Clean Special Fuel plates are issued by DMV based on the fuel type used to power your vehicle.
Qualifying for Clean Special Fuel License Plates
Your vehicle must be exclusively powered by clean special fuel in order to be eligible for a clean special fuel plate.
Plate Fees
The annual fee for each clean special fuel license plates is $25 in addition to the regular vehicle registration fee. $15 of the $25 fee goes to the Virginia State Police HOV-Enforcement fund.
Clean Special Fuel Plates & Vehicle Occupancy Requirements
Gas/electric hybrid vehicles displaying clean special fuel plates no longer qualify for the HOV lane use exemption unless the required number of occupants are in the vehicles or the vehicles are qualifying plug-in electric vehicles.
Qualifying plug-in electric hybrids are determined based on federal law. For your vehicle to qualify, it must be included on this list. All other clean special fuel vehicles will continue to be eligible for the HOV lane use exemption until September 30, 2025.
Clean Special Fuel plates do NOT grant an exemption from the vehicle occupancy requirements on the following roadways.
- 64 Express Lanes (during operating hours) www.64expresslanes.org
- 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway (during operating hours) www.66expresslanes.org
- 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway www.ride66express.com
- 95, 395 or 495 Express Lanes www.expresslanes.com
In order to use these lanes for free on the above roadways, vehicles must carry the specified number of people and be equipped with an E-ZPass Flex set to "HOV" mode. Otherwise, drivers must pay a toll to access the lanes. For more information, visit virginiadot.org.
Clean Special Fuel Plate Types
If you would like to request a new license plate design to replace your Clean Special Fuel license plate, please submit a "License Plate Application" (VSA 10) to include the entire vehicle identification number (VIN) and title number along with applicable fees. This application may be mailed to DMV at the address listed on the application or can be completed at dmv.virginia.gov.
| PLATE TYPE | DATE ISSUED | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| On or after July 1, 2011 | Exempts the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following HOV lanes:
Does not exempt the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following:
|
| Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011 | Exempts the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following HOV lanes:
Does not exempt the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following:
Plates issued before July 1, 2011, may only be renewed or transferred to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle. |
| Before July 1, 2006 | Exempts the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following HOV lanes:
Does not exempt the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following:
Plates issued before July 1, 2006, may only be renewed or transferred to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle. |
Applying for Clean Special Fuel License Plates
You must submit a "License Plate Application" (VSA10) to include the entire vehicle identification number (VIN) and title number.
Clean special fuel plates cannot be issued at a Customer Service Center or by a DMV Select agent, automobile dealer, or via the Internet. DMV's Special Registration Work Center is the only division that can issue, reissue or transfer clean special fuel plates. Applications submitted in person at a Customer Service Center or DMV Select will be faxed to the Special Registration Work Center for processing.
To speed the processing of your application, you may fax your VSA 10 directly to the Special Registration Work Center at 804-367-6379, email it to cleanfuelplates@dmv.virginia.gov, or mail it to
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Special Registration Work Center
PO Box 26688
Richmond, VA 23261-6668
After a thorough review of your application and documentation, the DMV Special Registration Work Center will determine whether or not your vehicle qualifies for clean special fuel plates, based on the type of clean special fuel that powers your vehicle, and will notify you by mail, email or telephone. If your vehicle qualifies, the clean special fuel license plates and an invoice for payment will be mailed to you unless payment has already been submitted.