Registering a Tow Truck in Virginia

When registering a tow truck in Virginia, there are four different options for you to choose. In order to select the best option for your intended use, defining a few terms will be useful for making your decision:

Tow Truck
A motor vehicle that is designed to lift, pull, or carry another vehicle by means of a hoist or other mechanical apparatus. A vehicle designed with a ramp on wheels and a hydraulic lift with a capacity to haul or tow another vehicle, commonly referred to as a "rollback" is also classified as a tow truck. "Automobile or watercraft transporters," "stinger-steered automobile or watercraft transporters," or "tractor trucks" as defined in the Code of Virginia are not considered to be tow trucks.

NOTE: Tow trucks are not eligible for payment of the Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee.

Private Use
A motor vehicle designed for the transportation of property, operated as such by the owner or lessee for his convenience, not for compensation.

For-Hire
A motor vehicle designed for transportation of property, used for such by the owner or lessee, for compensation.

International Registration Plan (IRP)
An international agreement under which a carrier's base state or Canadian province collects vehicle registration fees for other states/provinces based on the percentage of miles a fleet operates in the various jurisdictions. The terms of the agreement are binding for the participating states and provinces. The agreement covers heavy vehicles that operate on an interstate basis. Vehicles required to register under the IRP are referred to as apportionable vehicles. Under the terms of the agreement the definition of an apportionable vehicle excludes vehicles displaying restricted plates. A restricted plate as defined by the IRP agreement includes plates that have a time, geographic area, distance, or commodity restriction.

REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
You have four different options when registering a tow truck depending on the intended use of the vehicle. The first two options are whether you intend to use the vehicle solely within Virginia or whether you will be operating the vehicle outside of Virginia (Registration Options I and II below). The next two options (Registration Options A and B below) are whether you intend to use the vehicle as a "For-hire" or "Private" vehicle as defined above. Once you have decided how you will register your tow truck, follow the steps in "Steps to Register a Tow Truck" below.

1. Solely Within Virginia
   If the vehicle is to be operated solely within Virginia, it should be registered as a truck. You must then determine if it will be used (A) for compensation (Truck For-hire) or (B) not for compensation (Private use).

2. Both Within and Outside of Virginia
   If the vehicle is to be operated across state lines, it can be registered with Tow Truck For-Hire license plates or with IRP apportioned license plates. Some states will allow a Virginia tow truck to operate within their state with Tow Truck For-Hire license plates. However, some states have the opinion that Tow Truck For-Hire license plates are not restricted plates as defined by the IRP agreement since there is no time, geographic area, distance, or commodity restriction associated with these plates.

   Experience suggests that IRP apportioned plates will be required by West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. If IRP apportioned license plates are necessary or desired, you must then determine if the vehicle will be used (A) for compensation (For-hire) or (B) not for compensation (Private use).

Follow these steps to register a tow truck in Virginia.

1. Tow trucks must have appropriate insurance coverage depending on the type of registration selected (please refer to Tow Trucks and Wreckers Registration Options).

2. Submit a completed Application for Registration, (VSA-14).

3. If titling the vehicle, submit proof of address. (Proof of Address)

4. Submit the appropriate fees.

For additional information and a comparison of the four ways of registering tow trucks, please refer to the Tow Trucks and Wreckers Customer Registration Options.