Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 14 of 38

Chapter 13: Commercial Vehicles

13.060 Fuel Tax Clearance (CR&TC §8995)

A Certificate of Excise Tax Clearance (CDTFA-1138) form from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) must accompany all applications for registered owner transfer of a commercial vehicle powered by a fuel other than gasoline or diesel, including a nonresident application in the name of someone other than the owner shown on the out-of-state documents and applications for transfer between two exempt agencies (for example, school buses sold between school districts).

Exception: Passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles weighing 7,000 pounds or less unladen, and two-axle trucks rented or leased for 30 days or less and used for private transportation without compensation which operate on fuels other than gasoline or diesel are exempt from fuel tax laws and the CDTFA-1138 requirement.

Fuel Tax Notification—DMV sends a computer-generated Fuel Tax Notification letter to the owner upon original registration or transfer of vehicles powered by fuels subject to a Use Fuel Tax Permit.