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International Registration Plan

The International Registration Plan (IRP) is an agreement among states of the United States, the District of Columbia and provinces of Canada, to allow the free flow of commercial vehicle traffics among the jurisdictions.

The unique feature of the IRP is that, even though fleet vehicles may pay fees among the various jurisdictions where they operate (apportionable fees), the only plate and cab card required are the ones issued by the base jurisdiction.

Once registered for the IRP, a fleet vehicle may be operated in any member jurisdiction in which it is registered and its fees have been paid.

Who is required to register under the IRP?

According to the IRP, under section 204, the following vehicles must register under the International Registration Plan:

  • Any vehicle intended for use in two or more member jurisdictions that allocate or proportionally register vehicles (apportionable vehicle); and
  • if that vehicle is used for the transportation of persons for hire; or
  • it is designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property and:
    1. is a power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds or 11,793.401 kilograms; or
    2. is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
    3. is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds or 11,793.401 kilograms gross vehicle weight.

Optional Registration

Trucks and truck tractors, and combinations of vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or 11,793.401 kilograms or less and buses used in transportation of chartered parties may be proportionally registered at the option of the registrant.

Exempt Vehicles

Vehicles exempt from registering under the IRP include recreational vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, city pickup and delivery vehicles, buses used in transportation of chartered parties, and government-owned vehicles.
For more details about the IRP and its registration requirements, please refer to the IRP website or contact the Nova Scotia IRP office.

Atlantic Carrier Manual

The Atlantic Carrier Manual explains how to obtain "apportioned" registration for Inter-jurisdictional Trucks, Tractors and other Commercial vehicles based in any Member Jurisdiction of the International Registration Plan (IRP).

The basic information needed to prepare applications is provided; however, the contents will not cover every unique situation or answer all questions that may arise

Please use this manual as a reference only.

Application Forms

Contact

Hours of Operation:

Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(except holidays)

Mailing Address:

Access Nova Scotia
International Registration Plan Office
PO Box 1652
Halifax NS B3J 2Z3

 
Access Nova Scotia
International Registration Plan Office
PO Box 1652
Halifax NS B3J 2Z3
Office Location:

Halifax Access Centre
300 Horseshoe Lake Drive
Bayers Lake Business Park
Halifax NS
Telephone (902) 450-3933
or (902) 450-3934
Fax (902) 424-0535

Dartmouth Access Centre
250 Baker Drive
Russell Lake West
Dartmouth NS
Telephone (902) 424-4937
or (902) 424-7878
Fax (902) 424-0707

Sydney Access Centre
Moxham Centre
380 Kings Road
Sydney NS
Telephone (902) 563-2236
or (902) 563-0514
Fax (902) 563-0504