Exempt Operations

Some for-hire operations are not required to obtain For-Hire Intrastate Operating Authority (see the list of exempt operations below).
IMPORTANT: Even if you are exempt from obtaining operating authority, you are still required to obtain for-hire license plates.

If you have both exempt and non-exempt operations, you must obtain operating authority. If you have vehicles that are used in both exempt and non-exempt operations, you must register the vehicles under your operating authority.

PROPERTY CARRIER OPERATIONS

• Motor vehicles that deliver property within the boundaries of the same Virginia city or town where the property was picked up.
• Motor vehicles operated and used by a cooperative association that is a non-profit corporation and used only in its business.
• Motor vehicles carrying only newspapers, water, livestock, poultry, poultry products, buttermilk, fresh milk and cream, meats, butter and cheese produced on a farm, fish, shellfish, slate, horticultural or agricultural commodities (not including manufactured products thereof), and forest products, including lumber and staves (but not including manufactured products thereof).
• Motor vehicles transporting farm supplies to farms.
• Motor vehicles hauling for the Department of Transportation.
• Motor vehicles carrying fertilizer to warehouses for later distribution to local farms.
• Motor vehicles collecting and disposing of trash, garbage, or refuse.
• Motor vehicles used for transporting property by an air carrier or carrier affiliated with a direct air carrier whether or not such property has had or will have a prior or subsequent air movement.
• Motor Vehicles with a registered gross weight of 7,500 pounds or less carrying only letters, envelopes, negotiable or nonnegotiable legal documents, or other documents or papers.

  Note: If you operate some vehicles that weigh 7,500 lbs. or less and some vehicle that weigh more than 7,500, NONE of the vehicles are exempt from operating authority.

PASSENGER CARRIER OPERATIONS

• Motor vehicles that deliver passengers within the boundaries of the same Virginia city or town where the passengers were picked up.
• Motor vehicles used only to transport school children and teachers.
• Motor vehicles owned or operated by or for hotels used only to transport hotel guests between the hotel and local railroad or bus terminal or airport.
• Motor vehicles operated under contract with the United States to transport only passengers.
• Motor vehicles regularly transporting passengers within the boundaries of Virginia cities, towns and adjacent counties when the vehicles are operated by the county or under a contract with the county.
• Motor vehicles operated under the exclusive control of a transportation district commission.
• Motor vehicles used by non-profit, non-stock corporations supported by government funding and who transport passengers on regular or irregular routes under contract with four or more counties.