CTC-VIS registration: how to register your truck

Short answer: CTC-VIS registration means reporting each covered truck in CARB's Clean Truck Check Vehicle Inspection System and paying CARB's annual compliance fee for it. After that, a credentialed tester submits passing test results, and you check the truck's compliance status and deadlines in your CTC-VIS account.

What CTC-VIS is and why you need it

CTC-VIS is the online system CARB uses to run the Clean Truck Check program. It is where owners report vehicles, pay the compliance fee and see each truck's status. If a covered truck is not reported there, it cannot show as compliant, even if it passes a test.

Most diesel and alternative-fuel vehicles over 14,000 lb GVWR that operate in California need to be in CTC-VIS. That includes trucks registered in other states and other countries. Buses, refuse trucks, construction and agricultural vehicles and motorhomes over 14,000 lb can be covered too, so check CARB's rules for your vehicle if you are not sure.

One thing to know up front: CTC-VIS belongs to CARB. Diesel Dynamix is an independent testing service, not CARB or a government agency. We can walk you through it, but your account is yours.

How to register a truck in Clean Truck Check, step by step

The clean truck check registration process comes down to a few steps. Screens and wording change over time, so follow the prompts in the portal itself.

1. Open the Clean Truck Check portal. Start from CARB's Clean Truck Check page, which links to CTC-VIS and CARB's own instructions.
2. Set up your CTC-VIS account. Use the business or owner name that matches your vehicle records, and an email address you actually check. Deadline notices and account messages go there.
3. Add each vehicle. Enter the VIN and the other vehicle details CTC-VIS asks for. Double-check the VIN character by character. A single wrong digit causes problems later when test results try to match the truck.
4. Pay the annual compliance fee. CARB charges this fee per vehicle, and the amount is shown in CTC-VIS. More on that in our compliance fee guide.
5. Get each truck tested. A credentialed tester runs the right test and submits the result to CARB.
6. Check the status. Log back in and confirm each truck shows compliant, and note the next due date.

Setting up a CTC-VIS fleet account

If you run more than one truck, put them all under one CTC-VIS account so you can see every VIN in one place. Keep a simple list outside the portal too: VIN, unit number, engine model year, test type and next due date. That list makes it easy to group trucks by deadline and test several in one visit. See fleet testing for how we handle multi-truck yards.

CTC-VIS registration for out-of-state trucks

Out-of-state and international trucks that operate in California are covered, and they register in CTC-VIS the same way. Report the truck, pay the fee and keep its tests current. Our post on out-of-state trucks covers the details.

How to pay the Clean Truck Check fee in CTC-VIS

CTC-VIS fee payment happens inside your account. The compliance fee is annual and per vehicle, and CARB sets the amount. We do not quote it here because CARB can change it. Your account shows what is owed for each truck.

Keep in mind that this fee is separate from the testing fee your tester charges. Paying one does not cover the other.

Test submission and checking your compliance status

You do not upload test results yourself. The credentialed tester submits them after the test. Once a passing result is on record, the fee is paid and the truck is reported, CTC-VIS can show the truck as compliant.

To run a clean truck check status lookup, log in and open the vehicle by VIN. This is also where you check your deadlines. Most covered trucks currently test twice a year, and the schedule can change, so trust what CTC-VIS shows for your truck over any general rule. See how often trucks need testing.

Finding your compliance certificate

Proof of compliance lives in CTC-VIS. If you need a CTC-VIS compliance certificate for a customer, a broker or your own records, look in the vehicle's record in your account. If you cannot find it, contact CARB's Clean Truck Check help through the CARB site.

When CTC-VIS is not working or your test is missing

Most "CTC-VIS not working" problems come down to a few things:

• VIN mismatch. The VIN in your account does not match the VIN the truck reports. Fix the vehicle record or have a repair shop check the engine computer.
• Vehicle not reported. The test happened, but the truck was never added to the account.
• Fee not paid. A truck with an unpaid fee will not show as compliant.
• Login or account access. Password and account issues go to CARB, since they run the system.

If a test still does not show, ask your tester to confirm it was submitted. Our failed Clean Truck Check guide covers VIN mismatches and rejected results in more depth.

Clean Truck Check reporting requirements and deadlines

Report every covered vehicle, keep the annual fee paid and pass each test before its deadline. That is the whole job. Registration deadlines and test deadlines are set by CARB for each vehicle, so check CTC-VIS or CARB for the exact dates that apply to you. Missing them can lead to a DMV registration hold for California-registered trucks, plus CARB citations and penalties.

If something about your truck changes, such as ownership, plates or whether it still operates in California, update the vehicle info in CTC-VIS so your records stay accurate.

How Diesel Dynamix helps

We test trucks on site across Southern California, at your yard, jobsite, terminal, port or home. If you need clean truck check registration help in Southern California, we answer CTC-VIS questions, explain results in plain English and give you each truck's next due date. Fleets get reminders, recurring visits and records per truck and VIN.

• How testing works
• CARB OBD testing and smoke opacity testing
• Clean Truck Check FAQ

Ready to test? Book online, or call, text or WhatsApp (858) 342-8328.