Washington’s Clean Car Law
With 2009 cars now on the market, Washington State residents in looking to purchase a new car have the new Clean Car Law to think about in making their purchase. This new regulation provides stricter requirements than the Federal Emissions Guidelines.
In an effort to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases from cars and trucks, along with the health problems and climate change that they cause, the state patterned this regulation after laws in nearby Oregon and California. The Clean Car Law requires all 2009 model cars to meet strict clean air standards to be registered, leased, rented, licensed, or sold for use in the State of Washington. The law applies to cars, light duty trucks, SUV’s, and passenger vans.
This act shouldn’t present any barrier to customers that are car shopping in the state, as auto makers are required to only sell vehicle that comply with clean car standards.
But for out of state shoppers, it may mean that the model you want will not be legal for use within the state. If you buy a car out of state that does not meet the standards of the law, you will not be able to register, license, rent, or sell it for us in the state. So if you’re going shopping out of state, consider Oregon or California. Vehicles purchased there comply with the requirements of Washington’s law.
It is the buyer’s responsibility to make sure that the car meets the new standards, so you may want to take a check at this list of green car models to see if you’re headed for a problem.
The law does not affect cars already owned and registered in the state, and applies to 2009 models and newer.
Photo credit: SXC
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