IRP is a method of registering fleets of vehicles that travel in two or more member jurisdictions. All states (except Alaska and Hawaii), Washington D. C., and all Canadian provinces (except Northwestern Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon) are members of the plan.

Motor carriers that qualify for IRP must register fleets of vehicles in their home or “base” jurisdiction. A fleet, for IRP purposes, is comprised of one or more vehicles that pay registration fees in multiple states. The base jurisdiction collects the appropriate registration fees and distributes them to the other jurisdictions in which the carrier requested IRP registration. IRP registration fees are determined by the type of operation requested (private, for-hire, or rental) and by the:

• Percentage of miles traveled in each member jurisdiction 
• Registered gross weight of each vehicle 
• Number of vehicles in the carrier’s fleet

IRP distributes the registration revenue among the member jurisdictions. Each member jurisdiction receives its proportional share of registration fees for each vehicle registered under the IRP fleet. 

Carriers are issued one registration cab card and one license plate for each vehicle in their fleet. Vehicles registered under IRP are considered registered, for vehicle registration purposes only, and does not exempt carriers from any jurisdiction's requirements including: 

• Operating authority requirements 
• Vehicle size and weight requirements 
• Motor fuel or road tax licensing and reporting 
• Insurance filing requirements