Cal. Code Regs. tit. 13, § 156.00 – Clean Air Vehicle Decals.

(a) Only vehicles that meet both the Federal Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) standards [as defined in Part 88 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations] and 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 California Air Resources Board's (CARB) website at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm, are eligible for Clean Air Vehicle Decals and must be powered by one of the following:
1. (1) Electric;
2. (2) Liquefied Petroleum Gas [LPG];
3. (3) Compressed Natural Gas [CNG];
4. (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 CARB's website at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm, are eligible for Clean Air Vehicle Decals and must be powered by:
1. (1) Plug-in Hybrid.
(c) If the applicant's vehicle(s) does not appear on the CARB's list of eligible vehicles, the department may refer the applicant to the CARB for assistance. A certification from the CARB verifying the vehicle meets the emission standards as set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) will be required by the department before decals may be issued.
1. (1) Vehicles converted by means of “aftermarket” kits to 100% electric power to meet the decal qualification shall be referred to CARB's toll free telephone number to obtain a CARB certification before decals may be issued.
(d) Applicants for Clean Air Vehicle Decals shall apply through the department's internet portal as follows:
1. (1) Registered vehicle owners shall provide the department with the following information:
  1. (A) The registered owner's true full name, driver's license number, and address,
  2. (B) The vehicle purchase date,
  3. (C) The vehicle year, make, and model,
  4. (D) The vehicle identification number and license plate number,
  5. (E) The vehicle's motive power,
  6. (F) An indication of whether the application is for an original decal issuance or a replacement.
    1. 1. If the application is for replacement decals, the applicant shall indicate whether the previous decals were stolen, lost or damaged, or not received.
    2. 2. If the application is for a replacement ID card, the applicant shall indicate whether the transaction will update or correct information or transfer to a new owner.
  7. (G) The application process will provide the applicant with the following information:
    “For a vehicle purchased on or after January 1, 2018, an applicant's participation in the Clean Air Vehicle Decal program and the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, as specified in Section 156.02, is based upon both the applicant's gross annual income and vehicle type.”
    Gross Annual Income
    Vehicle Type: LPG and CNG
    Vehicle Type: Plug-In Hybrid
    Vehicle Type: Fuel Cell
    At or above: $150,000 for single filers, $204,000 for head-of-household, or $300,000 for joint filers.
    CAV Only
    CAV Only
    CAV or CVRP
    Under: $150,000 for single filers, $204,000 for head-of-household, or $300,000 for joint filers.
    CAV Only
    CAV and CVRP
    CAV or CVRP
  8. (H) The applicant shall certify that they have read the important information, as described in subsection (d)(1)(G), and shall certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information provided in the application process is true and correct.
2. (2) Vehicle dealers requesting decals for vehicles prior to vehicle sales shall provide the department with the following information:
  1. (A) The dealer's business name and business number,
  2. (B) The dealer's physical business address,
  3. (C) The vehicle identification number for each vehicle for which a decal is being requested,
  4. (D) The year, make, and model of each vehicle for which a decal is being requested,
  5. (E) The motive power of each vehicle for which a decal is being requested, and
  6. (F) The authorized employee is required to sign the application under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information provided during the application process is true and correct and to further agree that the dealer will inform the vehicle purchaser of their requirement to provide the department with the information provided in subsections (d)(1)(A) through (d)(1)(H).
  7. (G) Vehicle dealers shall keep the decals issued to the vehicle and provide those decals to the customer at the time of sale. Decals may be either affixed on the vehicle or retained in the vehicle file while the vehicle is with the dealer or when the vehicle is transferred to another dealer. The department will not issue replacement decals when the originally issued decals were lost by the vehicle dealer.
(e) The Clean Air Vehicle Decal will be issued with a Clean Air Vehicle Certificate that shall be kept with the vehicle's current registration card and presented to a peace officer upon demand.
(f) A $27.00 application fee for each set of Clean Air Vehicle Decals requested and the completed application(s) as set forth in subdivision (d) shall be submitted to the department electronically.
(g) Clean Air Vehicle Decals shall be 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 and left sides of the vehicle's front bumpers, with the State Seal in the up position.

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

History

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).

11. Amendment filed 9-16-2024; operative 9-16-2024 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2024, No. 38).