As with any new vehicle being titled for the first time, a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) will accompany the application for title and registration. Under Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicles Program, certain vehicles are required to comply with emissions standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The Clean Vehicles Program applies only to vehicles meeting all three of these requirements:

• Model year 2008 or later
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds or less
• Odometer reading of less than 7,500 miles

If such a vehicle complies with the CARB standards, the MCO or MSO will have wording to indicate that the vehicle is certified as meeting CARB standards or is certified for sale in all 50 states. The exact wording on the MCO or MSO will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Note: PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services Update Bulletin Number 07-05, dated May 2007, states that the notation EMISSIONS: FEDERAL identifies a vehicle as NOT meeting the CARB certification requirement for Pennsylvania's program. Unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption on Form MV-9, the application for title will be rejected.

Dealers, agents and PennDOT personnel are required to verify that an MCO or MSO includes an acceptable certification statement before completing the application. When an MCO or MSO submitted with the application has the proper wording, Form MV-9 is not required.

More information is available on PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services Web site. Click Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program to read the new standards for titling model year 2008 and newer vehicles.

Q. Is it okay for someone in my office to use my notary stamp, if I give them permission?

A. NO! You could lose your notarial commission and your coworker could go to jail.

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All agents and messengers who are under contract with PennDOT are required to have an electronic mail address (E-mail address) and to provide that E-mail address to PennDOT. PennDOT sends important information, such as the Driver and Vehicle Services Newsletter, to agents and messengers only via E-mail.

If you have not previously submitted your E-mail address, or you recently changed your E-mail address, send a message to dvsnewsletter@state.pa.us. The message must contain your E-mail address, business name and Dealer Identification Number (DIN).

Please be advised that failure to comply with this request may result in the suspension or termination of your contract.

The following is from PennDOT's May 2007 Driver and Vehicle Services Update Bulletin Number 07-05:

"Effective July 1, 2007, PennDOT will require all agent services to pay shipping and handling charges for the mailing of form orders. Form MV-511B is being revised to include the price of shipping and handling on the amount of forms being ordered and only those forms that can be ordered. All other forms should continue to be downloaded from our Web site.

"All form orders to be mailed, received on or after July 1, 2007, without the shipping and handling fee will not be filled. Please be advised that form orders may still be picked up at the the Department or may still be carried through a messenger service and no shipping and handling fee will be charged.

"NOTE: The Department reserves the right to limit orders of forms according to quantities ordered."