New Accounts

IRP and IFTA Open a New Account

To open a new International Registration Plan (IRP) account and/or a new International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) account, an applicant is required to meet South Carolina's jurisdictional requirements, submit MCS applications and supporting documents. Applicants also MUST successfully complete the application review process. 

• IRP/IFTA login credentials will be provided once ALL of the requirements to establish a new account have been met
• Payment, upon approval, is required for apportioned registration to be generated 
• Carriers wanting to register under the IRP must meet certain requirements, which are outlined in SCDMV Motor Carrier Eligibility Checklist

All documents must be in your possession prior to processing online. The vehicle for which you wish to register under IRP must be titled in SC prior to applying for IRP. Do not add a newly purchased vehicle to your account until the transfer of the title has been fully processed in your name. Failure to do so may result in the SCDMV denying your application and delaying your new account processing.

The SCDMV Motor Carrier Services will undergo a system upgrade in their application software beginning 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2024 and continuing until 8:30 am on Monday, May 6, 2024.  During this period, there may be a small delay in processing new accounts. Normal operations will resume once the software upgrade is completed on Monday, May 6, 2024.

Base Jurisdiction

A base jurisdiction is defined as where an applicant has established a place of business or residency, the fleet has accrued distance, and where operational records of the fleet are maintained or can be made available.

To use SC as your base jurisdiction, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Provide three proofs of the established business or three proofs of South Carolina residency.
• Proofs cannot be mixed between business and personal names. Addresses must match across all submitted proof of addresses and post office boxes/virtual offices are not accepted.
• The IRP account must produce SC distance/miles
• Fleet records must be maintained or made available within this state

Account Types

Established Place of Business

"Established Place of Business" means a physical structure located within the Base Jurisdiction that is owned or leased by the Applicant or Registrant and whose street address shall be specified by the Applicant or Registrant. This physical structure shall be open for business and shall be staffed during regular business hours by one or more persons employed by the Applicant or Registrant on a permanent basis (i.e., not an independent contractor). For the purpose of the general management of the Applicant's or Registrant's trucking-related business (i.e., not limited to credentialing, distance, fuel reporting, and answering telephone inquiries).

All four (4) proofs must be in the Business Name at the Business Location (cannot be residential house/apartment)

• Articles from SC Secretary of State, registered to conduct business in SC (LLC, INC, LLP, etc.)
• Commercial Lease Agreement OR Property Deed of Ownership
• Employers Quarterly Federal Tax Return (Form 941)
• Business State OR Federal Income Tax Return (1040C or 1120S)

Residency

Qualified Vehicles

A qualified motor vehicle is one used, designed, or maintained for the transportation of persons or property, and at least one of the following is true: 

• Has two axles and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or registered gross vehicle weight (GVW) of more than 26,000 pounds or 11,797 kilograms
• Has three or more axles regardless of weight
• Used in combination when the weight of such combination is more than 26,000 pounds or 11,797 kilograms GVW or registered GVW

A recreational vehicle (RV) is not a qualified vehicle. These are vehicles like a motor home, pickup truck with a trailer, or buses when used exclusively for personal pleasure. An RV may not be used in connection with any business to still be considered an RV.

Farm vehicles, special mobile equipment, and buses are subject to IFTA licensing requirements if they meet the GVW or axle criteria and cross state lines.

Exempt Vehicles

Recreational Vehicles

Vehicles that display restricted plates:

• A restricted plate is defined as a plate that has a time, geographic area, distance, or commodity restrictions. For example: farm, transporter, dealer, repair, forestry, antique, or emergency-disaster plates
• City pick-up and delivery vehicles
• Government owned vehicles
• Vehicles with a GVW of less than 26,000 pounds

Out-of-State Owner Leasing to SC IRP Customer

• An out-of-state customer who wishes to lease a vehicle to an SC IRP customer with a valid USDOT number may register in SC without transferring a title.
• You must present all of the following documentation to obtain a SC pseudo title:
  • Title and/or Registration Application (Form 400) (Power of Attorney if applicable)
  • Copy of out-of-state title or ELT summary from the lender;
  • Actual lease agreement (not the IRP-9); and
  • Valid Out of State Title Affidavit (Form IRP-11) which must be notarized.

Prior to applying for an IRP account, a SC pseudo title must be created.

The IRP-11 is an affidavit that states there is a valid title for this vehicle, which is currently on file, in another state, in the owner’s/lessor’s name. The owner/lessor must fill out this form and have their signature notarized for it to be valid. It will be used to apply for IRP/IFTA registration and licensing for this vehicle only.

IRS Form 2290 from IRS.gov

• Required for vehicles hauling 55,000 lbs or more
• Must show e-file watermark or stamped by the IRS
• Not required if purchase date is less than 60 days

Property Tax Receipt

• Required for vehicles hauling 26,000 lbs or less
• Must be from the county where the vehicle is housed

USDOT and FEIN

• The carrier must have a valid DOT and EIN
• If another company will be responsible for safety, their DOT and EIN are required with a IRP-9 (Lease agreement)

In addition, MC-25 (Power of Attorney) is required if allowing someone other than the owner to work on the account

Application Review

Please allow five business days to receive an e-mail with the next step(s) required to establish a new IRP account.

• If approved, you will be emailed an approval message with login credentials and an invoice
• If denied, you will be notified via email with an explanation of the decision. Then you must fix the errors and resubmit the application to be reviewed again

For further information on the process and requirements of obtaining an IRP/IFTA account email MCSHQ@scdmv.net.  Please provide the following in the subject line of the email, your name, customer number, and contact number. Allow 24 to 48 hours for a response or contact Motor Carrier Services Helpdesk at 803-896-3870.

New Account Portal

APPLY FOR NEW IRP AND IFTA ACCOUNT
Branches for Motor Carrier Services

There are eight SCDMV branches across the state that process all other MCS transactions. Those branches are listed below:

• Blythewood
• Chester
• Dillon
• Greer
• Irmo/Ballentine
• Kingstree
• North Augusta
• St. George

FIND AN SCDMV BRANCH