In 2025, drivers with the “California Clean Air” decal may lose the privilege of using the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes for non-commercial purposes after September 30th, unless the federal government approves an extension.
According to data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in March last year, over 411,000 vehicles in California have the CAV decal – the Clean Air Vehicle Decal program allows low-emission and zero-emission vehicles to drive solo in the shared HOV lanes after obtaining the decal.
Although Governor Newsom signed the new AB2678 law last September extending the decal program to January 1, 2027, federal approval is still required. It is currently unclear whether the federal government will allow states to extend the program within the next nine months. President-elect Trump believes that climate change is a hoax and his government will curb excessive reliance on electric vehicles, potentially terminating incentives for electric vehicles like the $7,500 tax credit, but has not mentioned the decal program.
For over twenty years, California has implemented a “sticker program” through legislation, encouraging residents to purchase electric vehicles and phase out traditional fuel vehicles, while also increasing revenue for the DMV (application fees). From 2000 to 2017, the DMV issued an unlimited number of white stickers, typically applicable to 100% electric vehicles or certain alternative fuel vehicles – they must meet California’s ultra-low emission standards and federal low emission standards. The white stickers expired on January 1, 2019.
From 2004 to 2011, the yellow sticker program included hybrid electric vehicles, but only for the first 85,000 applicants, with an expiration date of 2011. From 2012 to January 2019, the green sticker program included plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
In 2017, California passed AB544, stipulating that stickers issued before 2017 would expire on January 1, 2019; those issued between 2017 and 2018 would expire on January 1, 2022; and in 2018, red stickers were issued. This law also created the Clean Air Vehicle Decal program, which expires on September 30, 2025. Whether one can obtain the decal may depend on the applicant’s annual income, vehicle type, and whether it is their first application; some second-hand car owners are also allowed to apply.
Many drivers purchase electric or hybrid vehicles to expedite their commute. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a 2016 study by the UCLA Luskin Center showed that 40% of electric vehicle buyers did so to be able to use the HOV lanes.
However, some drivers argue that entering the HOV lanes still faces congestion. Throughout the day, especially during peak hours, when checking online for traffic conditions in Southern California, one often sees red lines representing traffic congestion. According to NBC7, San Diego County resident Ali Chitsaz mentioned that many people get stuck in the fast lanes, so “these lanes should be more favorable (fast).”
It remains unclear how removing solo drivers from the HOV lanes will impact overall traffic in California. A report from the California Department of Transportation in May 2024 stated that Los Angeles County had the most clean air vehicles in 2023 (over 84,000), but not all vehicles had the decal. In 2024, approximately 100,000 drivers throughout the state obtained clean air vehicle decals, benefiting nearly 500,000 drivers.
The discontinuation of the decal program may encourage people to return to carpooling or choose to use toll roads. According to the California Department of Transportation, in 2023, there were approximately 1,557 miles of HOV lanes and about 565 miles of toll roads in the state.