The amount of a vehicle(s) value that may be exempted from the asset test is specified by the rule-group Vehicle Exemption Rules. This group consists of three state-level rules: VE_Unit, VE_Type, and VE_Amount, which together define one exemption method for a state. A state may have more than one method of exemption, in which case they are applied in the order they are listed. VE_Unit specifies the type of TANF unit that the exemption applies to, VE_Type specifies which vehicle(s) the exemption applies to, and VE_Amount specifies the amount that can be exempted (see the dictionary definitions of each rule in the group to see the specific values these rules can take).

Two points are important to note in coding and using these rules. First, the variable that provides vehicle values can give the value for only one vehicle per person; thus, the rules are not designed to capture the treatment of vehicles when there is more than one vehicle per person. Second, in cases when it is not possible to capture the policies exactly, they are generally coded in a way to create a correct outcome for the following types of families: one-adult or two-adult families in which the vehicles are used to get to a job or look for a job, and no teenage children in the family have cars.

Examples

Assume these rules have the following values for California:

VE_Unit	VE_Type	VE_Amount
All units	Only most expensive vehicle	999,999

This means that for California, all TANF units may exempt up to $999,999 of the value of their most expensive vehicle from their measure of assets, but the full value of all their remaining vehicles must be added to their asset measure. The exemption amount of $999,999 in effect exempts the full value of the vehicle.

Assume these rules have the following values for New York:

VE_Unit	VE_Type	VE_Amount
All units	Only most expensive vehicle	2000
Two Parent units (married only)	Only 2nd most expensive vehicle	1000

This means that in New York, all units can exempt $2000 of their most expensive vehicle (but the rest of the value gets counted towards their assets). Furthermore, married two-parent units can also exempt up to $1000 of their 2nd-most expensive vehicle (if any).

Assume these rules have the following values for Texas:

VE_Unit	VE_Type	VE_Amount
Two Parent units (any kind)	Combined value of 2 most expensive vehicles	2000
Single Parent Units	Each vehicle	1000

This means that in Texas, all two-parent units (married or not) may exempt up to $2000 from the combined value of their first and second (if any) most expensive vehicles. Note that this is different from exempting $2000 from their first vehicle and $2000 from their second vehicle. All other units (i.e. single-parent units), rather than being able to exempt $2000 from the combined value of their first two vehicles, are instead able to exempt up to $1000 from the value of each of their vehicles (regardless of how many they have).