FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

ARE DEALERS IN CA REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A CLEAN TRUCK CHECK CERTIFICATE PRIOR TO SELLING THE TRUCK?

In order for a DMV registration to process the VIN will need to be compliant. The buyer is required to ensure the vehicle is compliant.

A vehicle owner shall demonstrate compliance with the HD I/M Regulation as specified in section 2196.1(b)(1) through (b)(5). Upon a transfer of ownership or registration in California, the new owner shall demonstrate compliance by ensuring the requirements of section 2196.1(b)(1) through (b)(5) have been met for the vehicle within the last 90 calendar days in advance of the transfer date. For example, if a new owner takes ownership of a vehicle on June 1, the new owner shall ensure vehicle compliance was demonstrated between March 3 and June 1. Upon transfer of ownership of a new motor vehicle as defined in Health and Safety Code section 39042 to an ultimate purchaser, the new owner shall demonstrate compliance within 30 calendar days of the vehicle purchase by meeting the requirements of section 2196.1(b)(1) through (b)(5), with the exception of (b)(3)

 

WHEN REGISTERING A BRAND-NEW VEHICLE INTO CTC-VIS WHAT DO YOU TYPE IN FOR LICENSE PLATE IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE YET?

You should enter “pending as of xx-xx-xxxx” with the date being the date the vehicle was purchased. You can update your vehicle info once the new license plate has been received.

 

WHEN I SELL MY USED TRUCK, DO I NEED TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE CTC REGULATION TO THE BUYER? IS THE BUYER REQUIRED TO PAY THE $30 COMPLIANCE FEE IMMEDIATELY OR AT THE NEXT 6 MONTH INTERVAL? WOULD THE BUYER BE ABLE TO ADD THE TRUCK IF I HAVE NOT RELEASED IT FROM MY CTC DATABASE?

If selling a vehicle subject to clean truck check, you should inform the new owner of their requirements as they pertain to clean truck check. Once a vehicle is sold, you should deactivate it within your CTC-VIS account and the new owner should report it within 30 days and pay any applicable compliance fees, so they do not run into any DMV hold and/or CARB enforcement issues.

 

IF WE HAVE A TRUCK COME FROM AZ INTO CA, DO WE HAVE 30 DAYS FROM WHEN IT ENTERS THE STATE TO ADD TO CTC AND PAY FEES/INSPECTION OR DOES THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE IT ENTERS THE STATE?

Vehicles operating in California must be compliant with Clean Truck Check. The 30 day window is used by enforcement to provide time for vehicle owners to bring the vehicle into compliance. However, the vehicle will still be considered noncompliant during that period and may be held up, for example, at roadside inspections.

 

DO I HAVE TO REPORT FOR CLEAN TRUCK CHECK IF I HAVE SE PLATES OR DMV EXEMPT PLATES?

Yes, if you have SE plates or DMV exempt plates, you still must meet the reporting, annual compliance fee and emissions testing requirements Clean Truck Check. SE plated vehicles will follow a compliance deadline schedule annually according to the DMV registration renewal date. DMV exempt vehicles (e.g., state and local government vehicles) will follow a compliance deadline schedule according to the last digit of the VIN, please see Annual Compliance Requirements.

 

WILL THE PORTAL IDENTIFY WHEN A VEHICLE IS DUE FOR ITS ACTUAL TEST? RIGHT NOW, IT SHOWS COMPLIANCE DEADLINE FOR PAYMENT ONLY. WILL THERE BE A “TESTING DEADLINE” COLUMN?

Yes, there will be test due date displayed in CTC-VIS. We have not yet required periodic testing in 2024, hence you haven’t seen it yet. First periodic testing requirement will start in Jan, 2025. The test due date should show up starting October this year.

 

HOW ARE DEADLINES DETERMINED PER VEHICLE?

If the vehicle is registered in CA, the compliant date is the DMV date and DMV date + 6 month. If it is out of state vehicle, the compliant date is based on the last digit of VIN number.

 

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN EMISSIONS TESTING BEGINS?

Emissions compliance testing requirements are effective starting on October 1, 2024. All compliance deadlines of January 1, 2025 or later will require a passing compliance test to be submitted as part of their compliance demonstration. Vehicles may submit tests no more than 90 days prior to the vehicle’s compliance deadlines. For example, a vehicle with a compliance deadline of February 1, 2025 may submit a passing emissions test as early as November 3, 2024.

A. California Registered Vehicles

Compliance deadlines for vehicles registered in California are determined by their DMV registration expiration dates.

Annually, California motorhomes and vehicles meeting agricultural vehicle criteria must meet compliance deadlines. These deadlines are accessible through the vehicle’s CTC-VIS account.

Table I: Compliance Deadlines for California Registered Vehicles

In 2024, California-registered vehicles must fulfill their obligation by paying the annual 2024 compliance fee and rectifying any enforcement violations by year-end. Clean Truck Check emissions tests may be submitted up to 90 calendar days prior to the vehicle’s 2025 compliance deadline.

B. Non-California Registered Vehicles and DMV Exempt Plated Vehicles

Non-California registered vehicles encompass those registered outside the state or country, as well as federal vehicles not under any DMV jurisdiction. DMV exempt plated vehicles refer to certain government vehicles in California exempt from DMV re-registration requirements.

Emissions compliance testing deadlines for these vehicles are determined by the last digit of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This information is available in the vehicle’s CTC-VIS account.

Table II: Compliance Testing Deadlines for Non-California Registered and DMV Exempt Plated Vehicles

Similarly to California registered vehicles, non-California registered vehicles must pay their annual 2024 compliance fee and resolve any enforcement issues by the end of the year. Clean Truck Check emissions tests may be conducted up to 90 calendar days prior to the vehicle’s 2025 compliance deadline, as dictated by the VIN-based compliance schedule.

In the VIN-based compliance schedule, a vehicle’s emissions compliance testing deadline falls on last day of the compliance deadline month shown in Table II.

 

WILL EV AND HYDROGEN TRACTORS WILL STILL HAVE TO BE REPORTED IN CTC AND TRUCRS?

Yes, and may qualify for zero-emission exemption for CTC. “Heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle” means an on-road vehicle with a manufacturer’s GVWR greater than 14,000 pounds with a drivetrain that produces zero exhaust emissions of any criteria pollutant (or precursor pollutant) or greenhouse gas under any possible operational modes or conditions.

 

DO TEST RESULTS HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED BY TESTER ONLY?

Yes

 

IF I PAY REGISTRATION EVERY MONTH, WHEN IS MY TEST DUE?

California DMV has a partial year registration program that spreads out commercial vehicle weight fees throughout the year. However, the vehicle registration fee is paid in full on an annual basis. This means you have an annual registration expiration date for your vehicles. That annual registration expiration date is the basis for your compliance deadlines.

 

WHICH VEHICLES ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REGULATION?

The heavy-duty vehicle types shown below are exempt from the regulation:

• Zero-emission vehicles
• Military tactical vehicles
• Emergency vehicles
• Historical vehicles
• New vehicles with engines certified to the most stringent optional, NOx standard (less than or equal to 0.01 g/bhp-hr) -Only during the first four years of Clean Truck Check implementation (2023-2027)
• Motorhomes registered outside of California
• Vehicles operating under an experimental permit.

WHEN WILL THE MONTHLY STATEMENTS BEGIN TO BE SENT OUT?

Monthly statements will be sent on the first calendar day of each month.

 

For any additional inquiries not addressed above, please do not hesitate to contact the California Air Resources Board at HDIM@ARB.CA.GOV