Clean Air Vehicle HOV Sticker Status
The white and green decals that let clean vehicles use carpool lanes with only a driver stopped working after September 30, 2025. Many pages online still describe the program as open.
The program ended on September 30, 2025 and was not renewed. California has no white or green Clean Air Vehicle decal to apply for now, and an old decal no longer allows you to drive alone in a carpool lane.
Select your decal type, if you have one, to see its status today.
Clean Air Vehicle Decal Status
Program Status
What happened to the program
The Clean Air Vehicle decal program let eligible battery-electric, fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles use HOV (carpool) lanes with only a driver. It depended on a federal authorization under 23 U.S.C. Section 166, and that authorization expired. California passed state legislation anticipating an extension through 2027, but an extension needs new federal approval, which Congress and USDOT have not given.
As a result, white decals (older zero-emission and fuel-cell vehicles) and green decals (newer plug-in hybrids) stopped granting carpool-lane access on October 1, 2025, and the DMV stopped issuing new ones. A decal still on your car has no legal effect. To use an HOV lane you need the same number of occupants as any other vehicle.
Congress or USDOT could revive the program, but don't plan around it unless it is reauthorized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal program still active?
No. The program ended September 30, 2025. White and green Clean Air Vehicle decals are no longer valid, and you can no longer apply for a new one.
Can I still drive solo in the carpool lane with my old decal?
No. As of October 1, 2025, a Clean Air Vehicle decal no longer allows single-occupant access to HOV/carpool lanes, even if the sticker is still physically on your car.
Why did the program end instead of being renewed?
The underlying federal authorization (23 U.S.C. Section 166) that lets states grant single-occupant HOV access to clean vehicles expired, and a new authorization for California requires federal approval that has not been granted, despite state legislation attempting to extend the program through 2027.
Will California's Clean Air Vehicle decal program come back?
Possibly, if Congress or USDOT grants the federal authorization. California has already passed state legislation anticipating an extension through 2027. For now there is no program to apply to and no set return date.
Do I still get any benefit for owning an EV in HOV lanes without a decal?
With two or more occupants, any vehicle can use an HOV lane whether or not it has a decal. The occupancy rule never depended on the decal program. The decal only mattered when you drove alone.
This tool provides an educational status update only and is not affiliated with the DMV or CARB. Check dmv.ca.gov directly for any future program changes.