For-hire carrier authority - Virginia

Property-carrying

A carrier operating property-carrying vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, for compensation, in Virginia is required to register for intrastate operating authority. Carriers are allowed to transport household goods only if the goods are delivered to a place that is less than 31 road miles from the place where they were picked up.

If a carrier carries property exclusively in passenger cars, motorcycles, autocycles, or mopeds with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, for compensation, the carrier is exempt from the intrastate authority requirement, but must maintain required insurance.

Carriers are required to pay a $50 filing fee and a $10 annual fee per vehicle operated unless exempt. Duplicate permits are $3.

Before any vehicle is used by a carrier to transport property for compensation in Virginia, the owner of the vehicle must declare to the Department that the vehicle is for-hire. However, if property is transported exclusively in passenger cars, motorcycles, autocycles, or mopeds with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, the carrier has the option of registering the vehicle for private use instead of for-hire.

Vehicle registration card(s) will display the operating authority information. The fee ($10) for renewing operating authority registration will be added to the vehicle registration renewal fee. Vehicles registered under International Registration Plan (IRP) are required to obtain Intrastate Operating Authority, unless they are exempt. However, they are not required to be issued Intrastate Operating Authority registrations.

Renewal is required annually. For vehicles NOT registered under IRP, the operating authority registration expires at the same time that the vehicle registration expires. A renewal notice will be mailed prior to the expiration date of the registration.

Household goods

Household goods are defined by Virginia as property for use in a dwelling, which is being transported either between residences or between a residence and a storage facility with the intent that the items would later be transported to a residence.

Household goods authority is required if the carrier is transporting household goods farther than 30 miles from where the move started.

Carriers are required to pay a $50 filing fee and $10 annual fee per vehicle operated unless exempt. Duplicate permits are $3.

Household goods carriers applying for a certificate of fitness must file with the application a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $50,000, which must remain in effect for the first five years of licensure.

Insurance

The minimum public liability financial responsibility for motor carriers operating in intrastate commerce is based on the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle (GVWR) as follows:

• For vehicles with a GVWR exceeding 10,000 pounds, the minimum requirement is $750,000 at all times; and
• For vehicles with a GVWR exceeding 7,500 pounds but not exceeding 10,000 pounds, the minimum requirement is $300,000 per incident.

For household goods carriers, the minimum requirement is $750,000 bodily insurance and property damage.

Carriers exclusively operating passenger cars, motorcycles, autocycles, mopeds, and vehicles with a gross weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less are exempt from authority but are not exempt from the insurance requirements. Carriers operating a passenger car, motorcycle, autocycle, moped, or any vehicle with a GVWR of 7,500 pounds or less must have the following coverage:

• When the motor carrier or a person acting on behalf of a motor carrier is available to transport property for compensation, the minimum requirement is $25,000 per person, $50,000 per incident for death and bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage; and
• From the time the time the motor carrier or a person acting for or on behalf of the motor carrier accepts the request to transport property and the vehicle is en route to pick up the property until the time the property has been removed from the vehicle and delivered to its final destination, the minimum requirement is $100,000 per person, $300,000 per incident for death and bodily injury, and at least $50,000 for property damage.

Courier services are required to carry liability insurance based on the GVWRs listed above.

Household goods carriers must also carry cargo insurance in the amount of $50,000. However, the cargo insurance is not required if the household goods are carried exclusively in passenger cars, motorcycles, autocycles, mopeds, and vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less.

Form E and H required.

Only carriers that are required to hold a permit or certificate of fitness from the DMV need to provide the agency with proof of insurance coverage (insurance coverage is required for those operating smaller vehicles, but proof of coverage need not be filed).