Jack Brown

December 31, 2019

On December 23, 2019, the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced new laws that were going into effect in 2020. As part of this announcement, they included a note that the new Clean Air s for 2020 would be orange.

The Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) Decal Program is administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The program authorizes a vehicle that meets specified emissions standards to be issued a CAV decal to allow single occupancy use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes.

The program was set to expire on January 1, 2019, but in October of 2018, then Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB-544 that extended the clean air vehicle program, but with rolling expirations. Essentially, clean air vehicles now get 3 full years of access plus the remainder of the year they applied for the decals. All vehicles registered with CAV decals prior to Jan 1, 2017 would have their white or green decals expire on January 1, 2019. Those that registered after January 1, 2017 and prior to the issuance of the new red decal would get a replacement red decal that would expire on January 1, 2022. Those that registered after January 1, 2019 would receive a lavender decal that would be valid through January 1, 2023. Now with the orange decals, vehicles would be valid to drive in the HOV lane through January 1, 2024. Currently, vehicles with yellow, white or green decals cannot drive solo in the HOV lane.

Vehicles do not need to be new to apply for a decal. A clean air vehicle whose prior owners never applied for a clean air decal in California can apply for the new decal. This may be a good reason to buy a used clean air vehicle from out of state. Although quite rare, there are some “barn finds” out there in California where people had bought a clean air vehicle, but did not live in an area with HOV lanes nor a need to use them and pay the now $22 fee. The DMV maintains list of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) in a PDF document that can be downloaded and searched for ineligible VINs that can be a good indicator to see if a used car is eligible for a new decal. If a vehicle you are interested in does not show up in this list, chances are good that it is eligible for a new HOV lane decal.

New Program for Low Income Clean Air Vehicle Buyers

With the new laws for 2020 also comes a program for low income buyers to get a clean air vehicle decal currently valid until January 1, 2024. The 2018 California Senate Bill (SB-947 Lara) now allows for previously clean air  vehicles with expired decals to apply for the 2020 decal program provided they meet two guidelines:

• The owner of the vehicle’s income must be at or below 80% of the state’s median income based on income limits published by the California Department of Housing and Community Development of $65,777.
• The applicant cannot be the prior decal holder regardless of income.

Incredible deals can be found on older plug-in vehicles. People who qualify can get a great benefit by purchasing a used clean air vehicle under this program. This program should help remove the stigma that electric vehicles are only for high income earners.

Along with the standard application for Clean Air Vehicle Decals REG 1000, low income applicants are also required to complete the  Income-Based Clean Air Vehicle Decal application, REG 1000 IB. When filling the form out, take extra care to be sure the infomration entered matches the information filled out on the standard application.

Tips and Tricks for Applying for the Clean Air Vehicle Program

The REG 1000 and REG 1000 IB forms can not be submitted to your local DMV office. Your application must be mailed along with a check for $22 to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Sacramento. 

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

SPECIAL PROCESSING UNIT – MS D238

P. O. BOX 932345

SACRAMENTO, CA 94232-3450

It’s highly recommended that you use a trackable method for sending your application, such as Priority Mail, to ensure your application is not lost and you will also have a record of when the application arrived. With a tracking number, you can ensure that your application made it to the DMV’s PO Box.

Be sure your registration and any title issues are finished before sending your application. If there is an open transaction (such as missing lien holder) or other issue with the title of the vehicle, the DMV will reject the application once it comes up for processing.

Double (or Triple) check your application to make sure all information is accurate and correct. Use the free Adobe AcrobatReader fill and sign feature to type in your information to the form to avoid any issues with handwriting your information.

DO NOT FORGET YOUR PAYMENT! Be sure you make out a check for $22 payable to DMV. Include your VIN in the memo section. Note the check number.

There will be anywhere from a 3 to 8 week processing period of your application. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. Application volume tends to increase around the weeks after the first of the year and at the end of sales quarters (January 1, March 30th, June 30th, September 30th). If you used a trackable method to send your application, you will know what day your application arrived. You can then call the DMV and ask their customer service what day they are currently processing at 1-800-777-0133. I also recommend calling when customer service first opens (8 AM Monday Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 9 AM on Wednesdays) to minimize wait times when calling. Let’s say you sent your application and it was received on January 15th, 2020. You call on February 15th and they tell you they are currently processing applications from December 30th. That means they are currently about 6 weeks behind and your application will probably be processed around March 1.

Note that even though you are driving a clean air vehicle and you have applied for the decals, you cannot drive solo in the HOV lane until you receive the decals and apply them to your car.

Once your application is processed and approved, your check will be cashed. Check your online banking or bank statement for when the check was cashed and expect your decals to arrive in the mail within about 3 to 5 days or however long it takes to receive mail from Sacramento to your neighborhood.

Once you receive your decals, be sure the serial number on the decals match the certificate that came with the decals and that that the VIN on the certificate matches the VIN of the vehicle.

Also be sure to apply all 4 decals to your vehicle properly. The rules may change from year to year, so please read the instructions carefully that came with your decals. 

Do not store your decals in your glove box, do not place the decals in windows or apply only a single decal. CHP can and will issue $500 HOV lane violation tickets if not applied properly.

Lastly, if you are reading this blog post after June 30th, 2020. Consider waiting until next year to maximize your use of the HOV lane decals. 2021 is currently slated to be the last year to get full term usage of the decal program. The full term is 3 years plus the remainder of the year you received your decal. The program is set to expire September 25, 2025. So those who apply for decals in 2021 will have their decals until January 1, 2025. In 2022 and beyond, the decals will expire on September 25, 2025 unless the program at the federal level is extended. See our previous blog post that explains why waiting can be better.