On-Road Light-Duty Emissions Certification Requirements

This page last reviewed October 1, 2019.


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 ARB.  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 ARB'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.
What's New:

Greenhouse Gas Program Compliance Path For Model Year 2020 Vehicles, dated August 5, 2019. (PDF - 871K)
On April 30, 2019 California Air Resources Board (CARB) conducted a public workshop to discuss the proposed adoption of a schedule of fees for mobile source certification and compliance.  See the web page below for details.
In September, 2014 California Air Resources Board (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 (PDF - 29K) and incorporated test procedures below.
  • Amended Test Procedures 1994-2003 Model Year (PDF - 89K)
  • New Test Procedures 2004-subsequent Model Year (PDF - 120K)
On August 14, 2012  the ARB conducted a public workshop to discuss current alternate fuel conversion requirements for new and used vehicles and engines used in such vehicles. See Mail-out MSO 12-02 below.
  • Draft Guidelines for Alternate Fuel Vehicle OBD II Certification.
  • Here will you find the DRAFT "Guidelines for Alternate Fuel Vehicle On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD II) Certification" mail-out that was made available at the ARB public workshop concerning the current alternate fuel conversion requirements for new and used vehicles and engines used in such vehicles (held on August 14, 2012).  Please note that this is not the finalized "official" ARB mail-out that will be released by ARB at a later date. (PDF - 144K)
  • Summary of California and U.S. EPA certification requirements for new and aftermarket alternative fuel conversions. (PDF - 22K)
Exhaust Regulations and Test Procedures.   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.
  • Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Program Web Page.
  • The California Low-Emission Vehicle Regulations for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles, including all or portions of Sections 1900, 1956.8, 1960.1, 1960.5, 1961, 1961.1, 1961.2, 1961.3, 1962, 1962.1, 1962.2, 1962.3, 1965, 1976, 1978, 2062, and 2101, Title 13, California Code of Regulations (13 CCR), as of October 1, 2019 (last amended October 1, 2019.) (PDF - 2M) 
  • The "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 through 2014 Model Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures and 2009 through 2016 Model Greenhouse Gas Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles," as of December 31, 2012, (last amended December 6, 2012.) (PDF - 785K)
  • The "California 2015 and Subsequent Model Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures and 2017 and Subsequent Model Greenhouse Gas Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles," as of April 1, 2019 (last amended December 19, 2018.) (PDF - 1.45M) 
  • The "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2009 through 2017 Model Zero-Emission Vehicles, and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, in the Passenger Car, Light-Duty Truck, and Medium-Duty Vehicle Classes," as of January 1, 2016, (last amended September 3, 2015.) (PDF - 1.02M)
  • The "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2018 and Subsequent Model Zero-Emission Vehicles, and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, in the Passenger Car, Light-Duty Truck, and Medium-Duty Vehicle Classes," as of January 1, 2016, (last amended September 3, 2015.) (PDF - 1.17M) 
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. These procedures are available from the U.S. EPA's Certification and Compliance for Onroad Vehicles and Engines web  page.
Evaporative and Refueling Test Procedures.   The following are California's evaporative and refueling regulations and test procedures for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and chassis certified medium-duty vehicles.
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 Engiones web page.
Fuel Fill Pipe and Openings.   The following are California's fuel fill pipe and openings requirements.
  • The fuel fill pipe specifications are in 13 CCR Section 2235.
  • Specifications for Fill Pipes and Openings of 1977 Through 2014 Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks (PDF - 614K)
  • Specifications for Fill Pipes and Openings of 2015 and Subsequent Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks (PDF - 401K)
  • Fuel fill pipe application (PDF - 221K)
California Emissions Warranty.   The California emissions warranty requirements are in 13 CCR Section 2035, et seq.
  • Section 2035, Purpose, Applicability, and Definitions.
  • Section 2037, Defects Warranty Requirements for 1990 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, Medium-Duty Vehicles, and Motor Vehicle Engines Used in Such Vehicles. 
  • Section 2038, Performance Warranty Requirements for 1990 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles, and Motor Vehicle Engines Used in Such Vehicles.
  • Section 2039, Emissions Control System Warranty Statement.
  • Section 2040, Vehicle Owner Obligations.
  • Section 2041, Mediation; Finding of Warrantable Condition.
  • Emission Warranty Parts List. (PDF - 34K)
Emissions Labeling.   The California emissions labeling requirements are in 13 CCR Section 1965.
  • For the Vehicle Emission Control Information (VECI) label specifications, see the California Exhaust Test Procedures, Part I, C.3.
  • "California Environmental Performance Label Specifications for 2009 and Subsequent Model Year Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Passenger Vehicles," last amended September 2, 2015. (PDF - 200K)
  • "California Environmental Performance Label Specifications for 2021 and Subsequent Model Year Medium-Duty Vehicles, Except Medium-Duty Passenger Vehicles," adopted December 19, 2018. (PDF - 481K)
On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II).   The following are California's on-board diagnostics II (OBD II) requirements.
Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs).   The following are California's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) and hybrid-electric vehcile (HEV) requirements.
  • Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program Web Page
  • "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2005 through 2008 Model Zero-Emission Vehicles, and 2001 and through 2008 Model Hybrid- Electric Vehicles, in the Passenger Car, Light-Duty Truck and Medium-Duty Vehicle Classes," as of February 13, 2010 (last amended December 2, 2009), incorporated by reference in Section 1962(e), Title 13, CCR (PDF - 181K)
  • The "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2009 through 2017 Model Zero-Emission Vehicles, and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, in the Passenger Car, Light-Duty Truck, and Medium-Duty Vehicle Classes," as of January 1, 2016, (last amended September 3, 2015.) (PDF - 1.02M)
  • The "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2018 and Subsequent Model Zero-Emission Vehicles, and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, in the Passenger Car, Light-Duty Truck, and Medium-Duty Vehicle Classes," as of January 1, 2016, (last amended September 3, 2015.) (PDF - 1.17M) 
  • Suggested ZEV and NEV Application Format (PDF - 61K)
Assembly-Line Testing.   The "California Assembly-Line Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model-Year Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks and Medium-Duty Vehicles" (PDF -13 K)
New Vehicle Compliance (a.k.a. "Title 13") Testing.   The California New Vehicle Compliance Test Procedures" (PDF - 28K)
Direct Import (DI) (a.k.a. "Gray Market") Vehicles.  
  • New DI "California Certification and Compliance Test Procedures for New Modifier Certified Vehicles" (PDF - 316K)
  • Used DI "California Certification Procedures for 1975 and Later Model-Year Used Modifier-Certified Vehicles" (PDF - 3746K)
  • Used DI "Licensing Requirements for Motor Vehicle  Emission Test Laboratories" (PDF - 498K)
  • Used DI Laboratory Questionnaire (PDF - 435K)  page.
Manufacturers Advisory Correspondences (MACs).
   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 2009-03, Determination for Manufacturers of Passenger Cars (PC), Light-Duty Trucks (LDT), and Medium-Duty Passenger Vehicles (MDPV) Subject to California's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Fleet Average Requriement. (PDF - 42K)
    • 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. (Excel-119K)
  • MAC 2009-01, Implementation of New Environmental Performance Label. (PDF - 140K)
    • Attachment to MAC 2009-01, Test Group Information Format (Excel 17K)
  • MAC 2007-01, Policy regarding the use of Electronic Signatures in the Air Resources Board's (ARB's) Document Managment System for Certification. (PDK - 87K)
Mailouts.  Mailouts MailoutsMailouts   The following are selected mail-outs addressing light-duty vehicle certification.  For a fuller list of Mobile Source mail-outs click the link to the left.
  • ECARS 15-07, Streamlined Certification Process For Carryover And Partial Carryover Certification Applications (PDF - 184K)
  • MSO 12-02, Public Workshop to Discuss Current Alternate Fuel Conversion Requirements for New and Used Vehicles and Engines used in Such Vehicles PDF - 47K)
  • MSO 2007-03, New Requirement to Report Carbon Dioxide Emissions from 2008 and Subsequent Model Year California Certified Vehicles and Engines PDF - 85K)
ARB Certification Administrative Requirements.   New vehicle manufacturers are required to register with ARB as a manufacturer to gain access to the Document Management System (DMS) and Electronic Certification System (E-Cert). See these web pages:
For more information regarding these regulations and test procedures, please contact the On-Road Light-Duty Certification staff listed on the On-Road New Vehicle and Engine Certification Program web page.