Changing Fuel Type: Updating Vehicle Registration Details

Changing the fuel type on a vehicle registration is a process that varies depending on location. In the United States, for example, the California DMV refers changes in engine or fuel type to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center for inspection and verification. In Ohio, the BMV has been known to list a hybrid vehicle as fully 'electric' on registration, which may impact the taxes paid by the owner. In Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA) requires member states to record the fuel type for each new passenger car registered.

Contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center

If you are a vehicle owner in California and you have changed your vehicle's fuel type or motive power (MP), you must refer to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center to have the changes verified and approved.

The BAR Referee Center will inspect your vehicle and confirm the new fuel type or MP. This inspection is mandatory if the new MP is not the same as the original equipment as indicated by the vehicle identification number (VIN) decoding program. For example, if you have converted your vehicle from gas to electric, it must be referred to the BAR Referee Center.

The BAR can be contacted at 1-800-952-5210 or 1-800-622-7733. Their website is www.asktheref.org, and their physical address is 10949 North Mather Blvd, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The BAR is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

During the inspection, the BAR will determine if your vehicle is exempt from smog certification due to the change in fuel type or MP. If your vehicle is exempt, the BAR will notify the DMV, and a smog exemption will be added to your vehicle record. This is an important step to ensure your vehicle complies with California's strict emissions regulations.

Vehicle inspection and verification

In California, a change in the type of fuel or motive power (MP) of a vehicle must be referred to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center when the new MP is different from the original as indicated by the vehicle identification number (VIN) decoding program. The BAR Referee Center will then inspect the vehicle to verify and/or approve the new MP change.

If the new MP is different from the original, the vehicle must be referred to the BAR Referee Center for inspection and approval. The BAR will notify the DMV of any permanent smog exemptions after the inspection.

In Texas, vehicle inspection and registration have been combined into a single process called "Two Steps, One Sticker." Vehicle owners are required to pass a vehicle inspection within 90 days of their registration expiration and keep their Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR). The inspection can be completed at an approved inspection station, and the inspection fee is paid in two steps: the inspection station's portion is due at the time of inspection, while the state's portion is collected at the time of registration.

After the vehicle passes inspection, the registration can be renewed online, by mail, or in person, and the inspection status will be verified electronically. If the vehicle does not have a passing inspection, the renewal will not be processed, and the owner will be required to provide verification of inspection.

For non-commercial vehicles in certain counties in Texas, a passing safety inspection is no longer required for registration renewal, but a passing emissions inspection is still necessary. However, commercial vehicles must continue to obtain a passing commercial inspection regardless of the county of residence.

Smog exemption

There are several circumstances in which a vehicle may be exempt from a smog check inspection. These include:

• All motorcycles until the department implements test procedures applicable to motorcycles.
• Vehicles that have been issued a certificate of compliance, noncompliance, or a repair cost waiver upon a change of ownership or initial registration in California in the preceding six months.
• Vehicles manufactured before the 1976 model year.
• Vehicles four or fewer model years old (as of January 1, 2005, this exemption was extended to vehicles six or fewer model years old).
• Vehicles that the department determines would present prohibitive inspection or repair problems.
• Any vehicle registered to the owner of a fleet licensed under Section 44020, if the vehicle is garaged exclusively outside the area included in the program coverage and is not primarily operated inside this area.
• Diesel-powered vehicles manufactured prior to the 1998 model year.

Additionally, in California, if a vehicle has undergone a change in engine or fuel type/motive power (MP), the new MP must be referred to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center for inspection and verification. The BAR will issue a smog exemption on the vehicle record if the MP exempts the vehicle from smog certification.

Vehicle identification number (VIN) decoding

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-digit alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a vehicle. Each character in the VIN provides specific information about the vehicle, including the year, make, model, engine size, and manufacturer.

The VIN is divided into three sections: the World Manufacturer Identifier, the Vehicle Descriptor Section, and the Vehicle Identifier Section. The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) consists of the first three digits of the VIN and indicates the country of origin, manufacturer, and region of production. The Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) includes digits four through nine and describes the model, body type, restraint system, transmission type, and engine code. The ninth digit is a check digit used to detect fraudulent VINs. The Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) comprises digits ten through seventeen and includes information such as the production year, manufacturing plant, and a unique production serial number.

VINs can be used to track changes to a vehicle, such as modifications to the engine or fuel type. For example, in California, a change in motive power (MP) must be referred to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center if it differs from the original specifications outlined in the VIN decoding program. The BAR will inspect and approve the MP change, and if the new MP exempts the vehicle from smog certification, a smog exemption will be noted on the vehicle record.

VINs can be found in several locations on a vehicle, including on the front of the dashboard on the driver's side, on the post of the driver's side door, or on insurance cards and vehicle titles. Online VIN decoders, such as those provided by AutoZone and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), allow individuals to input a VIN and retrieve specific information about their vehicle, including the plant of manufacture.

Tax implications

The tax implications of changing fuel type on registration vary depending on the jurisdiction. In the United States, for instance, the tax on gasoline is $0.184 per gallon, while the tax on aviation gasoline is $0.194 per gallon. Diesel fuel and kerosene are taxed at $0.244 per gallon. These taxes are imposed on the removal, entry, or sale of these fuels. Additionally, there are specific tax rates for other types of fuel, such as liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas.

In the state of Arizona, changes to the law mean that drivers of alternative fuel vehicles will pay the same vehicle license tax (VLT) rate as other drivers by 2023. The VLT is a tax paid during vehicle registration, which funds transportation infrastructure. Previously, alternative fuel vehicles were taxed at a lower rate, but the new law will bring parity to VLT assessments.

In Ohio, the state tax on fuel is $0.28 per gallon. However, a Reddit user points out that this tax does not incentivize people to switch to electric vehicles, as it ends up being more expensive than the variable registration fee based on the value of the vehicle.

In Italy, research has shown that household demand for transport fuels is more sensitive to the tax component than to the oil price. This suggests that transport fuel taxation can be an effective tool in the decarbonization pathway.

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