Vehicle license or registration - West Virginia

License plate display

West Virginia issues one license plate to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, except truck tractors and road tractors display the plate on the front.

International Registration Plan

West Virginia is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

Carriers from the IRP states and provinces, operating one or more vehicles having a gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, or three or more axles regardless of weight, or used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds, may be prorated in lieu of full registration (or obtain a temporary permit).

Interstate IRP carriers base plated in West Virginia will pay West Virginia property tax on power units only, collected within the IRP Process.

Temporary permit: A temporary permit may be issued upon request to new carriers or for new vehicles added to the apportioned fleet, authorizing temporary apportioned vehicle registration, pending issuance of IRP credentials. However, apportioned temporary plates will not be issued on vehicles being renewed under IRP. The apportioned temporary plate will be valid for a period of 40 days, with a fee per vehicle.

Hunter's permit: Upon request, a hunter's permit may be issued to allow owner-operators not operating as a lessor and not registered, the ability to operate an unladen vehicle. This registration is a permit issued free of charge for the registered gross weight not in excess of the empty weight of the vehicle. This temporary registration permit will be honored as a valid registration in all other IRP jurisdictions.

Agency: The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).