California Air Resources Board

On-Road Light-Duty Emissions Certification Requirements

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On-Road Light-Duty Certification

This page provides a list of emission-related regulations, test procedures, Manufacturers Advisory Correspondences (MACs), and related documents applicable to on-road vehicles, including passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles from 8,501 to 14,000 lbs. GVWR meeting chassis dynamometer based emissions standards, and is primarily for the interest and needs of manufacturers and others that are required to obtain certification from CARB. For more public-oriented materials please visit our Drive Clean web site.

Please sign up to the new Mobile Source Mailouts and MAC list server. By doing this, you will be notified when a new Mobile Source Mailout (e.g. proposing a new rule or amending an existing rule) or MAC (e.g. providing CARB's policy decisions and interpretations of the regulations and test procedures) has been posted to the Mobile Source Mailouts or MAC webpages. These email notices can replace any of the mobile source hard copy mailing lists on which you may already be subscribed.

Primary Subject Matter

The following are California's regulations and test procedures for low-emission vehicles (LEV) and zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in the passenger car, light-duty truck, and chassis certified medium-duty vehicle classes. These regulations are in Title 13, California Code of Regulations (13 CCR).

§ 1900. Definitions
§ 1956.8, Exhaust Stds. And Test Proc. — 1985+ HD Engines & Vehicles
§ 1961. “LEV II” Exhaust Stds. And Test Proc. —2004 – 2019 PC, LDT, & MDV
§ 1961.2. “LEV III” Exhaust Stds. and Test Proc. — 2015 – 2025 PC,& LDT, and 2015 – 2028 MDV
§ 1961.3. GHG Exhaust Stds. and Test Proc. — 2017+ PC, LDT, & MDPV
§ 1961.4. "LEV IV" Exhaust Stds. and Test Proc.—2026+ PC, LDT, & MDV
§ 1962.2. ZEV Stds. for 2018 – 2025 PC, LDT, & MDV
§ 1962.3. Electric Vehicle Charging Requirements
§ 1962.4. ZEV Requirements for 2026+ PC & LDT
§ 1962.5. Data Standardization Requirements for 2026+ LD ZEV & PHEVs
§ 1962.6. Battery Labeling Requirements
§ 1962.7. In-Use Compliance, Corrective Action and Recall Protocols for 2026+ ZEV & PHEV PC & LDT
§ 1962.8. Warranty Requirements for ZEV and Batteries in PHEV 2026+ PC & LDT
§ 1963 et seq., ACT Regulation
§ 1969. Motor Vehicle Service Information — 1994+ PC, LDT, & MD Engines & Vehicles, and 2007+ HD Engines

These test procedures are referenced in the ACC II and LEV regulations.

CA 2001 – 2014 Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. And 2009 – 2016 GHG Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. for PC, LDT, & MDV, (last amended December 6, 2012)
CA 2015 – 2025 Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. And 2017+ GHG Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. For PC, LDT, & MDV, (last amended August 25, 2022)
CA 2026+ Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Stds. And Test Proc. For PC, LDT, & MDV, (adopted August 25, 2022)
The California exhaust regulations reference the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA's) test procedures in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86, Subparts B, C, and S, and Part 1066. These procedures are available from the U.S. EPA's Certification and Compliance for Onroad Vehicles and Engines web page.

CA Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. for 2005 – 2008 ZEV, and 2001 – 2008 HEV, in the PC, LDT & MDV Classes, (last amended December 2, 2009)
CA Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. for 2009 – 2017 ZEV & HEV in the PC, LDT, & MDV Classes, (last amended September 3, 2015)
CA Exhaust Stds. & Test Proc. for 2018 – 2025 ZEV & HEV in the PC, LDT, & MDV Classes, (last amended August 25, 2022)
CA Test Proc. for 2026+ ZEV & PHEV, in the PC, LDT & MDV Classes

Suggested ZEV and NEV Application Format

The following are California's evaporative and refueling regulations and test procedures for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles.

T13 CCR § 1976. Stds. and Test Proc. for Motor Vehicle Fuel Evaporative Emissions
CA Evaporative Stds. and Test Proc, for 2001 – 2025 PC, LDT, MDV, & HDV and 2001+ MC, (last amended August 25, 2022)
CA Evaporative Stds. And Test Proc. For 2026+ PC, LDT, MDV, & HD Vehicles
T13 CCR § 1978. Stds. and Test Proc. for Vehicle Refueling Emissions
CA Refueling Stds. And Test Proc. for 2001+ Motor Vehicles, (la st amended August 25, 2022)
The California evaporative regulations reference the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA's) test procedures in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86, Subparts A, B, and S. These procedures are available from the U.S. EPA's Certification and Compliance for Onroad Vehicles and Engines web page.

Specs for Fill Pipes & Openings, 1977 – 2014 Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks.
Specs for Fill Pipes & Openings, 2015+ Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks.
Fuel Fill Pipe Application.

T13 CCR § 2035 , Purpose, Applicability, and Definitions.
T13 CCR § 2036 , Defects Warranty Requirements.
T13 CCR § 2037 , Defects Warranty Requirements for 1990+ Model PC, LDT, MDV, and Motor Vehicle Engines Used in Such Vehicles .
T13 CCR § 2038 , Performance Warranty Requirements for 1990+ Model PC, LDT, and MDV, and Motor Vehicle Engines Used in Such Vehicles.
T13 CCR § 2039 , Emissions Control System Warranty Statement.
T13 CCR § 2040 , Vehicle Owner Obligations.
T13 CCR § 2041 , Mediation; Finding of Warrantable Condition .
Emission Warranty Parts List
§ 1962.8. Warranty Requirements for ZEV and Batteries in PHEV

For the Vehicle Emission Control Information (VECI) label specifications, see the California Light-Duty Exhaust Standards & Test Procedures, Part I, C.3.
- VECI Label Specs For Model Years 2001 – 2014
- VECI Label Specs For Model Years 2015 – 2025
- VECI Label Specs For Model Years 2026+
- § 1968.2, "OBD II" Malfunction and Diagnostic System Requirements – 2004+ PC, LDT, & MDV, and Engines
In 2014 CARB amended the certification procedures for 1994 through 2003 model years alternative fuel conversion kits, and adopted new certification procedures for 2004 model year and later alternative fuel conversion kits. These amendments are in Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Sections 2030 and 2031 and incorporated test procedures below.
- Amended Test Procedures 1994-2003 Model Year
- New Test Procedures 2004-subsequent Model Year
- Mail-out MSO #2012-02, Public Workshop to Discuss Current Alternative Fuel Conversion Requirements for New and Used Vehicles and Engines used in Such Vehicles
  - Workshop Slide Presentation
  - Certification Procedures For 2004 And Subsequent Model Year In-Use Vehicles And Engines
  - Summary of California and U.S. EPA certification requirements for new and aftermarket alternative fuel conversions.
  - "California Assembly-Line Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model-Year Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks and Medium-Duty Vehicles"
  - "California New Vehicle Compliance Test Procedures"
  - New DI "California Certification and Compliance Test Procedures for New Modifier Certified Vehicles"
  - Used DI "California Certification Procedures for 1975 and Later Model-Year Used Modifier-Certified Vehicles"
  - Used DI "Licensing Requirements for Motor Vehicle Emission Test Laboratories"
  - Used DI "Laboratory Questionnaire"
  The following are selected MACs addressing light-duty vehicle certification. For a fuller list of Mobile Source MACs click the link to the left.
  - MAC 2019-02 - Environmental Performance Label Requirements For Medium-Duty Vehicle Manufacturers On And After January 1, 2021.
    - Attachment: Template For Requesting GHG And Smog Ratings Approval.
    - Attachment: Table 1-A (Cert Mfr worksheet), Certifying Producing Manufacturer's California Sales (PC, LDT, MDV, MDE, HDE) and Table 1-B (Mkt Mfr worksheet), Marketing Manufacturer's California Sales Of Vehicles (PC, LDT, MDV, MDE, HDE) Certified By Another Manufacturer
    - MAC 2009-01, Implementation of New Environmental Performance Label
      - Attachment to MAC 2009-01, Test Group Information Format
      - MAC 2007-01, Policy regarding the use of Electronic Signatures in the Air Resources Board's (ARB's) Document Management System for Certification
      The following are selected CARB letters and mail-outs addressing light-duty vehicle certification. For a fuller list of Mobile Source mail-outs click the link to the left.
      - CARB Letter To Manufacturers ECC 2020-06, Alert: Self-Disclosure Of Non-Complying Software And Other Violations By December 31, 2020
      - CARB Letter To Manufacturers CLC-2019-058, Greenhouse Gas Program Compliance Path For Model Year 2020 Vehicles, dated August 5, 2019
      - CARB Letter To Manufacturers IUC-2015-008, CARB to conduct screening tests
      - Mailout ECARS 2015-7, Streamlined Certification Process For Carryover And Partial Carryover Certification Applications
        
        Mailout ECARS 14-09, Workshop Notice
        
        Attachment To Mailout ECARS 14-09, Workshop Presentation
        
        New vehicle manufacturers are required to register with CARB as a manufacturer to gain access to the document submitting system CARB-eFILE and Electronic Certification (E-Cert) database. See these web pages.
        
        CARB-eFILE Web Page
        
        How To Use CARB-eFILE
        
        In 2019 CARB conducted a public workshop to discuss the proposed adoption of a schedule of fees for mobile source certification and compliance.
        
        Mobile Source Certification and Compliance Fee Regulation Meetings & Workshops Web Page.
        
        Workshop Presentation.
        
        For more information regarding these regulations and test procedures, please email the On‑Road Light-Duty Certification Section.