California electric vehicle users will no longer have access to carpool lanes.

Sacramento – End of Perks for Electric Vehicle Drivers

The benefits that California electric and low-emission vehicle drivers enjoyed are coming to an end. Starting October 1, the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced that the federal government hasn’t expanded the program, which means that drivers with clean vehicle decals can no longer use the carpool lanes solo.

These carpooling perks were introduced as a way to incentivize Californians to purchase clean, zero-emission vehicles. Over the past two decades, more than a million drivers have sought these decals. Currently, there are about 500,000 vehicles in the state with active decals, allowing their owners primary access to carpool lanes. However, last month, the DMV halted the issuance of new decals and indicated that the entire program might soon end.

For any expansion of the program, approval is needed from Congress and the President.

In a statement, a representative highlighted that “Trump’s traffic is on its way to California and other states as Republicans in Congress have chosen to let a significant bipartisan initiative lapse. This reflects a tendency to reduce effective programs instead of addressing real issues, while more governments are dedicated to genuine solutions.”

California is one of 13 states providing these kinds of benefits, which include vehicles powered by fuel cell electricity, natural gas, or plug-in electric systems.

Last year, Governor Newsom signed legislation extending the decal program to 2027, but his office remarked that continuation would be impossible without federal support. According to the California Energy Commission, one-quarter of the new vehicles sold in the state are zero-emission.

Once the program is officially over, electric and low-emission drivers can only utilize carpool lanes if they comply with the multi-occupancy requirements. Additionally, discounts available in certain locations will also end on October 1 for those holding decals.

California law indicates that drivers won’t be penalized for using carpool lanes with invalid decals for a 60-day grace period post-program expiration.

Steve Gordon, the director of the California DMV, commented, “Californians are striving to reduce their carbon footprint, and these decals have assisted countless drivers in being responsible stewards of our highways and the environment. The removal of this program poses a significant setback for hundreds of thousands of drivers in California. It’s a loss that calls for the federal government to reconsider maintaining this initiative.”