Vehicle Fuel Types

• Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) AFV powered exclusively by an alternative fuel
• Vehicles which have been converted or assembled using a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certified Alternative Fuel Kit and are powered exclusively by an alternative fuel
• Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV)
• Quadricycles
• Autocycles

Non-Eligible Vehicles

• Golf carts
• All-terrrain vehicles (ATVs)/All-terrain (ATCs)
• Dune buggies and sand rails
• Hybrids, including low emission, energy efficient vehicles
• Bi-fuel vehicles, which are vehicles that have the capability of using either an alternative or non-alternative fuel independently, that are registered after September 30, 2009. View the Bi-Fuel Vehicles section for more information

The owner of a qualifying AFV must submit documentation at the time of application for an INITIAL (MCO) title and registration, which can be a:

• Separate certificate, provided by the dealer or manufacturer, confirming the vehicle is an OEM vehicle powered exclusively by an alternative fuel
  • The original certificate is to be retained by the original owner
• The MCO with a statement confirming the vehicle is an OEM vehicle powered exclusively by an alternative fuel
• Alternative Fuel Certificate, form #48-1303 (provided by ADEQ)
  • When the MCO does not indicate the vehicle is an OEM/AFV, or an owner is bringing in an out-of-state title stating the vehicle is an AFV, the owner must take the vehicle to the ADEQ Emissions Waiver Station for an OEM/AFV inspection

Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) electric vehicle (e.g., Tesla, Nissa Leaf, Zero Motorcyle, NEVs) are not required to undergo an ADEQ Alternative Fuel Certification. This includes all OEM electric vehicles not just the vehicles provided here.

The owner of a qualifying AFV must submit the following, along with normal title requirements, BEFORE a transfer of ownership can be processed:

• An Alternative Fuel Certificate, form #48-1303
  • Performed at ADEQ waiver stations or authorized agent locations
  • The Alternative Fuel Certificate will be provided, completed, and signed by an ADEQ inspector and embossed with the Arizona State Seal
  • Cannot be dated more than 90 days prior to the vehicle registration expiration date

At time of renewal, the AFV is not required to undergo an AFV certification inspection since the AFV has already been certified.

ADEQ Locations

ADEQ Alternative Fuel Certification inspections are conducted by appointment only. Customers should contact ADEQ at the following phone numbers:

Phoenix:

602-771-3950 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Tucson:

520-628-5651 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30pm

Website for locations on ADEQ vehicle emissions waiver facilities:

http://www.myazcar.com/locations-waivers

The AFVs, with the following fuel types, registered in or used to commute into metro Phoenix (Area A) or metro Tucson (Area B) must undergo an emissions testing in the sixth year and in subsequent years before the vehicle can be registered are:

• Natural gas
• Liquefied petroleum or a blend of hydrogen with liquefied petroleum or natural gas
• A blend of 70% alternative fuel and a 30% petroleum based fuel
• Alcohol
• Any other fuels as determined by the EPA

The AFV can be registered for one, two, or five years.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fees

• The minimum VLT for an AFV:
  • Tier 1 & 2 $5.00 (full 12 months)
  • Tier 2 is $10.00 (full 12 months)
• In addition to VLT, an AFV is subject to:
  • Registration fee of $8.00
  • One-time AFV special plate fee of $8.00 AND/OR a one-time AFV sticker fee of $8.00 (view the Vehicle Fuel Types section for more information)
    • There is no annual renewal fee for the Alternative Fuel special plate or sticker
  • Air Quality Compliance Fee of $.25, if applicable
    • Vehicles with a fuel code of Electric Compliant, Electric Non-Compliant, or Solar are exempt from the Air Quality Compliance Fee and Air Quality Fee
• Air Quality Fee of $1.50, if applicable
• Personalized Alternative Fuel special plates can be purchased for the initial plate fee of $8.00 (AFV special plate) plus the fee(s) for the personalization ($25 per year)
• A qualifying AFV that is titled in the name of a government agency may qualify for a Government Alternative Fuel special plate. Policy 8.16.7 Distinctive Vehicle License Plates
• A special plate transfer fee of $12, if applicable
• Vehicle Use Tax is collected on an AFV purchased out-of-state in the same manner as non-alternative fuel vehicles

Alternative Fuel VLT Fee Changes

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statute 28-5805, the vehicle license tax (VLT) for alternative fuel vehicles is determined by when the vehicle is initially registered by its owner. Beginning in 2023, alternative fuel vehicles will be assessed VLT using the same formula used for traditional vehicles. This phased-in approach will make the VLT formula used for alternative fuel vehicles the same as the formula used for traditional cars and trucks, bringing fairness to VLT assessments for all vehicles.

Per state law, there are three formulas used for determining the VLT of an alternative fuel vehicle and the one attached to a vehicle is determined by the date it was registered by its owner.

FAQ regarding these changes is available on azdot.gov.

Before January 1, 2022 (Tier 1)

Any vehicles purchased and registered before January 1, 2022 will have their Alternative Fuel VLT calculated the same way as now.

• Assessed value = 1% of the MBRP (factory list price)
• VLT rate is 4%

Vehicles initially registered during this specific time frame are 'grandfathered in' regarding their VLT calculations and will remain the same, as long as the registration cycle remains the same. This means:

• No change in ownership
  • Adding or removing an owner or a lease buy-out is considered a change in ownership
• The registration has not been canceled:
  • Due to brand (e.g., Salvage, flood, nonrepairable)
  • Due to moving out-of-state

A loan pay-off (lien release) does not change the VLT calculations.

Between January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 (Tier 2)

Any vehicles purchased and registered between January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 will have their Alternative Fuel VLT calculated at a slightly higher rate. As long as the registration cycle remains the same (e.g., no change in ownership (including adding/removing an owner), registration canceled), the:

• Assessed value = 20% of the MBRP
• VLT rate is 4%

Vehicles registered during this specific time frame are 'grandfathered in' regarding their VLT calculations and will remain the same, as long as the registration cycle remains the same. This means:

• No change in ownership
  • Adding or removing an owner or a lease buy-out is considered a change in ownership
• The registration has not been canceled:
  • Due to brand (e.g., Salvage, flood, nonrepairable)
  • Due to moving out-of-state

A loan pay-off (lien release) does not change the VLT calculations.

Starting January 1, 2023 (Tier 3)

Then starting January 1, 2023, the Alternative Fuel VLT will be calculated as regular fuel (e.g., gas) and a reduced VLT will no longer be granted for Alternative Fueled vehicles.

• Assessed value = 60% of the MBRP
• VLT rate is 2.8% for the first year

The Alternative Fuel sticker is issued only in combination with an alternative fuel registration and specific special plates. The sticker is to identify the vehicle is running on a specific alternative fuel, since the vehicle will not be displaying the standard Alternative Fuel special plate. The Alternative Fuel sticker is an $8.00 fee.

Alternative Fuel Stickers and Special Plates

AFV registration may be issued in combination with a special plate, shown in the chart below. The normal special plate fees will apply.

Special Plates
Apportioned Plate (IRP)	Pearl Harbor Survivor
Congressional Medal of Honor	Farm Plate
Former Prisoner of War	Disability
Purple Heart	Motorcycle
Veteran	Any motor vehicle that would require a small size license plate

The reduced fees associated with an AFV registration may need to be manually calculated when issuing a registration with the above mentioned special plates.

When a vehicle is converted back to using a Non-Alternative Fuel:

• The vehicle's alternative fuel system must be removed or disabled
• An Alternative Fuel Withdrawal, form #96-0284 must be completed by the owner of the vehicle
• The vehicle is required to meet all applicable emissions requirements
• The Alternative Fuel plate must be surrendered
  • When the owner does not have the Alternative Fuel plate in their possession, the owner must pay a lost plate fee of $5

Prior to September 30, 2009, alternative fuel registration and plates were issued to vehicles that run on two separate fuel types (bi-fuel). These AFVs are required to pass the emissions test while operating on each fuel type.

• ADEQ will send the test results regarding the pass or fail for the AFV vehicles to the Division (electronically)
  • If the vehicle passes the emissions test on gasoline but fails the alternative fuel test the database will show the vehicle FAILED. The vehicle must pass on each fuel before the AFV’s registration can be renewed