End of an Era: Solo EV Drivers Stripped of Carpool Lane Access
California's Clean Air Vehicle Decal Program Officially Expires SACRAMENTO — After more than two decades of incentivizing electric and hybrid vehicle adoption, California's Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal program officially ended on September 30, 2025, leaving hundreds of thousands of drivers without their coveted carpool lane privileges. Starting October 1, all CAV decals became invalid, meaning solo drivers of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell cars must now meet posted occupancy requirements to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes or risk receiving citations. The change affects more than 528,000 registered vehicles with active decals across the state as of December 2024. Federal Authorization Expires Despite California's Extension Efforts The program's demise stems from a federal "sunset provision" in Section 166 of Title 23 of the United States Code, which required congressional authorization for states to continue ...