Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions for New Jersey Low Emission Vehicle Program
As a motorist and a consumer, you can help reduce air pollution! When you purchase a new vehicle, you can make a choice that improves our air quality and global climate.
Two main ways:
a) the Manufacturer Source of Origin(MSO) / Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO) must
indicate “Certified for sale in 50 States” or “Certified for sale in California” (See examples
below)
b) The label under the hood in the engine compartment must indicate it is “California certified”,
EPA 50-State or California-Only vehicle.
"50-State Vehicle: This vehicle conforms to U.S. EPA and California regulations applicable to
(the vehicle model year) model-year new motor vehicles."
"California-Only Vehicle: This vehicle conforms to U.S. EPA and California regulations
applicable to (the vehicle model year) model-year new motor vehicles introduced into commerce
only for sale in California."
The LEV rules cover any passenger car and light-duty truck up to 8,500 pounds Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or less, excluding off-highway vehicles. “Passenger car” includes any
motor vehicle designed primarily for transportation of individuals and having a design capacity
of 12 individuals or fewer.
A gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle
or trailer when loaded - i.e including the weight of the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo,
and trailer tongue weight. Some commercial cargo vans and large SUVs are exceeding 8,500 Ibs
GVWR limits.
Most vehicles manufactured for sale in this country have a placard (sticker) with this
information. It is located typically either in the driver's side door or doorframe, in the owner’s
manual, or also may be present on another sticker immediately under the hood near the radiator.
If the client’s vehicle acquisition is covered by an exemption under the New Jersey LEV
regulation, you must fill out and have the buyer sign the request for exemption certification
on DEP/MVE-9 (09-16). You can obtain the form from:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanvehicles/njlev_forms.htm
Complete the application and submit with a copy of the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
(MCO). You may also get a copy of the form by contacting NJDEP Low Emission Vehicle
Program, Mail code 401-02E, 401 E. State St., P.O. Box 420, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0420 or
email at NJLEV@dep.nj.gov.
If the vehicle has already been titled outside of New Jersey, you may title the vehicle in New
Jersey.
If the vehicle has not been titled before, you need to complete a “Buyer Application for
Waiver from the New Jersey Low Vehicle Emission Program” form DEP/MVW-9 (09-16).
You can obtain the form from:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanvehicles/njlev_forms.htm
Complete and submit with a copy of Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). You can also
contact the NJDEP Low Emission Vehicle Program, Mail code 401-02E, 401 E. State St., P.O.
Box 420, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0420 or email at email at NJLEV@dep.nj.gov Under certain limited
circumstances, NJDEP may allow exemptions after review of the application
If the vehicle has already been titled outside of New Jersey, you may title the vehicle in New
Jersey.
If the vehicle has not been titled before, you need to complete a “Buyer Application for
Waiver from the New Jersey Low Vehicle Emission Program” form DEP/MVW-9 (09-16).
You can obtain the form from:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanvehicles/njlev_forms.htm
Complete and submit with a copy of Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). You can also
contact the NJDEP Low Emission Vehicle Program, Mail code 401-02E, 401 E. State St., P.O.
Box 420, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0420 or email at email at NJLEV@dep.nj.gov Under certain limited
circumstances, NJDEP may allow exemptions after review of the application
If the vehicle has already been titled outside of New Jersey, you may title the vehicle in New
Jersey.
If the vehicle has not been titled before, you need to complete a “Buyer Application for
Waiver from the New Jersey Low Vehicle Emission Program” form DEP/MVW-9 (09-16).
You can obtain the form from:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanvehicles/njlev_forms.htm
Complete and submit with a copy of Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). You can also
contact the NJDEP Low Emission Vehicle Program, Mail code 401-02E, 401 E. State St., P.O.
Box 420, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0420 or email at email at NJLEV@dep.nj.gov Under certain limited
circumstances, NJDEP may allow exemptions after review of the application
If the vehicle has already been titled outside of New Jersey, you may title the vehicle in New
Jersey.
If the vehicle has not been titled before, you need to complete a “Buyer Application for
Waiver from the New Jersey Low Vehicle Emission Program” form DEP/MVW-9 (09-16).
You can obtain the form from:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanvehicles/njlev_forms.htm
Complete and submit with a copy of Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). You can also
contact the NJDEP Low Emission Vehicle Program, Mail code 401-02E, 401 E. State St., P.O.
Box 420, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0420 or email at email at NJLEV@dep.nj.gov Under certain limited
circumstances, NJDEP may allow exemptions after review of the application
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Agency would deny titling and registration and refer you to the NJDEP for further action. The NJDEP may grant or deny a waiver based on the circumstances.
It means a vehicle that has received a bill of lading for sale in New Jersey and is shipped, or is in the process of being shipped to a dealer in New Jersey.
Any activities relating to the delivery for sale, offering for sale, selling, importing, delivering, purchasing, renting, acquiring, receiving, or registering of vehicles.
A vehicle that is manufactured outside of the United States and is not originally built to meet
U.S. safety and emissions standards is called a Grey Market vehicle. These vehicles may need to
be modified to comply with U.S. standards after they are imported and must be approved by the
USEPA and Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) before they can be titled and
registered.
The emission conversion certification must comply with California or USEPA 50-state standards before you can title the vehicle in New Jersey.
Yes, any model year 2009 new vehicles delivered for sale in New Jersey before January 1, 2009 can continue to be sold, offered for sale or, purchased, acquired or received for a maximum of one year if the vehicle is already delivered for sale or lease on or before January 1, 2009. The MSO should list the date before January 1, 2009.
Under N.J.A.C 7:27-29.3(a), delivery of a Non-Certified Vehicle is considered non minor and subjected to civil administrative penalty amounts up to $2,500 for the first offense, per vehicle, $5,000 for the second offense, $12,500 on the third offense and $30,000 for the fourth and each subsequent offense.
NJDEP's website at Cleanvehicles or Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Program or Email NJLEV@dep.nj.gov.
