Highway Motorcycle Certification Requirements

This page last reviewed September 18, 2012

This page provides a list of emission-related regulations, test procedures, Manufacturers Advisory Correspondences (MACs), and related documents applicable to highway motorcycles (HMC), also known as on-road or "street" motorcycles, and is primarily for the interest and needs of manufacturers and others that are required to obtain certification from ARB. For more public-oriented materials, please visit our On-Road Motorcycle Regulation page.

Please sign up to the new Mobile Source Mailouts and MAC list server. By doing this, you will be notified when a new Mobile Source Mailout (e.g. proposing a new rule or amending an existing rule) or MAC (e.g. providing ARB's policy decisions and interpretations of the regulations and test procedures) has been posted to the Mobile Source Mailouts or MAC webpages. These email notices can replace any of the mobile source hard copy mailing lists you may already be on.

Overview A presentation summarizing the process by which motorcycle manufacturers can certify their vehicles for sale in California. (PDF - 1870K)  Printer friendly version. (PDF - 608K)
Regulations "Motorcycle" defined in California Health & Safety Code, Section 39041, also in California Vehicle Code, Section 400
  The California emissions regulations for HMC are in Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 1958 (13 CCR 1958) (PDF - 86K)
  Evaporative emissions regulations are in 13 CCR 1976 (PDF - 123K)
Test Procedures 13 CCR 1958 references the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA's) test procedures in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 86, Subparts E and F. These procedures are available from the U.S. EPA's Motorcycle web page.
  California Evaporative Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model Motor Vehicles (PDF - 1,054K)
Emissions Label  The California emissions labeling requirements are in 13 CCR 1965 (PDF - 64K)
Emissions Warranty The California motorcycle emissions warranty requirements are in 13 CCR 2035, et seq.
- §2035, Purpose, Applicability, and Definitions. (PDF - 39K)
- §2036, Defects Warranty Requirements. (PDF - 61K)
- §2039, Emissions Control System Warranty Statement.(PDF - 42K)
- §2040, Vehicle Owner Obligations. (PDF - 34K)
- §2041, Mediation; Finding of Warrantable Condition. (PDF - 36K)
  Emission Warranty Parts List (PDF - 34K) 
Fuel Fill Pipe Requirements  The fuel fill pipe specifications are in 13 CCR 2235 (PDF - 47K) 
  Specifications for Fill Pipes and Openings of 1977 Through 2014 Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks (PDF - 597K) 
Specifications for Fill Pipes and Openings of 2015 and Subsequent Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks (PDF - 66K) 
  Fuel fill pipe application (PDF - 81K)
  Executive Order G-70-16-E, fuel fill pipe specification exemption (PDF - 59K)
Manufacturers Advisory Correspondences  MAC 86-06, Assigned evaporative deterioration factor (PDF - 137K)
  MAC 82-03, Evaporative deterioration factor determination (PDF - 105K)
  MAC 81-005, Motorcycle certification procedures (PDF - 254K)
  MAC 81-002, Evaporative component bench aging procedures (PDF - 263K)
  MAC 80-1, Alternate diurnal temperature profile (PDF - 233K)
  MAC 77-8, Motorcycle line and model (PDF - 70K)
Mail-outs  MSO 2008-02, California Certification Procedures for Highway Motorcycle Engines (PDF - 71K)
MSO 2008-01, Compliance Assistance and Certification Workshop for Highway Motorcycles, Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles, and Small Off-Road Engines and Equipment. (PDF - 35K)

Presentation - (PDF - 6131K)  Printer friendly version  (PDF - 471K)
MSO 2007-03, New Requirement to Report Carbon Dioxide Emissions from 2008 and Subsequent Model Year California Certified Vehicles and Engines (PDF - 85K)
Application Format Recommended Application Format for Certification of Highway Motorcycles  
Frequently Asked Questions Confirmatory Testing by ARB, Highway Motocycles and Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles (PDF - 70K)

Pre Delivery Checklist for ARB Confirmatory Test Vehicle - Highway Motorcycles, Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles (PDF -12K)
ARB Certification Administrative Requirements New vehicle manufacturers are required to register with ARB as a manufacturer to gain access to the Document Management System (DMS). See these web pages:

For more information regarding highway motorcycle certification, please contact Steven Hada at (626) 575-6641.

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