- Form 2 - Fleet Distance Declaration
- Form 3 – Gross Vehicle Weight Schedule
- Form 4 - Vehicle Information
- Instructions for completing Forms 1 through 4 of the IRP Application
Other forms
- Established Place of Business and Residence Questionnaire
- Prepaid Account Form
- Service Provider Authorization Form
- User Account Form
Online service instructions
Get step-by-step instructions for how to complete different transactions using the online services system.
- Straight Renewal (PDF)
- Adding a Weight Group (PDF)
- Vehicle List (PDF)
- Billing and Payment (PDF)
- Web Processing (PDF)
- Vehicle Processing (PDF)
- Replace Vehicle (PDF)
- Amending a Vehicle with Fee (PDF)
- Amending a Vehicle Without Fee (PDF)
- Reprint Renewal Through IRP Online Services (PDF)
Service commitments
Fleet Renewals | Acknowledge receipt of complete application | Have credential ready |
---|---|---|
1-10 vehicles | 2 business days | 5 business days |
11-149 vehicles | 3 business days | 8 business days |
150-249 vehicles | 5 business days | 10 business days |
Single vehicle add, add/delete, delete vehicle | 2 business days | 5 business days |
Replacements (cab card, plates, permits, validation) | same day | same day |
For renewals of 250 or more vehicles, we will provide an estimated completion date once we have reviewed your application.
International Fuel Tax Agreement
All carriers who use a vehicle in Ontario for carrying passengers or goods across jurisdictions are required to pay tax on fuel consumed in the province.
Carriers that register their vehicles under the IRP must also register under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) if their vehicle meets the registration requirements. Vehicles that are not required to register in the IFTA may still register in the IRP.
IRP program contacts and local offices
For question about the IRP program or to set up access to online services, please contact the IRP Program Office:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Local IRP offices
Once completed, you can email or fax your IRP application forms to any IRP office, along with supporting documentation for the transaction. Contact your local IRP office to confirm which documents you need to attach to your application.
Barrie
92 Commerce Park Drive, Unit 4
Barrie, Ontario
L4N 8W8
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Hamilton
903 Barton St., Unit 1A
Stoney Creek, Ontario
L8E 5P5
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Kingston
1355 John Counter Boulevard
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 5A3
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
London
659 Exeter Road
London, Ontario
N6E 1L3
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
North Bay
447 McKeown Avenue
North Bay, Ontario
P1B 9S9
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Ottawa
3091 Albion Road North, Unit 2
Ottawa, Ontario
K1V 9V9
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Port Hope
138 Hope Street North
Port Hope, Ontario
L1A 2P1
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Thunder Bay
615 South James Street, unit 101
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7E 6P6
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Toronto
1860 Wilson Avenue, unit 200
Downsview, Ontario
M9M 3A7
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Waterloo
500 Weber St N, Unit 3
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 4E9
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
Windsor
2565 Ouellette Avenue
Windsor, Ontario
N8X 1L9
Telephone:
Fax:
Email: [email protected]