Statewide — The California Department of Motor Vehicles says a federal rule that authorized states to issue Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decals will expire Sept. 30, 2025, ending solo-driver access to carpool lanes for vehicles displaying the stickers. Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, decals will no longer be valid in California or anywhere else in the United States.
The change means vehicles with CAV decals can no longer use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes with a single occupant or receive reduced toll rates tied to the program. All motorists must meet posted occupancy requirements and pay standard tolls starting Oct. 1 or risk a citation, according to the DMV. The department stopped accepting applications for new decals on Aug. 29, 2025.
“This has been a great program for climate-conscious Californians,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said, noting the state has issued more than one million decals since the program began. “By taking away this program, hundreds of thousands of California’s drivers will pay the price. It’s a lose-lose and we urge the federal government to retain this program.”
While CAV decals have been valid for up to four years, the federal sunset overrides those timelines. All decals become invalid Oct. 1, regardless of the date of issue. Under the current framework, implemented Jan. 1, 2019, decals were scheduled to expire on Jan. 1 of the fourth year after issuance. For example, a sticker issued any time in 2021 would have expired Jan. 1, 2025. The federal phase-out compresses those dates and renders remaining decals unusable immediately after Sept. 30.
California’s HOV access for single-occupant clean vehicles dates back to 1999, with the most recent reauthorization passed in 2017. The initiative aimed to accelerate adoption of cleaner technologies by offering time-saving lane access and, in some corridors, discounted tolls. DMV officials say the policy helped normalize lower-emission driving habits and contributed to a broader shift toward electric and hybrid vehicles.
To prepare drivers for the transition, DMV field offices have begun posting notices, and the agency has added a banner to its website outlining the change. Customers with email addresses on file will receive direct notifications, and the department plans ongoing reminders on social media.
Law enforcement agencies and toll operators are expected to enforce occupancy and fee rules uniformly after the deadline. Motorists are advised to check corridor-specific signage and toll program websites for any local updates, but state officials stress that CAV decals will provide no special privileges after Sept. 30.
The DMV said it has no authority to extend or replace the program absent new federal authorization. For now, drivers who relied on the decals should plan alternate commute strategies—carpooling to meet HOV requirements, adjusting travel times, or exploring transit options—as California aligns with the federal sunset of the long-running incentive.
