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I have a hybrid vehicle. Can I drive in the designated HOV/carpool-only lane even if I am driving across the bridge by myself?
Yes. Qualified single-occupancy hybrid vehicles are permitted to use dedicated High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/carpool lanes in the Bay Area during designated carpool hours, if these vehicles are displaying the distinctive sticker issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Effective July 1, 2010, as with all other carpool vehicles, single-occupancy hybrid vehicles must also pay tolls when driving across the Bay Area toll bridges in an HOV/carpool lane. The Golden Gate Bridge does not have HOV/carpool-only lanes.
Effective July 1, 2010 on the Golden Gate Bridge, carpool vehicles (3+ passengers) and clean air vehicles with white California DMV clean air decals will qualify for a $3 discounted FasTrak carpool toll. A valid FasTrak toll tag is required and you must stop in a staffed lane for toll collector verification to receive the discounted toll.
Note: This is slightly different from the Bay Area Express Lanes, where solo hybrid vehicles are allowed to drive toll-free. Before using these Express Lanes, you MUST place your toll tag in a Mylar bag to prevent your FasTrak account from being charged. No credits will be issued to your FasTrak account if you fail to use the Mylar bag as described.
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Why does the law require that hybrid vehicle owners with a vehicle registered in the Bay Area open a FasTrak account?
Single-occupancy hybrid vehicles registered in the Bay Area using designated carpool-only lanes in the Bay Area must still pay for tolls if crossing the toll bridges. The FasTrak requirement is written into the law so that single-occupant hybrids approaching a bridge can stay in the designated carpool-only lane and drive non-stop through the toll plaza without having to slow down to merge out of the carpool lane and into a regular toll lane to pay tolls. Hybrid vehicles registered outside the Bay Area are not required to have a FasTrak account in order to receive a DMV sticker and drive in HOV lanes.
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What do I need to do before I can drive my hybrid vehicle alone in the carpool lanes?
If you have a hybrid vehicle (new or used) that does not currently have the special DMV-issued stickers, you will not be able to drive alone in the carpool lanes, as the DMV is no longer issuing new stickers. However, if you acquired a used hybrid vehicle with the stickers already attached to it, you must open a FasTrak account in order to pay your tolls as a solo driver in a carpool lane.
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If I am driving alone in my hybrid vehicle across the bridge in a designated carpool-only lane, how do I pay my tolls?
If you are driving on a bridge with a designated carpool-only lane, you need FasTrak to pay your tolls. Most Bay Area bridges have at least one designated carpool-only lane. The Golden Gate Bridges does not have designated carpool-only lanes. Effective July 1, 2010 on the Golden Gate Bridge, carpool vehicles (3+ passengers) and clean air vehicles with white California DMV clean air decals will qualify for a $3 discounted FasTrak carpool toll. A valid FasTrak toll tag is required and you must stop in a staffed lane for toll collector verification to receive the discounted toll.
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I am in my hybrid vehicle, and I have the required number of occupants to qualify as a carpool vehicle. Do I still have to pay tolls when driving across the bridge?
Effective July 1, 2010, even if you have the required number of occupants in your hybrid vehicle to qualify as a carpool vehicle (i.e., either 2 or 3, depending on the carpool policies of the bridge you are crossing), you must still pay toll.
However, like all other high-occupancy carpool vehicles, you qualify for a discounted carpool toll rate of $2.50 on the state-owned bridges and $3.00 on the Golden Gate Bridge.
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If I have a hybrid toll tag, can I use it in other toll lanes?
Yes. You can pay all your tolls electronically using your hybrid toll tag in all lanes on the bridge and on every Bay Area bridge – not just in the HOV/carpool lanes.
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