California,Hawaii End Solo EV HOV Lane Access October 2025

Electric vehicle drivers in California and Hawaii are set to lose their ability to drive solo in high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes starting September 30, 2025, as federal legislation allowing this privilege is expiring. California's Clean Air Vehicle decal program, which has granted over 1.1 million EV drivers solo HOV lane access since 1999, will end unless Congress and President Trump extend it, but experts doubt such action will be taken. Similarly, Hawaii will no longer allow single-occupant EVs in HOV lanes during restricted hours, following the expiration of a federal rule that had permitted this since 2005. Both states emphasize that the change aims to reduce congestion in HOV lanes, which have become overcrowded due to the surge in EVs, thereby restoring the lanes' original purpose of encouraging carpooling. Hawaii plans to keep its EV exemption rules on standby should the federal provision be renewed. This expiration affects not only California and Hawaii but also 13 other states with similar programs, potentially impacting millions of drivers nationwide.