June 29, 2015 Uber, Lyft Drivers' Vehicles Must Be Registered for TNC Use by July 1 DMV Offers Clarification of Registration for Interstate TNC Travel
RICHMOND – Drivers for Uber and Lyft, called transportation network company (TNC) partners, have until July 1 to register personal vehicles with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to continue uninterrupted operation after the state’s new TNC law takes effect.
There is no cost to register a partner vehicle. TNC partners are encouraged to check with the TNC for which they operate to determine if it initiates DMV registration on their behalf. If so, the TNC registration credentials will be mailed to the vehicle owner on file with DMV.
For all other TNC partners who plan to operate in Virginia:
If the vehicle is titled and registered in Virginia, a partner can register the vehicle online at dmvNOW.com. To apply by mail, fax or at a Virginia DMV customer service center, the partner should complete form MCS 305A, which is available online or at customer service centers. The partner will receive a TNC registration card and license plate decals which will replace his vehicle’s current Virginia registration.
If the vehicle is not titled and registered in Virginia, a partner’s application will be processed at DMV headquarters. The partner should obtain form MCS 305B at dmvNOW.com and upload, fax or mail it, along with a copy of his vehicle registration card, to DMV headquarters as noted on the form. The partner may also visit a Virginia DMV customer service center where staff will fax the application to headquarters for processing. Out-of-state TNC partners will receive a Virginia TNC registration card to accompany their home state’s registration, as well as a TNC decal to place on the exterior of their vehicle’s upper left rear window. Out-of-state applicants must have a valid driver’s license in their home state and must obtain a Virginia safety inspection of their vehicle.
Once DMV has processed a TNC registration, the vehicle will be allowed to operate on a temporary TNC registration status for 30 days, allowing sufficient time for the TNC registration credentials to be displayed.
Partners who want to operate in Virginia must obtain Virginia TNC registration even if their vehicles are registered for TNC use in another state. However, a TNC partner does not need to register his vehicle for TNC use in Virginia if he only travels interstate, making trips from one state to Virginia or from Virginia to another state. If any trips originate and end in Virginia, the partner must have his vehicle registered for TNC use in Virginia.
Additional information on the new law can be found on DMV’s website.
