Rumors are flying around California’s so-called “RV Ban,” aka the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulations, leaving lots of campers wondering how it may impact them. So, it’s a good time to clear the air on the recent California RV regulations.
First, if you need you’re feeling anxious, take a big breath. Let it out. Stay calm. Hear the good news upfront: This isn’t going to affect your trip to Joshua Tree National Park. The recent California RV regulations don’t ban RVs or RV sales— or even RV propane stoves for that matter. There’s no need to panic. You can still drive your RV anywhere in the state, just as you always have, or perhaps dreamed of!
On another level, clearing the air is exactly what these regulations are all about. ACT is trying to tackle the largest emissions currently on the nearly 400,000 miles of road in The Golden State. California is the nation’s most populous state at over 39 million people and has 31.1 million vehicles registered. (Over half of which are trucks.) The goal is to transition all new heavy and medium duty trucks to a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) platform by 2036.
Clearing the Air on the ACT Regulations
The state of California, with recommendations from the California Air Resource Board (CARB), passed regulations under the Advanced Clean Trucks in 2021. The regulations address medium and heavy-duty trucks emissions through regulations on the sale of vehicles built on large chassis. While this mostly impacts trucks, a few larger motorhomes also qualify. Even though RVs make up only a small fraction of all types on the road today, they are still within the weight limits.
One crucial detail to point out is that ACT only applies to new vehicles starting with the 2024 model year. If you already own a larger motorhome or self-driven RV, California won’t come knocking. Even if you’re relocating to California, unless your big rig has less than 7,500 miles, it’s not considered new. So, registering it in CA won’t be an issue.
Which Types of RVs Are Impacted?
While a lot of discussion has centered on the largest motorcoaches, Class As and some models of Class C, the Advanced Clean Truck regulations have clear-cut rules based upon gross vehicle weight ratio (GVWR). Any gas vehicle with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds or more are included. That means that many Class B camper vans are also included. (Again, this applies only to vehicles sold and registered in California with a model year of 2024 and later.)
While towable RVs sell in greater numbers than self-driven RVs, Class As, Bs, and Cs are unlikely to disappear from RV dealership lots. RV dealerships can continue to sell gas-powered motorhomes, provided those coaches comply with the ACT regulations. RVs that do meet these conditions will be clearly labeled so that the consumer will know that they meet the necessary requirements.
How Industries Are Adapting
Of course, it’s not just the RV industry that is feeling it. The trucking industry, school buses, tow trucks, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles are also being impacted However, according to CARB, many vehicle manufacturers are already ahead of the game. Many have even met their sales quotas two years ahead of schedule.)(Want to learn fact from fiction? Check out CARB’s Myth busting data sheet.)
As of 2025, only seven to 11 percent of all vehicle sales need to be ZEV, so that manufacturers can focus on one line of vehicles in production before updating another. What this means is that certain manufacturers can purchase credits from other manufacturers who have met and exceeded their quota. This provides greater flexibility within the regulations to continue to plan for a later transition.
Which Other States Have Adopted CARB’s Recommendations?
Along with California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington are following suit with the CARB recommendations. While several of these states are still in ongoing discussion and negotiations, it’s important that you look into the current state of affairs in those states. Some aren’t implementing these regulations until 2026 or 2027. Registering new models in these states will likely mean adhering to the same requirements as the California RV regulations.
What if I Own an Older Model Motorhome?
Most states already have emissions requirements for any gas-powered vehicle, whether it has a sleeping/living space in it or not. In California, all larger vehicles (18,000 pounds GVWR) that are registered in the state have had to conform to the Clean Truck Check since 2021, which does apply to many self-driven motorhomes regardless of model year and currently costs $31 (2025).
Neither California, nor any of the states currently adopting these CARB regulations, are banning RVs — small, medium, or the size of a small apartment. They are simply trying to put a plan in place to phase in a greater share of zero emission vehicles, while still keeping many diesel and gas-powered vehicles on the road. Your current model should still serve you for years to come. This is a future in which we can all breathe a little easier!
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