By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026
The launch sequence
Federal first, then Virginia. The federal side is identical in every state and is covered in depth by how to get your own authority; the state facts below come from our sourced Virginia data.
- Decide whether you need a USDOT number. Interstate carriers and placarded hazmat haulers do; intrastate-only carriers otherwise do not.
- Buy insurance for your vehicle weight. Virginia sets three tiers, and DMV wants proof at application for the heaviest.
- Apply for a property carrier permit. File Form OA 142 or apply online, then title and register each truck for hire.
- Add IRP and IFTA if you run interstate. Both through DMV, on Form IRP 1A and Form RDT-120 or in VIIM.
The order that works in Virginia
Register your business first; DMV checks that your filing matches your application. Line up insurance for your vehicle weight, because DMV wants proof when you apply for a property permit. File Form OA 142 or apply online, then title each truck in Virginia and register it for hire so the authority prints on the registration card.
For interstate work, get a USDOT number from FMCSA, register for IRP on Form IRP 1A or in VIIM, and apply for IFTA on Form RDT-120.
Where Virginia differs from other states
Virginia skips the intrastate USDOT requirement for most carriers. Property permits carry no filing fee, only an annual charge per vehicle. Even small for-hire vehicles need set insurance limits, though they file nothing. And the DMV, not the transportation department, sells hauling permits.
The Virginia facts you will need
- State filing fee
- $0 (Property carrier permits carry no filing fee: DMV charges a $10 annual fee per vehicle and $3 for a duplicate permit. The $50 filing fee applies to each certificate or license application (Va. Code 46.2-2120 for certificates of fitness) and to employee hauler and taxicab permits.)
The complete tables live on the dedicated pages: intrastate authority, IRP registration, IFTA, and trucking permits.
Budget the launch before you file
The trucking startup cost calculator builds a line-item estimate from the sourced fee data, and the cost pillar explains every line. Neither replaces a quote for your truck and insurance, which are the two biggest variables.
Common mistakes when launching in Virginia
Paying a filing fee for a property permit
Property permits carry no filing fee; the fee applies to certificates and licenses.
Looking for oversize permits at VDOT
The DMV Hauling Permits Section issues them through EZ Haul.
Skipping insurance on a small for-hire vehicle
Vehicles under the filing threshold still need the lighter-tier coverage.