Why Motorhome Owners Are Getting Testing Notices Every 6 Months

The Common Cause: A Missed Motorhome Declaration

When a vehicle is first added to a Clean Truck Check account, the owner (or whoever sets up the account) must explicitly declare the vehicle as a motorhome by checking the appropriate box in the system.

If that box is not checked, the CARB system automatically treats the vehicle as a commercial diesel truck.

That single oversight can trigger incorrect testing requirements.

What Happens When the Box Isn’t Checked

If the vehicle is not identified as a motorhome:

• The system classifies it as a commercial vehicle

• The testing frequency defaults to every 6 months

• The owner receives semi-annual testing notices that are not normally required for motorhomes

• Ignoring the notices can lead to registration holds or late fees

Motorhomes, when properly declared, are subject to annual testing, not semi-annual testing.

Why This Happens So Often

This issue is common because:

• Many owners set up their Clean Truck Check account themselves

• The motorhome designation is easy to miss during account setup

• DMV registration does not automatically correct Clean Truck Check classifications

The system relies on how the vehicle is declared—not how it looks or is registered elsewhere.

How to Fix It

In most cases, the issue can be resolved by:

1. Updating the vehicle classification in the Clean Truck Check account

2. Properly declaring the vehicle as a motorhome

3. Submit the updated form in your CTC account

   
   

Once corrected, future notices typically return to an annual testing cycle. Even if the notice is incorrect, ignoring it can cause problems. The system will continue issuing notices until the account is corrected, which can affect registration status and create unnecessary compliance issues.

If you own a motorhome and are receiving testing notices every six months, the most likely cause is an incorrect vehicle classification in your Clean Truck Check account.

A single missed checkbox can put a motorhome on a commercial testing schedule—but it’s usually fixable once identified.