International Registration Plan

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 by emailing IRPProcessing@ontario.ca.

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 to confirm which documents you will need to provide.

Your application must be submitted and processed before going to ServiceOntario. After your application is processed, you will receive a fee notice and appointment date and time to attend ServiceOntario to submit your payment and any outstanding documents.

If you pay in person, you will receive your credentials immediately. You can also send applications and payment by mail or courier. If you send your application by mail or courier, we will courier your credentials to you. Courier fees will apply. Mail and courier service are available at the following locations:

ServiceOntario

Attention: IRP Processing – Courier Request

447 McKeown Ave, Unit 111
North Bay, ON P1B 9S9

or

ServiceOntario

Attention: IRP Processing – Courier Request

20 Dundas Street West, Floor 4
Toronto, ON M5G 2H1

Renewals

The forms and information you need to renew your IRP membership are available on the online IRP services system.

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 1-833-420-2103.

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:

1. complete the application form
2. contact the Ministry of Transportation IRP Program Office at irp@ontario.ca or 416-235-3923 for a User ID

Depending on the type of transaction, you may still need to submit supporting documents to ServiceOntario. You can save your online application and finalize the transaction online or at one of the 16 ServiceOntario locations once you have submitted the required documents and received an appointment date and time.

If you make any updates to vehicles/fleets, you must bring your original vehicle permits to ServiceOntario.

You will not be able to make changes online once the system generates an invoice for your transaction. If you need to make changes, contact IRPProcessing@ontario.ca.

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 email the pre-paid account/registrant acknowledgment form to IRPProcessing@ontario.ca.

Pre-loading funds on your IRP account lets you pay for certain transactions without having to visit ServiceOntario.

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 416-235-3923 or 1-866-587-6770.

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

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 us:

Telephone: 416-235-3923 or 1-866-587-6770 (within Ontario)   
Fax: 416-235-3924 or 1-866-587-6771 (within Ontario)   
Email: irp@ontario.ca

Once completed, you can email or fax your IRP application forms to ServiceOntario, along with supporting documentation for the transaction.

Email: IRPProcessing@ontario.ca  
Fax: 416-235-3924 or 1-866-587-6771 (within Ontario)

If you have any questions regarding the status of your IRP application, please contact ServiceOntario.

Telephone: 1-833-941-4528 (within the USA and Canada)

ServiceOntario locations providing in-person IRP services

Your application must be submitted and processed before going to ServiceOntario.

In-person IRP services are available at the following ServiceOntario locations by appointment only. To book an appointment email IRPProcessing@ontario.ca.

Barrie (South)   
Barriergate Centre
274 Burton Ave, Unit 21
Barrie, ON L4N 5W4

Brampton (Northeast)   
55 Mountainash Road
Brampton, ON L6R 1W4

Brampton (South)   
4 McLaughlin Rd S, Unit 8
Brampton, ON L6Y 3B2

Cobourg   
Fleming Building
1005 Elgin St W, Unit 105
Cobourg, ON K9A 5J4

Concord   
7880 Keele St, Unit 12
Concord, ON L4K 4G7

Etobicoke (Central)   
250 Wincott Dr, Unit 19B
Toronto, ON M9R 2R5

Hamilton   
Ellen Fairclough Building
119 King Street W, 4th FLR
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y7

Kingston   
Kingslake Plaza
1201 Division Street
Kingston, ON K7K 6X4

London (Lambeth)   
2295 Wharncliffe Rd S, Unit 2
London, ON N6P 1A7

Mississauga (Streetsville)   
6295 Mississauga Rd N
Mississauga, ON L5N 1A5

North Bay   
447 McKeown Ave, Unit 111
North Bay, ON P1B 9S9

Ottawa (Nepean)   
1948 Merivale Rd
Nepean, ON K2G 3J6

Thunder Bay   
Ontario Government Building
435 James St S, Unit 113
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6T1

Waterloo   
105 Lexington Rd, Unit 16
Waterloo, ON N2J 4R7

Windsor West   
Dorwin Plaza
2467 Dougall Avenue
Windsor, ON N8X 1T3

Woodstock   
Liberty Plaza
925 Dundas St, Unit 5A
Woodstock, ON N4S 8V3