California Clean Truck Check (HD I/M)
Clean Truck Check is California's emissions test for diesel and alternative fuel trucks over 14,000 pounds, including trucks from other states. Owners must report each truck, pay an annual fee ($32.13 for 2026) and pass a test every six months (13 CCR 2195 to 2199). In 2026 EPA disapproved the rule for out-of-state trucks, but CARB says it still enforces it.
Facts checked October 16, 2026
Key Points
- The rule covers non-gasoline heavy-duty vehicles over 14,000 pounds GVWR that drive on California roads, including trucks registered in other states (13 CCR 2195)
- To be compliant, you report the truck, pay the annual fee, submit a passing test, and have no open enforcement actions or unresolved emissions recalls (13 CCR 2196.1(b))
- The fee is set at $30 in the rule and adjusted each year for inflation. It is $32.13 for 2026 and $33.12 for deadlines on or after January 1, 2027 (CARB)
- Trucks are tested every six months now. From October 2027, trucks with on-board diagnostics are tested four times a year (CARB)
- California-registered trucks are due by DMV registration month. Out-of-state trucks are due by the last digit of the VIN (CARB)
- Brokers and freight contractors may arrange California freight only with compliant trucks or fleets, and must keep records for five years (13 CCR 2197 and 2197.3)
- EPA disapproved the rule for out-of-state trucks (91 FR 5325, effective March 9, 2026). CARB says it still enforces the rule on them
When trucks registered outside California are due, by the last digit of the VIN (CARB)
| Months due | |
|---|---|
| VIN ends in 0 or 6 | April and October |
| VIN ends in 1 or 7 | May and November |
| VIN ends in 2 or 8 | June and December |
| VIN ends in 3 or 9 | January and July |
| VIN ends in 4 | February and August |
| VIN ends in 5 | March and September |
Who has to comply with Clean Truck Check?
The rule applies to nearly all diesel and alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds that drive on California public roads. It applies even if the truck is registered in another state (CARB overview). It covers commercial trucks, buses, government vehicles, hybrids, private vehicles and single-truck fleets. Alternative fuel means natural gas, propane, ethanol, methanol or another fuel that is not diesel or gasoline. It does not mean electricity or hydrogen. Some vehicles are exempt. They include zero-emission vehicles, emergency vehicles, military tactical vehicles, vehicles with a permanent historical plate and vehicles under a CARB experimental permit. Motorhomes registered outside California are exempt. New vehicles with engines certified to the lowest optional NOx standard are exempt for the first four years of the rule, which runs from 2023 to 2027 (13 CCR 2195(b)).
What do you have to do to be compliant?
You must meet five conditions. You report the owner and vehicle information to CARB. You pay the annual compliance fee. You submit a passing emissions test. The truck has no outstanding enforcement actions. And it has no outstanding emissions or on-board diagnostic recalls (13 CCR 2196.1(b)). CARB then deems the truck compliant within 72 hours. You report in CARB's Clean Truck Check Vehicle Inspection System, called CTC-VIS. If you buy or sell a truck, update CTC-VIS within 30 calendar days. A new owner must show compliance within the 90 days before the transfer date. For a new vehicle bought by its first owner, the owner has 30 days and does not need a test yet (13 CCR 2196.1(a)). You can report a truck with a temporary plate before the DMV registration arrives.
How much does it cost, and how do you pay?
The rule sets the fee at $30 for each registered vehicle for each compliance year. CARB adjusts it every year for inflation and posts the new fee by July 1 (13 CCR 2196.1(f)). The fee was $31.18 for 2025 and is $32.13 for 2026. CARB has posted $33.12 for compliance deadlines on or after January 1, 2027. You pay only in CTC-VIS. You can use a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card, a Visa or MasterCard debit card, or an eCheck. An eCheck can take 5 to 7 business days to process. A payment made on another CARB portal or by paper check does not count. The truck may then face a registration hold (CARB). The fee is due at your compliance deadline.
How is the truck tested, and who can test it?
The test depends on the engine. A truck with on-board diagnostics (OBD) gets an OBD scan with a CARB-certified testing device. OBD means a 2013 or newer diesel engine or a 2018 or newer alternative fuel engine. A diesel truck with a 2012 or older engine gets a smoke opacity test and a visual check of its emissions control equipment. An alternative fuel truck with a 2017 or older engine gets only the visual check. The visual check looks at the emissions label, the emissions parts, any aftermarket parts and the check engine light. The truck fails if the light does not come on with the key on and the engine off. It also fails if the light stays on or flashes with the engine running (13 CCR 2198). Only a CARB credentialed tester can do the test. Testers take CARB's free online course and score at least 80 percent. CARB keeps a searchable list of credentialed testers.
When is your truck due?
Trucks are due every six months right now. For a California-registered truck, the deadline falls in the month your DMV registration expires and again six months later. A truck registered outside California uses the last digit of its VIN, as the table above shows. Motorhomes registered in California and agricultural vehicles are on an annual schedule. From October 2027, trucks with OBD move to four deadlines a year (13 CCR 2196.1(d) and CARB). Your CTC-VIS account shows your exact dates, and CARB says to go by that account. A passing test can be submitted up to 90 days before a deadline. If you pass more than 90 days early, the pass covers only that deadline. If you pass within 90 days of it, you are covered through the next deadline too (13 CCR 2196.1(e)).
What happens if you do not comply?
CARB has screened trucks at the roadside with emissions monitoring devices since January 2023. A truck flagged as a possible high emitter gets a Notice to Submit to Testing. You then have 30 calendar days to send CARB a passing test from a credentialed tester (CARB). A truck that is not compliant can face a DMV registration hold. CARB says that for most California DMV transactions, a truck must be compliant and must have no tests or fees due within 90 days of its deadline. It must also have no open CARB enforcement actions. CARB may make a truck's compliance status public (13 CCR 2196.1(h)). Its enforcement page also warns of penalties or fines and the public posting of settlements. We did not find a dollar amount in CARB's own text. Read any citation you get and follow its steps.
Does Clean Truck Check still apply to trucks from other states?
CARB says yes. On February 6, 2026, EPA published a final rule on the regulation (91 FR 5325, effective March 9, 2026). EPA approved it for vehicles registered in California. It disapproved it for vehicles registered outside the state. EPA said California had not given assurances that applying it to those vehicles is allowed under federal law (Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(E)(i)). EPA said this brings no federal sanctions. CARB disagrees with EPA. Its page, posted March 10, 2026, says subject vehicles registered outside California must report, pay the fee and pass tests when they operate in the state. A CARB spokesperson told the press that the agency will keep enforcing the rule on out-of-state trucks. We found no court ruling on the question. Until there is one, an out-of-state truck that skips the rule may still get a CARB notice. Check CARB's page before each California trip.
What do brokers, shippers and freight facilities have to do?
The rule also covers brokers, freight contractors and some freight facilities (13 CCR 2195(a)). A broker may arrange transportation within California only through motor carriers with compliant vehicles or fleets. A freight contractor may contract only with compliant vehicles or fleets (13 CCR 2197). For loads to, from or within California, a broker keeps one of two records for each truck. One is a copy of the compliance certificate that was valid at dispatch. The other is an Affirmation of Fleet Wide Compliance dated within 12 months of the contract. The broker also keeps the carrier's name and contact details. Records are kept for five years and must reach CARB within 72 hours of a request (13 CCR 2197.3). A freight facility must either let in only compliant vehicles or keep records of the ones that are not. So expect brokers to ask for your certificate before a California load.
Can you get more time if repair parts are not available?
Yes, in one case. If the parts to fix a truck are not available, the owner can ask CARB for more time through the referee program. The owner must show a good-faith effort, such as proof of contacting at least one repair facility. The referee checks that the emissions system has not been tampered with. The referee also checks that the truck has no open recalls and no unresolved citations. If CARB approves, the truck may run until its next compliance deadline on a provisional certificate (13 CCR 2196.8).
Related Free Tools
Broker Credit Checker
A live FMCSA authority and bond check, plus a scoring worksheet for payment history and complaints before you haul.
DOT Audit Readiness Checklist
An interactive compliance checklist to get ready for a DOT compliance review.
CDL & Compliance Deadline Tracker
Track all compliance deadlines in one place with color-coded alerts.
Carrier & Broker Lookup
Verify MC/DOT authority, check credit scores, and spot red flags before hauling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clean Truck Check apply to trucks registered in other states?+
CARB says yes. A truck registered outside California must report, pay the fee and pass tests when it operates in the state. EPA disapproved the rule for out-of-state trucks in February 2026, but CARB says it still enforces it. We found no court ruling, so check CARB's page before each trip.
How much is the Clean Truck Check fee?+
$32.13 for 2026. CARB has posted $33.12 for compliance deadlines on or after January 1, 2027. The rule sets the fee at $30 and adjusts it each year for inflation. You pay only in CTC-VIS.
Which trucks are covered?+
Diesel and alternative fuel vehicles over 14,000 pounds GVWR that drive on California roads. Gasoline vehicles, zero-emission vehicles, emergency vehicles and a few others are exempt (13 CCR 2195).
How do I know when my truck is due?+
Look in your CTC-VIS account, which CARB says to rely on. A California-registered truck is due in its DMV registration month and six months later. A truck registered outside California is due by the last digit of its VIN.
How often does a truck need a test?+
Every six months right now. From October 2027, trucks with on-board diagnostics are tested four times a year. Motorhomes registered in California and agricultural vehicles stay on an annual schedule.
What does a broker need from me for a California load?+
A copy of your Clean Truck Check compliance certificate, or a fleet-wide compliance affirmation dated within 12 months. Brokers may arrange California freight only through compliant carriers and must keep records for five years (13 CCR 2197 and 2197.3).
Where do I get my truck tested?+
At a CARB credentialed tester. CARB keeps a searchable list of testers and says whether each one does OBD testing. A tester can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your deadline.
More federal trucking rules
- Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
- ELD Mandate: Who Needs an ELD
- DOT Roadside Inspection Levels Explained
- DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules
- Driver Qualification File Requirements
- DVIR and Vehicle Maintenance Rules
- New Entrant Safety Audit Requirements
- Hours of Service Exceptions and Exemptions
- Motor Carrier Insurance Requirements
- CDL Classes, Endorsements and ELDT Training
- DOT Physical and Medical Card Requirements
- Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Requirements
- Cargo Securement Rules for Trucks
- Hazmat Basics for Truck Drivers and Carriers
- USDOT Number and Biennial Update Requirements
- Safety Ratings, Compliance Reviews and DataQs
- Federal Truck Size and Weight Limits
- Truth-in-Leasing Rules for Owner-Operators
- Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax
- Truck Driver Phone, Texting and Seat Belt Rules
- Railroad Crossing Rules for Truck Drivers
- Truck Emergency Equipment and Warning Triangle Rules
- Truck Windshield, Dash Cam and Mirror Rules
- CDL Disqualification: Major and Serious Offenses
- Truck Tire Rules: Tread Depth, Retreads and Pressure
- Trailer Reflective Tape (Conspicuity) Rules
- Truck Brake Rules: Pushrod Stroke, Lining Thickness and ABS
- Driver Conduct Rules: Alcohol, Drugs, Fatigue, Passengers and Pre-Trip Checks
- English Language Proficiency for Truck Drivers: The 391.11(b)(2) Rule
- Weigh Station Rules: Who Must Stop and What Happens If You Skip
- Truck Lighting Rules: Required Lamps and Reflectors (49 CFR 393)
- Driver Road Test Rules: The Company Road Test and Certificate (49 CFR 391.31)
Sources
- CARB: Clean Truck Check (HD I/M) program page
- CARB: Clean Truck Check overview fact sheet
- CARB: Requirements for vehicles subject to semi-annual compliance
- CARB: 2027 compliance fee notice
- 13 CCR 2196.1, HD I/M compliance and registration (Cornell LII)
- 13 CCR 2197, Freight contractor, broker and facility requirements (Cornell LII)
- Federal Register, February 6, 2026: EPA final rule on California's HD I/M program
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This is a plain-language summary for reference, not legal advice. Check the official rule text before you rely on any detail. Ask a compliance professional about your own operation.