Who needs apportioned plates?

You need them if you operate a commercial vehicle across state lines and the vehicle has a gross weight over 26,000 pounds, or has three or more axles regardless of weight, or is used in combination over 26,000 pounds. If you only run inside one state you register normally with your own state instead.

When do apportioned plates renew?

Every year, on a date set by your base state. Unlike the federal filings, the date is not the same everywhere: some states renew everybody on a fixed date, others stagger renewals through the year. Your base state tells you your date and it does not change year to year.

Can a service file my IRP renewal for me?

It depends on the state. Some states allow any third party to file on your behalf. Others, California among them, require anyone filing registration work for compensation to hold a state registration service licence and a surety bond. Check what your base state requires before paying anyone.

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What are apportioned plates?

Q: What are apportioned plates?

Apportioned plates are a single registration, issued by your base state, that lets you run in every other member state without registering separately in each one. The fee is divided between the states in proportion to the miles you drove in each. The programme is called the International Registration Plan, or IRP.

Reviewed by Ray Sandhu DOT compliance, 14 years. Former safety director, 40-truck fleet. Last reviewed September 2026

Quick answer

Apportioned plates are 1 registration that covers every state you run in. Your base state issues them and splits the fee with the other states, based on how many miles you drove in each. You renew every year, on a date your base state sets. The programme is called IRP.

Do you need them?

You need apportioned plates if you cross state lines and your truck is any of these.

Over 26,000 pounds gross weight.
3 or more axles, whatever it weighs.
Used in a combination over 26,000 pounds.

If you only run inside 1 state, you register normally with your own state and none of this applies. The weight test is the same one used for IFTA, so in practice if you need 1 you usually need the other.

How the fee is worked out

Source: the apportionment method is set by the IRP Plan, which all member jurisdictions follow. California’s licensing requirement for registration service agents is in California Vehicle Code section 11400 and following.

You tell your base state how many miles you drove in each state last year. Each state charges you its own registration fee, scaled to your share of miles there.

A simple example. You drove 100,000 miles last year. 60,000 in Texas, 30,000 in Oklahoma, 10,000 in Arkansas.

You pay 60% of the Texas fee, 30% of the Oklahoma fee and 10% of the Arkansas fee. Your base state collects it all and sends each state its share.

Run more miles in an expensive state this year and next year's bill goes up. That is why the number moves even when nothing about your truck has changed.

A first-year carrier has no mileage history, so states use an average instead. The real bill lands in year 2, and it usually surprises people.

Doing it yourself

You file with your base state and pay the fee. There is no charge to file. In most states you can do it yourself online.

Where it goes wrong

The mileage numbers. You need miles per state for the reporting year. This is the same record-keeping IFTA needs, which is why doing 1 badly usually means doing both badly.
Not knowing your own date. It is set by your state and it is not the same as anybody else's. People assume it is 1 January and it often is not.
Leaving it to the last week. New plates and cab cards have to physically reach you. A renewal filed on the deadline is a truck parked until the post arrives.
Assuming a service can do it. In some states, including California, anyone filing registration work for money must hold a state licence and a bond. Ask before you pay.

On California and states like it. Registration service work for compensation is licensed there. We tell you plainly whether we can file yours or whether we can only prepare it for you to submit. Anyone who promises otherwise without a licence is worth asking harder questions.

We will tell you your date.

Put in your USDOT number. We read your official FMCSA record and show you what applies to you, including whether your state lets us file your IRP or only prepare it. Free, and you do not need an account.

Priced per state once we know where you are based.

Fuel tax (IFTA) Same mileage records, 4 times a year. When is my MCS-150 due? Your date comes from your own DOT number. Interstate registration (UCR) Every year, before you run. Annual truck tax (Form 2290) The DMV wants this before it renews your plates.

Filings USDOT details update Interstate registration Annual truck tax Fuel tax

Help Locked out of Motus Should I do it myself? About Filed [email protected] (800) 555 0100

Filed

We work out what your trucking company owes the government, and we file it.

We are a private company. We are not part of FMCSA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, or any state agency. You can file your own IRP renewal with your base state.