California EV Drivers About to Lose Carpool Lane Privileges
If you drive an electric vehicle in California, one of your biggest perks is about to vanish. Starting October 1, 2025, Clean Air Vehicle decals will no longer grant solo drivers access to carpool lanes.
For the past 25 years, EV owners with the proper decal could cruise past traffic in the HOV lanes—even when driving alone. But that program is officially coming to an end.
The change stems from federal law. According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), extending the program required federal approval under Section 166 of Title 23 of the U.S. Code. No such approval was granted, so California has no choice but to retire the decals.
CARB confirmed that the last day to order a decal was August 29, and the stickers will expire on September 30. That means about 500,000 vehicles currently enjoying the perk will lose it overnight.
After October 1, all vehicles—EVs included—must meet standard carpool lane rules. That means carrying the required number of passengers or paying tolls where applicable. The California Highway Patrol and local toll authorities will handle enforcement.
Drivers won’t be hit immediately, though. CHP has said that there’s a 60-day grace period after the program ends, meaning no citations for decal violations until the end of November.
California officials have expressed disappointment. CARB notes that extending HOV access for zero-emission vehicles was one of the recommendations in a recent report to Governor Gavin Newsom. But without federal approval, the program simply can’t continue.
Over its 25-year lifespan, more than 1.2 million decals were issued. And while the program helped accelerate EV adoption, CARB admits its environmental impact has shrunk as clean-air vehicles became far more common on California roads.
So if you’re used to zipping by rush-hour traffic with your decal, prepare to join the rest of us in the slow lane—or start recruiting some carpool buddies.
Frank
