California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 1 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 1 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Article 3 - Vehicle Registration and Titling
Section 156.00 - Clean Air Vehicle Decals

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 156.00

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Only vehicles that meet both the Federal Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) standards [as defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section 88.311-93) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations] and the California Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) or Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards, [as defined in Title 13, Section 1960.1, of the California Code of Regulations], as listed on the Air Resources Board (ARB)'s Internet website at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm, are eligible for Clean Air Vehicle Decals in accordance with subsection (g)(1), and must be powered by one of the following:

(1) Electric;

(2) Liquefied Petroleum Gas [LPG];

(3) Compressed Natural Gas [CNG];

(4) Hydrogen Fuel Cell.

(b) Vehicles that meet California's Enhanced Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (Enhanced AT PZEV) or Transitional Zero-Emission Vehicle (TZEV), or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) standards or hybrid vehicles including hydrogen internal combustion engine (hydrogen ICE) vehicles, as listed on the ARB's Internet website at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm, are eligible for Clean Air Vehicle Decals in accordance with subsection (g)(2), and must be powered by:

(1) Plug-in Hybrid.

(c) If the applicant's vehicle(s) does not appear on the ARB's list of eligible vehicles, the department may refer the applicant to the ARB for assistance. A certification from the ARB verifying the vehicle meets the emission standards as set forth in subdivision (a) and (b) will be required by the department before decals may be issued.

(1) Vehicles converted by means of "aftermarket" kits to 100% electric power to meet the decal qualification shall be referred to ARB's toll free telephone number to obtain an ARB certification before decals may be issued.

(d) Applicants for Clean Air Vehicle Decals shall complete the appropriate form as follows:

(1) Registered vehicle owners shall complete an Application for Clean Air Vehicle Decals, Form REG 1000 (Rev. 6/2015), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

(2) Vehicle dealers who are requesting several stickers for vehicles prior to vehicle sale shall complete a New Vehicle Dealer Application for Clean Air Vehicle Decals, Form REG 1000 D (Rev. 3/2017), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
(A) Registered vehicle owners who purchased a new vehicle through a dealer for which a Clean Air Vehicle Decal has already been issued are not required to complete a Form REG 1000.

(3) Registered owners who have a fleet of like vehicles may submit one application for the entire fleet using a Form REG 1000.
(A) A list shall be attached to the application, which identifies each vehicle by:
1. Vehicle Identification Number;

2. License Plate Number;

3. Make;

4. Model and year.

(B) "Like" vehicles are those vehicles that are powered by the same energy source.

(e) If the application is incomplete or deficient, the department shall notify an applicant, in writing, within 30 days of receipt of the application.

(1) An application is considered deficient when the applicable requirements of these regulations are not fulfilled.
(A) When an application is determined to be deficient, the department shall identify the specific requirement(s) needed to complete the application.

(2) An application is considered complete when the applicable requirements of these regulations have been fulfilled.
(A) When an application is determined to be complete, a set of decals shall be issued.

(f) A $22.00 application fee for each set of Clean Air Vehicle Decals requested and the completed application(s) as set forth in subdivision (d), along with a list as set forth in subdivision (d)(3)(A), if applicable, shall be mailed to:

SPECIAL PROCESSING UNIT

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

P.O. BOX 932345

MAIL STATION D238

SACRAMENTO, CA 94232-3450

or delivered to any department field office. Documents and fees will be sent to the Special Processing Unit at the department's Headquarters for processing.

(g) Number, color, and placement of the Clean Air Vehicle Decals shall be as follows:

(1) For vehicles meeting ULEV, SULEV, or ZEV standards, as described in paragraph (a), the decals shall be of white material, issued to each vehicle in sets of three. The two larger decals shall be affixed on each vehicle's rear quarter panels, one on each side of the vehicle, behind the wheel wells, with the State Seal in the up position. The smaller decal in the set shall be affixed to the right side of the vehicle's rear bumper, with the State Seal in the up position.

(2) For vehicles meeting Enhanced AT PZEV or TZEV standards, as described in paragraph (b), the decals shall be of green material, issued to each vehicle in sets of four. The two larger decals shall be affixed on each vehicle's rear quarter panels, one on each side of the vehicle, behind the wheel wells, with the State Seal in the up position. The two smaller decals in the set shall be affixed to the right sides of the vehicle's front and rear bumpers, with the State Seal in the up position.

1. New section filed 2-19-2002; operative 3-21-2002 (Register 2002, No. 8).
2. Amendment of subsections (a) and (b), new subsections (c)-(c)(1), subsection relettering and amendment of newly designated subsection (d)(1)(D) filed 7-7-2004; operative 8-6-2004 (Register 2004, No. 28).
3. Amendment of section heading and section filed 3-24-2006; operative 4-23-2006 (Register 2006, No. 12).
4. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) and Form REG 1000 (incorporated by reference) filed 7-25-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 30).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (g)(2) filed 10-23-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 43).
6. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a) and (b) and repealing subsections (b)(4) and (g)(2) filed 7-1-2011 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2011, No. 26).
7. Amendment of section heading and subsections (a)-(b), new subsections (b)(4)-(5), amendment of subsections (c)-(c)(1), (e)(2)(A), (f), (g) and (g)(1) and new subsection (g)(2) filed 9-25-2012; operative 10-25-2012 (Register 2012, No. 39).
8. Amendment of section and Forms REG 1000 and REG 1000 D (incorporated by reference) filed 9-24-2014; operative 1-1-2015 (Register 2014, No. 39).
9. Amendment of subsections (d)(1)-(2) and (f) filed 5-9-2016; operative 7-1-2016 (Register 2016, No. 20).
10. Change without regulatory effect amending Form REG 1000 (incorporated by reference) and amending subsection (d)(2) filed 6-12-2017 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2017, No. 24).

Note: Authority cited: Section 1651, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 5205.5 and 21655.9, Vehicle Code.

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