DEF Application and Fees
An API Diesel Exhaust Fluid Certification is a marketer’s testament to its conviction to the environment, its assurance of quality, and its dedication to helping industry meet the EPA diesel engine emissions requirements. With an API Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) License, a marketer shows its customers first-hand that it believes in manufacturing DEF that meets rigorous industry requirements for DEF purity. The use of the marks also identifies the DEF marketer as the marketing organization responsible for the integrity of a brand name and the representation of the branded product in the marketplace.
The license application requires the applicant to certify that its product meet Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Marine Diesel Exhaust Fluid Program requirements. To become licensed, applicants must complete the following steps:
- Register at my.API.org
- Verify email address
- Enter company information
- Add a product and select the type of DEF product to be licensed (DEF or Marine DEF)
- Complete product information for the fluid or fluids to be licensed (brand names, supplier information, and traceability codes for packaged products). Note that API will not allow licensed company names or brand names that contain any reference to API, ISO, or any terms that infer API endorsement (for example, the terms “certified,” “approved,” “licensed,” “accredited,” “endorsed,” “qualified,” “verified,” etc.).
- Complete detailed formulation information (physical and chemical properties)
- Upload supporting test documentation
- Submit the product
- Sign the API License Agreement
- Generate an application invoice
- Pay the application fee and enter necessary payment information
- Add additional products as necessary
For help with a DEF application or an account, you can download the DEF User Guide.
Please be aware, the online system will not permit an invoice to be generated until at least one DEF product has been submitted for API review. API reviews applications only after full payment has been received.
An applicant may not display the API Diesel Exhaust Fluid Certification Mark or API Marine Diesel Exhaust Fluid Certification Mark on any product or refer to the fluid as API certified, licensed or approved until the applicant has signed the legal agreement, paid the application fee, and received notice from the API online system that the product has been licensed.
API assesses an application fee of $8,000 USD for all new applicants. Payment of this application fee enables the marketer to apply for either a DEF or Marine DEF license or both and the marketer may submit applications for as many products as desired at no extra cost.
API assesses an annual renewal fee of $8,000 USD. Licensees must renew annually before the license expires on March 31.
API also assesses an annual royalty fee of $0.00075 per US gallon of API-licensed BULK DEF reported and $0.001 per US gallon of API-licensed PACKAGED DEF reported. As part of the renewal process, the licensee must submit each of the respective volumes of API-licensed DEF sold during the previous calendar year of licensing. If licensed in both programs, the licensee must report the volumes of DEF and Marine DEF separately. The licensee will be able to submit volumes and complete the renewal after January 1 of each year.
Licensing fees go toward helping API:
- Certify DEF against industry-recognized standards
- Monitor the quality of API-certified DEF in the marketplace
- Maintain a Directory of Licensees online in real-time
- Enforce DEF licensing program requirements
The new DEF fee structure—effective January 1, 2025—is shown below and can be downloaded. Licensing fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
| Fee Type | Fee (USD) |
| License application fee (DEF and Marine DEF brands) | $8,000 |
| License renewal fee (DEF and Marine DEF brands) | $8,000 |
| Additional renewal fee based on PACKAGED volume | $0.001 per US gal |
| Additional renewal fee based on BULK volume | $0.00075 per US gal |
| At time of annual license renewal, licensee must report volume of API-licensed DEF sold during the previous year. API assesses $0.001 per gallon fee on each gallon for packaged product and $0.00075 per gallon fee on each gallon for bulk product. All API-licensed DEF brands, whether sold in packages or in bulk, must be counted in the volume reported. | |
[Note that the application and renewal fees are per license, not per product. For example, if a marketer submits an application for DEF product (of either DEF product type), the application fee is $8,000. If the marketer submits an application for more than one DEF product (of any DEF product type), the application fee is still just $8,000.]
Effective April 1, 2025, API is implementing a late fee that will offset the resources incurred by API to process renewals after the annual expiration date of March 31. API will institute a late fee in the amount of $1,000.00 to companies who have not completed their renewal and paid all renewal fees by that date, in accordance with the legal agreement.
Every license issued is testament to your conviction to the environment, your assurance of quality, and your dedication to meeting EPA diesel engine emissions requirements. With an API DEF License, you can show your customers first-hand that you believe in manufacturing DEF that meets rigorous industry requirements for DEF performance.
