CARB certification & Clean Truck Check filingYour CARB filing.
Handled.
We set up your CTC-VIS account, report your trucks, and pay the annual CARB fee for you. You get back to business.
- $76 first vehicle, CARB fee included
- Pay at the last step
- No subscription
One filing.
We handle the details.
- CTC-VIS account setup
- Vehicle reporting
- Annual CARB fee payment
Secure Stripe checkout
How it works
Less paperwork. More open road.
Share your details once. We take it from there.
- 01
Tell us about your trucks
Add your business details and each vehicle's VIN, GVWR, and plate.
- 02
Pay one filing price
Checkout is secure through Stripe. The annual CARB compliance fee is already inside the price.
- 03
We file in CTC-VIS
We set up or update your CTC-VIS account, report each vehicle, and pay CARB on your behalf.
- 04
Download your certificate
Once a passing test from a CARB-credentialed tester is on file, your compliance certificate is ready in CTC-VIS.
Services
The right filing for your next mile.
New to CTC-VIS, renewing, or just adding a truck, pick the filing you need and we take it from there.
Apply for CTC Reporting
We report your vehicles for Clean Truck Check compliance in CTC-VIS and pay the CARB compliance fee.
Renew Compliance
We help renew your Clean Truck Check compliance, including annual or semiannual requirements.
Apply for 5-Day Pass
We help eligible vehicles apply for a temporary 5-day pass to operate in California.
Set Up CTC-VIS Account
We help create, access, or organize your Clean Truck Check account.
Add Vehicle in CTC-VIS
We add or report your vehicle information in CTC-VIS and process the CARB compliance fee if required.
- Start your filing
Not sure which one you need?
Most owners start with CTC Reporting: we report your trucks in CTC-VIS and pay the annual CARB fee in one filing.
Simple, transparent pricing
One clear price for your CARB compliance filing.
Your annual CARB fee is already included. No subscriptions. No surprises at checkout.
- Annual CARB compliance fee ($32.13 per vehicle)
- CTC-VIS account setup or access recovery
- Vehicle reporting and records clean-up
- Filing follow-up until your certificate is available
Emissions testing is booked and paid separately with your CARB-credentialed tester.
Your choice
File in CTC-VIS yourself, or let us do it.
Anyone can file directly with CARB. We are for owners and fleets who would rather not spend their time in CTC-VIS.
File directly with CARB
$32.13 per vehicle, plus your time in CTC-VIS
File with CARB Certification
$76 first vehicle, $69 each additional, CARB fee included
- CTC-VIS account
- File directly with CARBCreate the entity account and verify owner details yourself
- File with CARB CertificationWe set it up or recover access for you
- Vehicle reporting
- File directly with CARBEnter VIN, GVWR, engine year, and plate for every truck
- File with CARB CertificationWe enter and double-check every vehicle
- CARB compliance fee
- File directly with CARBPay $32.13 per vehicle inside CTC-VIS
- File with CARB CertificationIncluded in our filing price
- Follow-up
- File directly with CARBWatch for test results and certificate status on your own
- File with CARB CertificationWe follow up until your certificate is available
- Emissions test
- File directly with CARBBook a CARB-credentialed tester
- File with CARB CertificationSame: you book the test, billed by the tester
The essentials
What is a CARB certificate?
A CARB certificate, also called a Clean Truck Check certificate, is the compliance certificate you download from CARB's CTC-VIS portal once your heavy-duty vehicle is reported, the annual CARB compliance fee is paid, and a passing emissions test is on file. California DMV checks the same CTC-VIS status before it renews your registration.
Your emissions test and filing are separate. We handle vehicle reporting and fee payment; a CARB-credentialed tester handles the test.
- GVWR that puts a vehicle in Clean Truck Check
- 14,000+ lbs
- 2026 annual CARB compliance fee per vehicle
- $32.13
- Emissions testing for most heavy-duty vehicles
- 2× a year
Who needs it
Driving in California? Start here.
Any diesel, hybrid, or alternative-fuel vehicle over 14,000 lbs GVWR that operates in California, whether it is plated here or not.
- Tractor-trailers and big rigs
- Box, dump, and refuse trucks
- School, transit, and charter buses
- Service, utility, and concrete trucks
- Motorhomes over 14,000 lbs
- Diesel, hybrid, and alternative-fuel
California-registered
Report every vehicle in CTC-VIS, pay the annual fee, and keep testing current or DMV will hold your registration.
Out-of-state and Canada/Mexico
Any truck over 14,000 lbs GVWR that drives in California needs Clean Truck Check compliance, wherever it is plated.
Agricultural and motorhomes
Included too, but most agricultural vehicles and motorhomes test once a year instead of twice.
Vehicles that may be exempt
Zero-emission vehicles
Battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks.
Emergency vehicles
Fire trucks, ambulances, police, and other authorized emergency vehicles.
Military and historic
Tactical military vehicles and vehicles registered as historic.
Ultra-low NOx engines
Engines certified to 0.01 g/bhp-hr NOx may qualify for a temporary exemption.
Requirements
Clean Truck Check requirements for your truck.
An overview of vehicle coverage, testing, and reporting. Your filing and emissions test work together toward compliance.
- 01
Over 14,000 lbs GVWR
Gross vehicle weight rating is empty weight plus maximum load. Diesel, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles above it are covered.
- 02
Any engine model year
There is no age cut-off. Engines older than 2010 must pass Clean Truck Check emissions tests too.
- 03
Testing twice a year
Semi-annual testing began January 1, 2025. From October 2027, OBD-equipped vehicles (typically 2013 and newer) move to quarterly tests.
- 04
OBD or smoke opacity test
A CARB-credentialed tester runs an OBD scan on newer engines, or a smoke opacity test with a visual inspection on older ones, checking PM and NOx.
- 05
Reported in CTC-VIS
Every covered vehicle must be in CARB's CTC-VIS with its VIN, engine model year, GVWR, and plate so test results can attach to it.
- 06
Annual compliance fee
CARB charges $32.13 per vehicle for 2026. Without it, the vehicle stays non-compliant even after passing its test.
FAQ
A little clarity before you start.
What is a CARB certificate?
A CARB certificate, also called a Clean Truck Check certificate, is the compliance certificate you download from CARB's CTC-VIS portal once your heavy-duty vehicle is reported, the annual CARB compliance fee is paid, and a passing emissions test is on file. California DMV checks the same CTC-VIS status before it renews your registration.
Is CARB certification the same as “CARB certified”?
No. “CARB certified” usually describes an engine or part that met California emissions standards at the factory. CARB certification for trucks means Clean Truck Check compliance: CTC-VIS reporting, the annual fee, and a passing emissions test.
How much does CARB certification cost?
Our filing price is $76 for the first vehicle and $69 for each additional vehicle. That already includes CARB's $32.13 annual compliance fee. Emissions testing is paid to your tester separately.
What is CTC-VIS?
CTC-VIS is CARB's Clean Truck Check Vehicle Inspection System. Owners use it to report vehicles, pay the compliance fee, and download certificates, and testers submit passing results there. We handle the CTC-VIS work for you.
How long does it take to get my Clean Truck Check certificate?
After the fee is paid and a passing test is on file, CTC-VIS usually makes the certificate available within 1–2 business days. If DMV placed a registration hold, allow another 3–5 business days for it to clear.
What is the difference between a CARB test and a CARB certificate?
The test is the emissions inspection a CARB-credentialed tester performs. The certificate is the CTC-VIS document showing the vehicle is reported, the annual fee is paid, and a passing test is on file. Passing the test alone does not produce the certificate.
When is Clean Truck Check testing due?
Most heavy-duty vehicles test twice a year, a schedule that began January 1, 2025. Some agricultural vehicles and motorhomes test once a year. From October 2027, OBD-equipped vehicles move to quarterly testing.
Do I need a CARB certificate to renew my truck registration?
California DMV checks the VIN against CTC-VIS and places a registration hold when a vehicle is not compliant. You do not mail the certificate to DMV. Once CTC-VIS shows compliant, allow 3–5 business days for the hold to clear.
Where do I download my CARB compliance certificate?
In your CTC-VIS account: open the entity homepage, go to Vehicles, and select Download next to a compliant vehicle. Keep a copy in the cab and one with your fleet records.
Do out-of-state trucks need Clean Truck Check?
Yes. Every heavy-duty vehicle over 14,000 lbs GVWR that operates in California must be reported in CTC-VIS and test on schedule, including trucks plated in other states, Canada, or Mexico.
Do you perform the emissions test?
No. Testing is done by a CARB-credentialed tester, who uploads the result to CTC-VIS. We take care of everything else: account setup, vehicle reporting, fee payment, and follow-up.
What happens if I don't comply?
Non-compliant vehicles get DMV registration holds and can face roadside citations, fines, and denied access at ports and rail yards.
Are you part of CARB or the government?
No. We are an independent filing service. We are not the California Air Resources Board and do not issue compliance certificates. You can always file directly with CARB in CTC-VIS for just the state fee.
Official CARB resources
Let’s get your filing moving
You have places to be.
We have the paperwork covered.
CTC-VIS reporting, fee payment, and follow-up. All in one filing.
$76 first vehicle · CARB fee included