Federal Government Ends Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) Decal Program – California DMV

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Contact: Office of Public Affairs2415 First AvenueSacramento, CA 95818(916) 657-6437 | [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2025

CAV decals will no longer be valid starting October 1

What you need to know: The federal government will no longer allow states to issue Clean Air Vehicle decals. This means that starting October 1, vehicles displaying a Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal will no longer be allowed to travel in carpool High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes with a single occupant or receive reduced toll rates in some areas. All cars must follow posted vehicle occupancy requirements. Drivers who violate the law may receive a citation. The DMV stopped accepting applications for CAV decals on August 29.

Sacramento - California Department of Motor Vehicles today announced that the federal regulations that allowed states to issue Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decals will expire on September 30, 2025. Putting the brakes on this program means that starting October 1, 2025, CAV decals will no longer be valid in California, or elsewhere in the United States. All vehicles will be required to meet posted vehicle occupancy to travel in carpool lanes and pay required tolls or risk receiving a citation.

While CAV decals were good for up to four years, the federal government's decision not to extend the program makes ALL decals invalid as of October 1, regardless of the date they were issued.

With the end of this federal program, the DMV can no longer issue CAV decals that allow vehicles to travel in carpool lanes with only one occupant. DMV stopped processing new CAV decals after August 29, 2025.

"This is a great program for climate-conscious Californians," said Director Steve Gordon. "We have issued over one million decals since this program was approved, which has helped to foster a change in how we drive. Californians are committed to lowering their carbon footprint and these decals helped drivers be good stewards of our highways and environment. 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."

DMV offices are displaying information about the end of the federal CAV decal program and a notice has been posted on the DMV website. The DMV will directly notify customers who have an email address on file with the department. In addition, social media posts will remind customers of the program's expiration.

To inform drivers of this change, Caltrans will post the following messaging on its electronic road signage:

CLEAN AIR DECALS

NOT VALID

STARTING OCT 1

Background

HOV lane access for single-occupant clean vehicles in California was first authorized in 1999, with the most recent reauthorization of the program coming in 2017. The California DMV began issuing Clean Air Vehicle decals to qualifying vehicles under the current program on January 1, 2019.CAV decals expired on January 1st of the fourth year after they were issued. This means they would have been valid for three full years, plus any additional months during the year they were issued. For example, if a CAV decal was issued at any time in 2021, it expired on January 1, 2025. Now, all CAV decals will be invalid as of October 1, 2025.

Before Going to an Office - Try Online First

Most DMV tasks do not require an office visit. The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels to complete transactions, such as eligible driver's license and vehicle registration renewals. Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn about options to complete DMV tasks.

Go Paperless - To sign up for paperless vehicle registration and driver's license renewal notices, sign in or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov to opt in.

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