Air Plan Revisions; California; Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program
Published Date: 2/6/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA is giving a thumbs-up to California’s new rules for checking and fixing big trucks over 14,000 pounds to cut pollution, but it’s saying no to applying these rules to trucks from other states. This means California’s program will be official and enforceable starting March 9, 2026, helping keep the air cleaner without extra penalties or costs for out-of-state vehicles. Truck owners in California should get ready for these updated inspections soon!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
California truck owners must comply
If you own or operate a heavy-duty vehicle registered in California (over 14,000 pounds GVWR), the EPA-approved parts of California’s Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance (HD I/M) Regulation become federally enforceable as part of the SIP starting March 9, 2026. You must report owner and vehicle information to CARB, have periodic compliance tests (OBD data for OBD-equipped vehicles; smoke opacity and visual inspections for older non-OBD vehicles), and carry a valid HD I/M compliance certificate while operating in California. CARB estimated the HD I/M Regulation will cost $4.12 billion between 2023–2050 with a maximum annual cost of $350 million in 2024, and the rule includes exemptions for zero-emission, emergency, and military tactical vehicles.
EPA blocks federal reach to out‑of‑state trucks
The EPA disapproved the parts of California’s submission that would make the HD I/M Regulation apply to vehicles registered outside California (including out-of-country vehicles) that merely traverse the State, so those extraterritorial requirements will not become federally enforceable. California’s regulation text includes a limited 5-day pass-through exception (granted once per calendar year; application must be submitted at least seven business days prior and contain registration, VIN, dates, and origin/destination), but the EPA disapproved making the out-of-state/out-of-country reach federally enforceable effective March 9, 2026.
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