DMV
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Agency Overview
DMV’s Motor Carrier Services administration (MCS) issues certificates, licenses and permits to businesses and individuals who transport goods or passengers for compensation within the Commonwealth. MCS provides comprehensive support and guidance to these commercial motor carriers, ensuring they meet the regulatory requirements to operate lawfully, safely and efficiently.
Operating Authority Requirements
For detailed application information, visit
How to Apply for a For-Hire Intrastate Operating Authority | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
First Steps: Things to Take Care of before Applying for Operating Authority
If you’re just getting started in business as a motor carrier, you should review this checklist to make sure that you have taken care of these items before you apply with DMV. This will ensure the quickest possible service.
- Forming a business. When you apply to DMV, you will need to provide information about your business, so it is essential that you set it up before you try to complete an application. Specifically, DMV will need to know: - the type of business entity you have (sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company, etc.); - the official, legal name of the business (or the names of the individual owners, in the case of sole proprietorships and general partnerships); - the business address(es); and - the names of those authorized to conduct DMV transactions on behalf of the business. For more information: Office of the Clerk, State Corporation Commission (scc.virginia.gov)
- Registering your business with the State Corporation Commission (SCC). When processing your application, DMV will need to confirm you are properly registered with the SCC and that the information on your DMV application matches the information on file with the SCC. Every business, other than sole proprietorships and general partnerships, is required to register with the SCC. Also, sole proprietorships and general partnerships that intend to operate in Virginia under a fictitious name (such as a “trading as” or “doing business as” name) are required to register that fictitious name with the SCC. Even if your business is organized outside of Virginia—a “foreign” business entity—you must also make certain filings with the SCC before doing business in Virginia. For more information: Office of the Clerk, State Corporation Commission (scc.virginia.gov)
- Obtaining a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Your TIN is used to identify your business in federal and state tax filings, but it also serves as an identifier for many other purposes, including establishing your records at DMV. Depending on the nature of your business, you may be able to use a Social Security Number as your TIN; in other cases, you may need to obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. For more information: Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).
Contact Information
DMV Commercial Intrastate Compliance and Operations
Street Address
2300 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23269
Office Number
804-249-5140 Opt. 2