ARTICLE 8.5. Environmental License Plates [5100. - 5112.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 8.5.

in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5100. Section 5100.

The purpose of this article is to provide revenue for the California Environmental License Plate Fund.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101. Section 5101.

Any person who is the registered owner or lessee of a passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer registered or certificated with the department, or who makes application for an original registration or renewal registration of that vehicle, may, upon payment of the fee prescribed in Section 5106 and those fees required by Sections 5022 to 5024, inclusive, apply to the department for environmental license plates, in the manner prescribed in Section 5105, which plates shall be affixed to the passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer for which registration is sought in lieu of the regular license plates.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.2. Section 5101.2.

(a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a firefighter, retired firefighter, or a surviving family member of a firefighter or retired firefighter may apply for special license plates for a vehicle under this article. License plates issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in accordance with Section 5060. (b) The applicant, by proof satisfactory to the department, shall show that the applicant is a firefighter, retired firefighter, or a surviving family member of a firefighter or retired firefighter, who meets all of the following: (1) Is presently, was at the time of their death, or has or had retired in good standing as, an officer, an employee, or a member of a fire department or a fire service of the state, a county, a city, a district, or any other political subdivision of the state, whether in a volunteer, partly paid, or fully paid status. (2) Is or was until retirement or death, regularly employed as a firefighter or regularly enrolled as a volunteer firefighter. (3) Has, or had before retirement or death, principal duties which fall within the scope of active firefighting and any of the following activities: (A) Fire prevention service. (B) Fire training. (C) Hazardous materials abatement. (D) Arson investigation. (E) Emergency medical services. (c) The special license plates issued under this section shall contain the words “California Firefighter” and shall run in a regular numerical series. (d) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration, a renewal of registration, or a transfer of registration, the following special license plate fees shall be paid: (1) A fee of fifty dollars ($50) for the initial issuance of the special license plates. These special license plates shall be permanent and shall not be required to be replaced. (2) A fee of forty dollars ($40) for each renewal of registration that includes the continued display of the special license plates. (3) If the special license plates become damaged or unserviceable, a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) for the replacement of the special license plates, obtained from the department upon proper application therefor. (4) A fee of fifteen dollars ($15) for the transfer of the special license plates to another vehicle qualifying as a vehicle owned by a firefighter who has met the requirements set forth in subdivision (b). (5) In addition, for the issuance of environmental license plates, as defined in Section 5103, with the special firefighter personal vehicle license plates and distinctive design or decal, the additional fees prescribed in Sections 5106 and 5108. The additional fees collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. (e) (1) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, their surviving spouse may retain the special license plates. Except as provided in paragraph (2), upon the death of the surviving spouse, the plates shall be returned to the department or destroyed within 60 days after the death of the surviving spouse or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (2) (A) In the absence of a surviving spouse or where the surviving spouse dies while in possession of the special license plates, a member of the deceased firefighter’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (f). (B) As used in this paragraph, “family” means grandparents, stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, stepchildren, natural-born children, or adopted children of the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a). (f) The special license plates issued under this section are not valid for use for vehicle registration purposes by a person other than the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that person. (g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “Surviving family member” means the spouse and any child, including an adopted child, stepchild, or recognized natural child of a deceased firefighter or deceased retired firefighter. “Surviving family member” does not include a former spouse. (2) “Spouse” includes a domestic partner in a domestic partnership as described in Section 297 of the Family Code. (h) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subdivision (d), the revenues derived from the additional special fees provided in this section, less costs incurred by the department pursuant to this section, shall be deposited in the California Firefighters’ Memorial Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund established by Section 18802 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.3. Section 5101.3.

(a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who qualifies under subdivision (b) may apply for special license plates that shall run in a separate numerical series and shall contain the words “Pearl Harbor Survivor.” The plates may be issued for any vehicle, except a vehicle used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit, or a motorcycle, which is owned or coowned by the person. (b) To qualify for issuance of the special plates, the applicant by satisfactory proof shall show all of the following: (1) The applicant was a member of the United States Armed Forces on December 7, 1941, and received an honorable discharge from military service. (2) The applicant was on station at Pearl Harbor, the Island of Oahu, or offshore within a distance of three miles, on December 7, 1941, during the hours of 7:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, as certified by a California chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. (c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. (d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.4. Section 5101.4.

(a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air Force Medal of Honor, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross may apply for special license plates for the vehicle under this article. (b) The applicant, by conclusive evidence, shall show that the applicant is a recipient of one of the nation’s highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a). (c) The special license plates issued under this section shall contain the words “Legion of Valor” and shall run in a regular numerical series. An adhesive sticker denoting which of the nation’s highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a), is held by the applicant shall be affixed in a recess provided for it on the license plates. (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. However, in the absence of a surviving spouse, another surviving member of the deceased medal recipient’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (g). (e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in possession of the special license plates, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration, whichever date occurs first. However, another surviving member of the deceased medal recipient’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (g). (f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. (g) The special license plates issued under this section are not valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes of Section 9105, or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, by a person other than the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that person. (h) For purposes of this section, “family” means grandparents, stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a).

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.5. Section 5101.5.

(a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a former American prisoner of war may apply for special license plates for the vehicle under this article. The special license plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series and contain a replica design of the American Prisoner of War Medal followed by the letters “POW” and four numbers. The special license plates issued under this subdivision also shall contain the following words: “Ex-Prisoner of War.” The department shall, pursuant to this article, reserve and issue the special license plates provided for by this section only to persons who show by satisfactory proof former prisoner-of-war status. A person otherwise issued license plates within this series pursuant to this article prior to January 1, 1982, may retain them. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans’ service organizations, shall design and make available for issuance pursuant to this article a special environmental design license plate for former American prisoners of war who prefer not to have their former status as a “POW” or “Ex-Prisoner of War” identified by words or other markings or symbols. This section is not intended to prohibit individuals eligible for the special license plate from selecting the existing license plate design specified in subdivision (a). The design criteria for a special interest license plate pursuant to this subdivision are as follows: (1) The license plate for a passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, or trailer shall provide a space not larger than two inches by three inches to the left of the numerical series and a space not larger than five-eighths of an inch in height below the numerical series for a distinctive design, decal, or descriptive message as authorized by this subdivision. The license plates shall be issued in sequential numerical order or, pursuant to Section 5103, in a combination of numbers or letters. (2) The license plate shall not identify “POW” or “Ex-Prisoner of War” by words or other markings or symbols. (c) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a former American prisoner of war. (d) Upon the death of a person issued the special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration, whichever date occurs first. However, in the absence of a surviving spouse, a member of the former prisoner of war’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (i), upon submitting an affidavit to the department agreeing not to attempt to use the special license plates for vehicle registration purposes. (e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in possession of the special license plates, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration, whichever date occurs first. However, a member of the former prisoner of war’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (i), upon submitting an affidavit to the department agreeing not to attempt to use the special license plates for vehicle registration purposes. (f) A vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall lose the exemption upon the death of the former American prisoner of war, except that if a surviving spouse elects to retain the special license plates as authorized under subdivision (d), the exemption pursuant to Section 9105, and Section 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall extend until the death of that spouse. (g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. (h) The department shall recall all former prisoner-of-war special license plates issued pursuant to this section prior to January 1, 1999, and shall issue to the holder of those special license plates, without charge, the revised special license plates authorized by this section. (i) The special license plates issued under this section are not valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes of Section 9105 or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code by a person other than the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that person. (j) For purposes of this section, “family” means grandparents, stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a).

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.6. Section 5101.6.

(a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient may apply for special license plates for the vehicle under this article. The special license plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series and shall have inscribed on the license plate the words “Congressional Medal of Honor” or “Medal of Honor.” The department shall reserve and issue the special license plates to all applicants providing the proof required by subdivision (b). (b) The applicant shall, by satisfactory proof, show that the applicant is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. (c) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration, whichever date occurs first. However, in the absence of a surviving spouse, a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (h), upon submitting an affidavit to the department agreeing not to attempt to use the special license plates for vehicle registration purposes. (e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in possession of the special license plates, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration, whichever date occurs first. However, a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (h), upon submitting an affidavit to the department agreeing not to attempt to use the special license plates for vehicle registration purposes. (f) A vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall lose the exemption upon the death of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, except that if a surviving spouse elects to retain the special license plates as authorized under subdivision (d), the exemption pursuant to Section 9105, and Section 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall extend until the death of that spouse. (g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. (h) The special license plates issued under this section are not valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes of Section 9105 or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code by a person other than the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that person. (i) For the purposes of this section, “family” means grandparents, stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a).

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.8. Section 5101.8.

(a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who is a Purple Heart recipient may apply for special license plates for vehicles that are not used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit, under this article. The special plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series, shall have inscribed on the plate the Purple Heart insignia, and shall contain the words “Combat Wounded” and “Purple Heart” or at least the letters “PH” as part of the numerical series. The department shall reserve and issue the special plates to all applicants providing the proof required by subdivision (b). (b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show that the applicant is a Purple Heart recipient. (c) Special plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Purple Heart recipient. (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle registration, whichever occurs first. However, in the absence of a surviving spouse, another surviving member of the deceased Purple Heart recipient’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (h). (e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in possession of the special license plates, the special license plates shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration, whichever date occurs first. However, another surviving member of the deceased Purple Heart recipient’s family may retain one of the special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (h). (f) When an applicant for the Purple Heart license plate qualifies as a disabled veteran, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 22511.55, the applicant may also apply for a distinguishing placard described in subdivision (a) of Section 22511.55 to be used in conjunction with the Purple Heart license plate for the purpose of allowing special parking privileges pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 22511.5. (g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section. (h) The special license plates issued under this section are not valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes of Section 9105, or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, by a person other than the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that person. (i) For purposes of this section, “family” means grandparents, stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license plates under subdivision (a).

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5101.9. Section 5101.9.

(a) Until December 31, 1991, any person described in Section 5101 may apply for a set of commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates and the department shall issue those special license plates in lieu of regular license plates. No commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates shall be issued pursuant to an application submitted on or after January 1, 1992, but the holder of those plates may thereafter renew or retain them, obtain substitute replacements for them, or transfer them to another vehicle, subject to this section. However, substitute replacement plates shall not be available on or after January 1, 1997. Thereafter, unless otherwise provided by law, regular series plates shall be issued for the fee provided in Section 9265 whenever substitute plates are required. (b) The commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates shall be of a distinctive design and shall be available in a special series of letters or numbers, or both, as determined by the department. (c) In addition to the regular fees for an original or renewal registration, the applicant shall be charged a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35). (d) Notwithstanding Section 9265, the applicant for substitute commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates shall be charged a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35). (e) Whenever any person who has been issued commemorative Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights reflectorized license plates applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another vehicle, a transfer fee of fifteen dollars ($15) shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees. (f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5102. Section 5102.

The environmental license plates shall be the same color and design as regular passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer license plates, and shall consist of any combination of numbers or letters, not exceeding seven positions and not less than two positions, if there are no conflicts with existing passenger, commercial, trailer, motorcycle, or special license plates series or with Section 4851.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5103. Section 5103.

“Environmental license plates,” as used in this article, means license plates or permanent trailer identification plates that have displayed upon them the registration number assigned to the passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer for which a registration number was issued in a combination of letters or numbers, or both, requested by the owner or lessee of the vehicle.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5104. Section 5104.

Environmental license plates shall be issued only to the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle on which they are to be displayed.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5105. Section 5105.

(a) An applicant for issuance of environmental license plates or renewal of such plates in the subsequent year pursuant to this article shall file an application therefor in such form and by such date as the department may require, indicating thereon the combination of letters or numbers, or both, requested as a registration number. There shall be no duplication of registration numbers, and the department may refuse to issue any combination of letters or numbers, or both, that may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which would be misleading or a duplication of license plates provided for in Article 8 (commencing with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3. (b) The department may cancel and order the return of any environmental license plate heretofore or hereafter issued, containing any combination of letters, or numbers, or both, which the department determines carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which would be misleading. Whenever the department orders any person to return any such environmental license plate containing any combination of letters or numbers, or both, which the department determines carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which would be misleading, the person so ordered may, in writing and within 10 days after receiving the order, demand a hearing, which shall be granted. The provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500), Part 1, Division 3, Title 2 of the Government Code, shall apply to hearings provided for in this subdivision. Any person ordered to return such plates shall either be reimbursed for any additional fees he paid for the plates pursuant to Section 5106 or 5108 for the registration year in which they are recalled, or be given, at no additional cost therefor, replacement environmental license plates, the issuance of which is in compliance with this code. (c) The department may cancel and order the return of any environmental license plate, without opportunity to be heard, as specified in subdivision (b) of this section, if the license plate issued is a duplication of license plates provided for in Article 8 (commencing with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 or if the fee specified under subdivision (c) of Section 5106 has not been paid.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5106. Section 5106.

(a) In addition to the regular registration fee or a permanent trailer identification fee, the applicant shall be charged a fee of fifty-three dollars ($53) for issuance of environmental license plates. (b) In addition to the regular renewal fee or a permanent trailer identification fee for the vehicle to which the plates are assigned, the applicant for a renewal of environmental license plates shall be charged an additional fee of forty-three dollars ($43). An applicant with a permanent trailer identification plate shall be charged an annual fee of forty-three dollars ($43) for renewal of environmental license plates. However, applicants for renewal of prisoner-of-war special license plates issued under Section 5101.5 shall not be charged the additional renewal fee under this subdivision. (c) When payment of renewal fees is not required as specified in Section 4000, the holder of any environmental license plate may retain the plate upon payment of an annual fee of forty-three dollars ($43). The fee shall be due at the expiration of the registration year of the vehicle to which the environmental license plate was last assigned. However, applicants for retention of prisoner-of-war special license plates issued under Section 5101.5 shall not be charged the additional retention fee under this subdivision. (d) Notwithstanding Section 9265, the applicant for a duplicate environmental license plate shall be charged a fee of forty-three dollars ($43). (e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2017.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5107. Section 5107.

(a) All revenue derived from the fees provided for in this article shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. (b) Not more than fifty cents ($0.50) of the amount collected from each applicant pursuant to Section 5106 on and after January 1, 1999, shall be set aside for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the appropriate agency for the purpose of increasing public awareness of the environmental license plate program.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5108. Section 5108.

(a) Whenever any person who has been issued environmental license plates applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, a transfer fee of forty-three dollars ($43) shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5109. Section 5109.

When any person who has been issued environmental license plates sells, trades, or otherwise releases ownership of the vehicle upon which the environmental license plates have been displayed, such person shall immediately report the transfer of such plates to an acquired passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, or trailer pursuant to Section 5108, unless such person determines to retain the plates pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5106.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5110. Section 5110.

(a) The director may adopt rules and regulations as necessary to carry out the purposes of this article. (b) Whenever two or more separate series of special plates are authorized under this article in a period of one year, the director shall coordinate the administrative and technical procedures for preparation and issuance of the plates in order to control costs to the maximum extent.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 5112. Section 5112.

(a) The department shall revise its Internet Web site to provide a direct link on the homepage to information on ordering environmental license plates. (b) The department may provide links on its Internet Web site to other Internet Web sites that have information regarding the protection and management of ocean and coastal resources and other programs that are supported with funds from the Environmental License Plate Fund. (c) When existing supplies of forms, publications, and signs have been depleted, or if those forms, publications, and signs are required to be revised in the normal course of operations, the department shall include in the replenishing supplies or the revised forms, publications, and signs, information regarding environmental license plates and the procedures for applying for those plates. This subdivision applies only to forms, publications, and signs, that advertise, facilitate the application for, or are an application for environmental license plates.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026