California Air Resources Board

What is the Backup Vehicle Exemption?

This exemption allows a designated backup vehicle that is operated less than 1,000 total miles per calendar year to be excluded from the applicable ZEV requirements.

How do I designate a vehicle as a backup vehicle?

A fleet owner can designate a backup vehicle and report its odometer reading at the beginning of the compliance year by reporting in the Truck Regulation Upload, Compliance and Reporting System (TRUCRS) during the annual open reporting period. There is no need to designate a backup vehicle if the vehicle complies in the fleet. Each year the owner must report the odometer reading for a designated backup vehicle and confirm the vehicle will continue to operate as a backup vehicle for the next compliance year. The fleet owner must report odometer readings when the vehicle is sold and must keep records of reported odometer readings, vehicle purchases, and sales.

Do I have to report my backup vehicles that are non-op?

Yes, if the vehicle operates in California and is registered as planned non-operational deferred or is not registered at all, it still must be designated as a backup vehicle if it doesn’t otherwise comply.

Do miles traveled for emergency use count when using the Backup Vehicle Exemption?

No. Mileage of operation accrued in support of an emergency event does not count towards the usage limits of a designated backup vehicle. Emergency events include wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters where the vehicle was dispatched by a local, state, or federal agency. Emergency use includes miles travelled to and from an emergency event, and delivery of services or supplies in connection with emergency event. The vehicle owner must report the miles of vehicle use at an emergency event and keep a copy of the contract with the company that is directly dispatched by the public agency along with their contract number and records that document the mileage.

What happens if a vehicle exceeds the backup vehicle mileage threshold?

A vehicle that exceeds the backup vehicle mileage threshold and is not compliant must be immediately removed from the California fleet and is not eligible to use other flexibility options.

Can I use the Backup Vehicle Exemption without a functioning odometer?

No. A vehicle owner cannot claim the backup vehicle exemption without a functioning odometer or hub-odometer. If the odometer is broken, the owner may use a hub‑odometer that has a unique serial number and has a lock-out feature that permanently prevents tampering if it was installed prior to designating the vehicle as a backup vehicle.

This document is provided to assist regulated entities in complying with the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation. In the event any discrepancy exists between this document and the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, the regulatory text of the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation applies.