Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§8522 Out-of-state Vehicles to Be Exempted From Odd-even Motor Fuel Purchase Restrictions
Title 42 › CHAPTER 93 — EMERGENCY ENERGY CONSERVATION › SUBCHAPTER II — OTHER AUTOMOBILE FUEL PURCHASE MEASURES › § 8522
Summary
Even if other laws say otherwise, odd‑even fuel rules cannot stop someone from buying motor fuel if their car’s license plate was issued by a state that is not the same state and not a neighboring state; an "odd‑even" plan limits when you can buy fuel based on your plate’s numbers, letters, or similar markers.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §8522
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)General rule
Notwithstanding any provision of any Federal, State, or local law, any odd-even fuel purchase plan in effect in any State may not prohibit the sale of motor fuel to any person for use in a vehicle bearing a license plate issued by any authority other than that State or a State contiguous to that State.
(b)“Odd-even fuel purchase plan” defined
For purposes of this section the term “odd-even fuel purchase plan” means any motor fuel sales restriction under which a person may purchase motor fuel for use in any vehicle only on days (or other periods of time) determined on the basis of a number or letter appearing on the license plate of that vehicle (or on any similar basis).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 8522
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110