8.10.2

ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Effective Date: October 17, 2024 Review Due: October 17, 2026

Summary of Changes

Removed reference of an alternative fuel vehicle qualifying for a reduced vehicle license tax from Sections A, C and D. Combined Section H into Section G for a better flow and removal of duplicated information.

Purpose

To provide guidelines for the issuance of an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) registration.

Authority

Two Year Review, A.R.S. §§ 1-215, 28-2416, 28-5805 and 49-542.

Policy

  1. The Division is authorized to issue a special registration to a qualifying Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV).
  1. Qualifying AFV’s include:
  1. An Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) AFV powered exclusively by an alternative fuel.
  2. Low speed electric vehicles, see Policy 8.10.9 Low Speed Electric Vehicle Registration.
  3. 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.
  1. Arizona law requires a vehicle to be powered exclusively by one of the following types of alternative fuels to be eligible for an alternative fuel registration.
  1. Natural gas
  2. Hydrogen
  3. Liquefied petroleum or a blend of hydrogen with liquefied petroleum or natural gas
  4. A blend of 70% alternative fuel and 30% petroleum based fuel
  5. Solar
  6. Electric
  7. Alcohol (vehicle must have been purchased prior to August 24, 1998)
  8. Any other fuels as determined by the EPA that is not defined in A.R.S. § 1-215.

Note: An alternative fuel consisting of an emulsion of water phased hydrocarbon fuel that contains not less than 20% water is no longer classified as an alternative fuel.

  1. The following vehicles do not qualify as an AFV:
  1. Golf Carts, (see Note below).
  2. All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s)/All-Terrain Cycles (ATC’s)
  3. Dune buggies and sand rails
  4. Hybrids (including low emission, energy efficient vehicles).
  5. Bi-fuel vehicles (vehicles that have the capability of using either an alternative or non-alternative fuel independently and are registered after September 30, 2009).

Note: A qualifying golf cart may be issued an alternative fuel license plate, see Policy 8.16.3 Alternative Fuel License Plate.

  1. The owner of a qualifying vehicle must submit one of the following documents at the time of application for an initial registration or upon registration of the vehicle after transfer of ownership:
  1. A certificate, provided by the dealer/manufacturer (example: Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO)), confirming that the AFV is an OEM vehicle powered exclusively by an alternative fuel.
  2. An Alternative Fuel Certificate that is provided, completed, and signed by an authorized ADEQ inspector and embossed with an Arizona State Seal.

Exemption: Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) electric vehicles (example: Tesla, Nissan Leaf, Zero Motorcycle, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) are not required to undergo an ADEQ Alternative Fuel Certificate inspection. This includes all OEM electric vehicles not just the vehicles provided in the example above.

  1. The emissions validity period for a new or used AFV will 1 or 2 years as determined by ADEQ (when applicable).
  1. An AFV may revert to a regular fuel use registration. When reverting to a regular fuel use registration, the following is required:
  1. The vehicle’s alternative fuel system must be removed or disabled.
  2. A completed Alternative Fuel Withdrawal, form # 96-0284.
  3. Proof of compliance with emissions inspection, when applicable.
  4. All fees applicable to a non-alternative fuel vehicle.
  5. AFV license plate must be surrendered.
  6. When the AFV plate is not available, the customer must pay a lost plate fee of $5.