Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) displaying the Virginia Clean Special Fuel license plate may use Virginia HOV lanes on specified areas of I-64, I-264, the Dulles Toll Road, and in the City of Alexandria, regardless of the number of occupants. For HOV lanes serving the I-66 corridor, only registered vehicles displaying Clean Special Fuel license plates issued before July 1, 2011, are exempt from HOV lane requirements. Only dedicated AFVs are eligible; see the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website for a complete list of qualifying vehicles. The annual fee for Clean Special Fuel license plates is $25 in addition to the prescribed fee for commonwealth license plates. This exemption expires September 30, 2025. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Transportation HOV Lanes website. (Reference Virginia Code 33.2-501 and 46.2-749.3)

Idle Reduction and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Weight Exemption

Any motor vehicle equipped with an auxiliary power unit or other idle reduction technology may exceed the gross, single axle, tandem axle, or bridge formula weight limits by up to 550 pounds (lbs.) to compensate for the added weight of the idle reduction technology. Furthermore, any natural gas or electric vehicle may exceed the limits by up to 2,000 lbs. To be eligible for the weight exemption, certification of the weight of the auxiliary power unit or proof that the vehicle operates on natural gas, and a demonstration that the vehicle is fully functional must be available to law enforcement officials.

(Reference Virginia Code 46.2-1129.1 through 46.2-1129.2)

Biofuel Feedstock Registration Exemption

Individuals that transport waste kitchen grease for conversion to biofuel are exempt from both the Virginia Department of Health registration and the associated annual application fee. This exemption applies to individuals transporting the waste kitchen grease for their own consumption in a container with a capacity of no more than 275 gallons, and to kitchen grease transportation to a biofuel production facility. Eligible facilities may not have a production capacity over 500 gallons per day of biofuel nor possess or control more than 1,320 gallons of kitchen grease, biofuel feedstock derived from kitchen grease, or biofuel at any one time. Other restrictions and requirements apply. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website. (Reference Virginia Code 3.2-5508 through 3.2-5516)

Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Emissions Testing Exemption

Vehicles powered exclusively by natural gas, propane, hydrogen, a combination of compressed natural gas and hydrogen, or electricity are exempt from the Virginia emissions inspection program. Qualified HEVs with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings of at least 50 miles per gallon (city) are also exempt from the emissions inspection program unless remote sensing devices indicate the HEV may not meet current emissions standards. For more information, including a list of HEVs that qualify, see the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Emissions Inspections website. (Reference Virginia Code 46.2-1177 through 46.2-1178 and 46.2-749.3)

Alternative Fuel Tax Exemption

Alternative fuel is exempt from taxes if it is sold to a government entity for its exclusive use, a non-profit charitable organization for the purpose of providing charitable services for low-income medical patients, or produced by an agricultural operation and used exclusively for farm use or vehicles of that producer. (Reference Virginia Code 58.1-2250)