Molly Ayala
California offers carpool stickers, officially known as Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decals, to drivers of electric vehicles. These stickers allow drivers to use the carpool lane without having another passenger in the car. To obtain a carpool sticker, drivers must first determine if their vehicle is eligible. If eligible, drivers must then complete and submit an application form, along with a fee, to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV will then review the application and notify the driver if they have been approved for a carpool sticker. While the carpool sticker program has been a successful incentive for electric vehicle adoption in California, there are concerns about its effectiveness in reducing traffic congestion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Administering body | California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Application fee | $22 |
| Additional payment processing fee | 1.95% for credit/debit card transactions |
| Application form | Clean Air Vehicle Decal application |
| Application address | Address contained on the form |
| Application processing time | Up to 30 days |
| Application requirements | Vehicle must be a new plug-in vehicle and/or have never been issued a different-coloured sticker before |
| Application sections | 1. Vehicle registration name and address; 2. Original decals; 3. Telephone number and signature |
| Application notes | Name on the application must match the name on the registration card; telephone number and signature are required |
| Eligibility | Vehicle must meet specified emissions standards; must be on the official list of qualifying vehicles; must not have temporary or paper license plates |
| Restrictions | Decals are issued to the vehicle and cannot be transferred; vehicles with expired decals are no longer eligible; carpool lane access may be restricted by the California Department of Transportation (DOT) or federal authorities if CAVs carrying fewer occupants are causing increased traffic congestion or decreased travel speeds |
| Decal fee | $27 |
| Decal validity | Decals expire |
| Income eligibility | Household income must be less than $65,777 per year (for lower-income drivers) |
| Income eligibility notes | If gross annual income is above specified thresholds, applicants may have to choose between a CAV decal and a CVRP rebate |
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What You'll Learn
Check if your vehicle is eligible for a carpool sticker
To check if your vehicle is eligible for a California carpool sticker, you can call 1-800-242-4450 or check online. The online list provides eligible vehicle makes and models dating back to 1998.
New electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles all qualify for carpool stickers. However, if you purchased a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle on or after January 1, 2018, and your gross annual income is above a certain threshold, you cannot be issued a carpool sticker if you have received a consumer rebate through CARB's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP).
The California Air Resources Board publishes a complete list of vehicles eligible for the California Carpool Sticker. The list of vehicles that qualify for the new CAV stickers is determined by the Air Resources Board of the State of California.
To qualify for a new carpool sticker, you must have a new plug-in vehicle and/or have never applied for or been issued a different color sticker in the past. Vehicles that were issued CAV decals prior to 2017 are no longer eligible to receive carpool stickers under the new CAV decals program.
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Complete the Clean Air Vehicle Decal application
To complete the Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal application, you must first ensure that your vehicle meets the specified emissions standards. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) establishes the official list of eligible vehicles based on their emissions. New electric vehicles, plugin hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles all qualify for carpool stickers.
Secondly, only the registered owner of the vehicle can apply for a CAV decal. If you have recently purchased the vehicle, wait until you receive your permanent license plates before applying for a CAV decal, as vehicles with temporary or paper license plates are not eligible.
Next, you must ensure that your current mailing address matches the address on your vehicle registration. If it does not, update your address and allow three days for processing.
Then, you must be prepared to pay the $27 CAV decal fee. Credit and debit card transactions include an additional 1.95% payment processing fee, so it may be preferable to pay directly from your bank account.
Finally, you can complete the CAV decal application online via the California DMV website or through third-party websites such as DocHub, which allows you to edit, sign, and share the application online for free. The online application will automatically check your eligibility. Alternatively, you can refer to the eligibility criteria listed on the California DMV website.
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Submit the application to the correct address
Once you have completed the application form for a California carpool sticker, you will need to submit it to the correct address. This address should be listed on the application form itself. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the body responsible for issuing all Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decals in the state, and so the application will need to be sent to the DMV office.
The DMV will then process your application and check your eligibility. If your vehicle is eligible for a CAV decal, you will receive a decal and an ID card in the mail. This usually takes around 21 days, but it can take up to 30 days to hear back from the DMV.
It is important to note that you should not drive in the carpool lane without a passenger until you have received official confirmation that your application has been approved. Driving in the carpool lane without a CAV decal or with an expired decal is illegal and can result in a fine.
The CAV decal program is run by the DMV in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB maintains an official list of all qualifying vehicles, which can be found on their website. It is important to check this list before submitting your application to ensure that your vehicle is eligible for a CAV decal.
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Pay the $22 application fee
To apply for a California carpool sticker, officially known as a Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal, you will need to pay a $22 application fee. This is a relatively small amount compared to the benefits of being an electric car owner in California.
The application process for a CAV decal is straightforward. You can complete the application form online or by post. The form can be found in PDF format on the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website. The DMV is the body responsible for issuing all CAV decals in California.
The application form will ask for your vehicle's data, including the registration name and address. It is important to ensure that the name and address on the application form match the details on your vehicle's registration records. If you acquired the car from a private dealer, you must wait until the transfer of ownership is complete before submitting your application. Only the legal owner of the car is permitted to apply for a CAV decal.
In addition to the vehicle's information, you will also need to provide your personal telephone number and an original signature. If you are applying for a carpool sticker for a company or business vehicle, you must include the name of the company or business and a countersignature from a company representative.
It is worth noting that the CAV decal program has specific eligibility requirements. Your vehicle must meet certain emissions standards to qualify for a decal. The list of eligible vehicles is determined by the Air Resources Board of the State of California and can be found on their website.
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Receive your CAV decal and ID card
Once you have submitted your application, you will usually hear back from the DMV within 30 days. If your application is approved, you will receive a CAV decal and ID card in the mail. This will allow you to drive in a carpool lane alone.
The DMV urges people to wait to receive an official response from their office before driving in the carpool lane without a passenger. If you have submitted a paper application, you should wait to see if your check has been cashed. If it has, your decal is on the way and you should receive it within 21 days.
All CAV decals are issued to the vehicle and must remain with that vehicle. CAV decals cannot be transferred to any other vehicle. If you purchase a vehicle that has CAV decals, you must transfer the decal to your name. California law only allows an eligible vehicle to participate in the CAV Decal program once, even if the vehicle is sold.
If you are approved for a CAV decal and ID card, you will be able to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, also known as carpool lanes, without having another passenger in the car. This can save you significant time on your commute. For example, on average, drivers in the SF Bay Area save about 10% on driving time when using the carpool lane on certain freeways.
On Northern California’s seven state-owned toll bridges, drivers can use the carpool lanes and receive discounted tolls no matter how many people are in the car. However, the Golden Gate Bridge does not discount tolls for carpool sticker drivers.
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Frequently asked questions
To sign up for California carpool stickers, you must first check if your vehicle is eligible. The California Air Resources Board publishes a list of vehicles that qualify for the California Carpool Sticker. You can also call 1-800-242-4450 to check if your vehicle has been approved. If your vehicle is eligible, you must then complete a Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal application and submit it to the appropriate address. The application fee is $22, and you will usually hear back from the DMV within 30 days.
California carpool stickers allow drivers to use the carpool lane without having another passenger in the car. This can result in significant time savings when driving, especially in areas with heavy traffic such as the SF Bay Area. California also offers other incentives for electric vehicle owners, such as tax credits, rebates, and grants.
Yes, there are some restrictions to using the California carpool sticker. The California Department of Transportation (DOT) or federal authorities can restrict carpool lane use if CAVs are causing increased traffic congestion or affecting travel speeds. Additionally, the carpool stickers are only valid for a certain period and must be renewed. The stickers are also non-transferable and can only be used by the registered owner of the vehicle.
