Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 26 of 38

Chapter 25: Permits and Decals

25.005 Clean Air Decals (CADs)

Chapter 25 Permits and Decals

25.005 Clean Air Decals (CADs) (CVC §§5205.5 and 21655.9)

A vehicle that meets specified emission standards and is on the California Air Resources Board (ARB) list of eligible vehicles may be issued CADs that allow the vehicle to be operated by a single occupant in the carpool or diamond lanes, also known as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, on California freeways and granted a toll-free or reduced-rate passage in high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, as defined in the California Streets and Highways Code §149.

Green Decals are issued to applicants that purchase or lease vehicles that meet California’s transitional zero emission vehicle (TZEV), formerly called enhanced advanced technology partial zero emisions vehicle (ATPZEV), requirements prior to the statutory mandatory limit. A TZEV has a motive power (MP) code of “Q” for plug-in hybrid (electric and gas combination).
The expiration date for the green and white stickers have been extended to January 1, 2019, or until federal authorization expires.

White Decals do not have a mandatory statutory limit and are issued to vehicles that meet the California super ultra-low emission vehicle (SULEV) standards for exhaust emissions and the federal inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission standard with a motive power (MP) of one of the following:

  • E–Electric.
  • R–Hydrogen Fuel Cell .
  • P–Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).— N–Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
  • A 2004 model-year or older vehicle that meets the California ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV standard.

Yellow Decals program ended on July, 2011, and are no longer valid.

To find out if a vehicle qualifies, customers may check the ARB website at www.arb.ca.gov.

Advance Purchase of CADs by Dealers

New vehicle dealers may purchase white and green CADs in advance for eligible vehicles to promote the purchase and use of low-emission vehicles.

To apply for CADs in advance, a new vehicle dealer must:

Complete a New Vehicle Dealer Application for Clean Air Vehicle Decals (REG 1000D) form.

Submit the REG 1000D and a single check or money order payable to DMV for payment in full with each REG 1000D to the Special Processing Unit (SPU) at the address shown at the bottom of the REG 1000D.

Provide the decal and corresponding certificate to the vehicle purchaser when the eligible vehicle is sold.

If the dealer has not applied for CADs for the vehicle, the dealer must inform the customer to apply for the decals directly from DMV by submitting a completed Application for Clean Air Vehicle Decals (REG 1000) form and the CADs fee.

Bay Area Applicants—An original Bay Area FasTrack receipt showing that a FasTrack toll account was issued to eligible clean air vehicles registered in the following counties must be submitted with an application for original or transfer of CAD decals:

  • Alameda (01)
  • Contra Costa (07)
  • Marin (21)
  • Napa (28)
  • San Francisco (38)
  • San Mateo (41)
  • Santa Clara (43)
  • Solano (48)
  • Sonoma (49)

Direct applicants to Bay Area FasTrak at www.511.org or 1-877-229-8655 for more information.

Junked Vehicles With CADs— CADs must be removed and destroyed when the vehicle is junked. Advise a vehicle owner and/or dismantler who submits an application to junk a vehicle assigned CADs to immediately remove and destroy the decals. Process the junk application as usual.

Application for CAD Only—The applicant must submit the following:

  • An Application for Clean Air Vehicle Decals (REG 1000) form.
  • An original Bay Area FasTrak receipt showing that a FasTrak toll account was issued to the eligible clean air vehicle.
  • The application fee. A fee is not due for vehicles registered to exempt agencies.

When an application is received for CAD:

  • Verify that the vehicle record reflects MP “E”, “N”, “P”, or “R” for white decal or “Q” for green decal.
  • If the record does not reflect “E” , “N”, “P”, or “R” for white decal or “Q” for green decal and the applicant states that the vehicle is powered by electricity, LPG, CNG, or Hybrid Plug-In, complete a Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) form and include the REG 31 with the application.
  • Advise the applicant that DMV will mail their decals within 30 days and not to drive as a sole occupant in HOV lanes until the decals are displayed on the vehicle.

Application for CADs With Other Transactions—The following must be submitted:

  • All documents and fees required for the primary application.
  • All documents and the CAD application fee.
  • Advise the applicant that DMV will mail their decals (and any other indicia not issued) within 30 days and not to drive as a sole occupant in HOV lanes until the decals are displayed on the vehicle.

Replacement Decals—The following must be submitted:

  • A completed REG 1000 with the Replacement Decal box checked and the reason a replacement decal is needed. If the:
    • Stolen box is checked, a copy of the police report must be submitted with the application.
    • Lost, not received, damaged, destroyed box is checked, the application must include a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form from the applicant giving the details.
  • Any damaged or remaining decal(s).
  • The CAD fee.

When an application is received for replacement decals:

  • Write the applicant’s old decal number on the REG 1000.
  • Advise the applicant that DMV will mail their decal (and any other indicia not issued) within 30 days and not to drive as a sole occupant in the HOV lanes until the decals are displayed on the vehicle.

Replacement CADs Identification (ID) Card—A replacement CADs ID card may be issued to replace an ID card that has been lost, stolen, or mutilated.

The following must be submitted:

  • A completed REG 1000 with the Replacement ID Card Only box checked.
  • The application fee.

Transferring CADs to a New Owner—When a vehicle displaying CADs is purchased by a new owner, they may transfer the decals to their name for no fee.

The following must be submitted:

  • A completed REG 1000 with the Replacement ID Card Only box checked.
  • Bay Area applicants— If the hybrid vehicle is registered in the Bay Area, an original Bay Area FasTrak receipt showing that a FasTrak toll account was issued to the eligible clean air vehicle.
  • Advise the applicant that DMV will mail their decals (and any other indicia not issued) within 30 days and not to drive as a sole occupant in the HOV lanes until the decals are displayed on the vehicle.