Alternative Fuel Vehicle Registration

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Registration

Alternative fuel vehicles in Arizona qualify for unrestricted HOV lane access. Starting Sept. 26, 2025, you'll have new license plate options to choose from.

What Is an Alternative Fuel Vehicle?

Your vehicle qualifies as alternative fuel if it runs on:

  • Electric
  • Natural gas (CNG or LPG)
  • Hydrogen
  • Blend of 70 percent alternative fuel, 30 percent gasoline (unavailable in Arizona)
  • Solar

If you convert your vehicle to run on alternative fuel, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality must inspect it and issue an Alternative Fuel Certificate.

Important Changes Starting Sept. 26, 2025

You'll be able to choose between different license plates for your alternative fuel vehicle. Your choice affects whether you get HOV lane access and identification as an alternative fuel vehicle.

Warning: If you already have an alternative fuel vehicle registration, changing your plate option can result in losing your reduced vehicle license tax.

Alternative Fuel License Plate Options

Option 1: Alt fuel plate

This is the simple option to retain your reduced vehicle license tax benefits (if your registration meets grandfather qualifications). No alt fuel sticker needed.

arizona alternative fuel license plate

Option 2: Personalize any specialty or standard AZ plate AND purchase an alt fuel vehicle sticker.

As long as you maintain registration and the sticker, you can keep your reduced VLT rate.

license plate - a plus sign - and and alt fuel sticker enlarged

Option 3: Select a specialty plate (personalized or not) AND purchase an alt fuel vehicle sticker.

As long as you maintain registration and the sticker, you can keep your reduced VLT rate.

license plate - a plus sign - and and alt fuel sticker enlarged

Emissions Testing

Hydrogen, solar and electric powered vehicles are exempt from all emissions testing requirements.

HOV Lane Access

With a current alternative fuel vehicle special plate or sticker, you can use HOV freeway lanes anytime, regardless of passenger count. This may change on September 30th, 2025 with an expiring exemption contained in a 2005 federal law.

Learn more about HOV lanes and the potential changes at azdot.gov/HOV.

Vehicle License Tax Benefits

Alternative fuel vehicles used to qualify for reduced vehicle license tax, but this changed in 2023. If your vehicle was registered before Jan. 1, 2023, you keep your reduced rate as long as nothing changes with your registration.
Things that create a new registration cycle include:

  • Adding or removing someone from the title
  • A canceled registration
  • Lease buy-outs
  • Selling your alternative fuel vehicle (the reduced vehicle license tax does not transfer with ownership)
  • A salvage, flood or nonrepairable brand on the title

Read more about Calculating Vehicle License Tax Formulas on Alternative Vehicles (PDF).

Next Steps

Ready to register your alternative fuel vehicle? Use AZMVDNow.gov to complete your registration and choose your license plate option.

Need help? Contact MVD.