California EV drivers to lose solo carpool access in October: What to know

Bad news for electric vehicle owners in California.

The California DMV is reminding drivers that federal regulations authorizing Clean Air Vehicle decals, which allowed qualifying cars to use carpool lanes with a single occupant or pay reduced toll rates in some areas, will expire on Sept. 30.

Starting Oct. 1, vehicles with the decals must follow posted occupancy requirements in high-occupancy vehicle lanes or risk a citation.

The decals were valid for up to four years, but the federal government’s decision to end the program means all decals will become invalid on Oct. 1, regardless of when they were issued.

The DMV stopped accepting new decal applications on Aug. 29.

HOV lane access for single-occupant clean-air vehicles in California was first authorized in 1999 and last reauthorized in 2017. The DMV began issuing Clean Air Vehicle decals under the current program on Jan. 1, 2019. Over 1 million decals have been issued.

“Californians are committed to lowering their carbon footprint, and these decals helped drivers be good stewards of our highways and environment. By taking away this program, hundreds of thousands of California drivers will pay the price. It’s a lose-lose, and we urge the federal government to retain this program,” Gordon said in a statement.

To spread the word, Caltrans will post roadside messages reading:
CLEAN AIR DECALS
NOT VALID
STARTING OCT 1

The DMV will notify affected drivers directly by email, while notices are also posted at DMV offices, on the agency’s website and across social media.