Clean Special Fuel Vehicles/Plates

The plate above is issued, upon application, to qualifying vehicles registered on or after July 1, 2006, and exempts the vehicle from the occupancy requirements of any HOV lanes except those in the I-95/395 corridor until the general exemption expires on July 1, 2011.

The plate above was issued to qualifying vehicles registered before July 1, 2006 and may be used in any HOV lanes statewide without regard to the occupancy requirement until the general exemption expires on July 1, 2011. This plate may only be renewed or transferred to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle.

The annual fee for both clean special fuel license plates is $25 in addition to the regular vehicle registration fee. $15 of the $25 fee goes to the Virginia State Police HOV-Enforcement fund.

Qualifications for Clean Special Fuel License Plates

In order for your vehicle to qualify as clean fuel it must be exclusively powered by clean special fuel. The following types of fuels may qualify a vehicle for clean special fuel plates:

• Compressed Natural Gas
• Electricity
• Ethane
• Hybrid Gasoline/Electric
• Hydrogen
• Hythane
• Liquefied Natural Gas
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• Methane
• Solar
• or Combination of two types of clean special fuels

Not all hybrids qualify for clean special fuel license plates, but the following do:

NOTE: As new hybrids qualify, this information will be updated. Flexible fuel vehicle engines that do not utilize only a clean special fuel DO NOT qualify for the plates.

Applying for Clean Special Fuel License Plates

You must submit a "License Plate Application" (VSA10) to include the entire vehicle identification number (VIN) and title number. If you have just purchased the vehicle, DMV can verify if your vehicle qualifies for clean fuel plates; however, we cannot process the transaction until your vehicle is titled on our automated system.

DMV's Special Registration Work Center is the only division that can issue, reissue or transfer clean special fuel plates. To speed the processing of your application, you may fax your VSA 10 directly to us at 804-367-1280 or mail to DMV Registration Work Center, P.O. Box 26668, Richmond, VA 23261-6668. If you submit your application to a Customer Service Center or DMV Select, staff will fax your application to the Special Registration Work Center for processing. Clean special fuel plates cannot be issued at a Customer Service Center or by a DMV Select agent, an automobile dealer, or via the Internet.

After a thorough review of your application and documentation, the DMV Special Special Registration Work Center will determine whether or not your vehicle qualifies for clean special fuel plates. You will then be notified by mail, and if qualified, the clean special fuel license plates and an invoice for payment will be mailed to you unless payment has already been submitted.