• Applications for IFTA agreement licenses may be obtained by contacting the carrier’s base jurisdiction’s IFTA commissioner.
• A vehicle is not operating under the IFTA agreement unless there is a copy of the license in the vehicle.
• Temporary decal permits and trip permits may be used while a driver or carrier is waiting for annual permanent decals or in lieu of licensing in certain situations.

Any person or carrier based in an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) member jurisdiction operating a qualified motor vehicle(s) in two or more member jurisdictions is required to license under the IFTA agreement. Applications may be obtained by contacting the base jurisdiction’s IFTA commissioner. The application requests basic information about the carrier and its operations and must be submitted with the applicable license and/or decal fees. Fees vary by jurisdiction.

The IFTA license is valid for the period of January 1 through December 31. Each IFTA license must be renewed for the next calendar year. The base jurisdiction will notify its licensees of the renewal requirements.

If the applicant meets all IFTA application requirements, the base jurisdiction will issue the IFTA license and decals. The license will contain an account number assigned by the licensee’s base jurisdiction. This account number shall be used for reporting all IFTA activity of the licensee.

Licensee requirements

The licensee is required to make legible copies of the license so that one copy is carried in each vehicle. A vehicle is not considered to be operating under the IFTA agreement unless there is a copy of the license in the vehicle. Failure to display a copy of the license may subject the vehicle operator to the purchase of a trip permit and/or a citation. If the original copy of the IFTA license is lost or destroyed, a duplicate may be obtained by submitting a written request to the office of the base jurisdiction’s IFTA commissioner. The license may be carried electronically.

Each licensee will be issued two vehicle identification decals for each qualified vehicle in their fleet. Decals must be placed on both sides of the vehicle’s cab. In the case of transporters, manufacturers, dealers, or driveaway operators, the decal does not need to be permanently affixed but may be temporarily displayed on both sides of the vehicle’s cab (passenger and driver side). Failure to display the identification decals in the required locations may subject the vehicle operator to the purchase of a trip permit and a citation.

Temporary decal permits

IFTA allows temporary decal permits to be issued by the base jurisdiction or its agent. Temporary decal permits may be carried in a qualified vehicle in lieu of displaying the permanent annual decals. A temporary decal permit is only valid for 30 days to give the carrier adequate time to affix the annual permanent decals. Temporary decals are vehicle-specific and show an expiration date. Jurisdictions may charge fees for temporary decal permits and will usually only issue the permits to carriers with IFTA accounts in good standing.

While operating under a temporary decal permit, all mileage and fuel must be tracked for purposes of the IFTA return.

Trip permits

IFTA allows carriers with qualified vehicles entering IFTA member jurisdictions to obtain trip permits in lieu of licensing under IFTA. Trip permits carry a fee and are valid for a time specified by the jurisdiction.