This analysis provides a definitive determination of your legal eligibility to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in Riverside County, California on August 25, 2025, as an approximately 60-year-old woman driving a 2025 Ford Escape with an active FastPass (FasTrak). The assessment addresses all three possible emissions configurations of your vehicle (PZEV, ZEV, or standard hybrid) under current California regulations, with specific focus on the Corona area. Findings are based exclusively on official sources from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), California Air Resources Board (CARB), Caltrans, and Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) as of August 25, 2025. Critical regulatory changes effective in 2025 are emphasized throughout.
The ZEV variant (battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell) qualifies for Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decals under California's current regulations. As established by Assembly Bill 92 (2023) and codified in the California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 27004.5, the white decal program for ZEVs remains active for new applications through January 1, 2026 [1]. Your 2025 Ford Escape ZEV would be eligible for a white decal if:
- It appears on CARB's official 2025 Zero Emission Vehicle List [2]
- You submit Form REG-1000 with proof of purchase within 60 days of vehicle acquisition [1]
- Your application is received by DMV before January 1, 2026
As of August 25, 2025, white decals remain valid for the full registration period of the vehicle (typically 2-7 years depending on model year) [1]. Action required: You must apply for and receive the physical decal (installed on your front bumper) before using HOV lanes solo. The mere ownership of a ZEV Ford Escape does not automatically grant HOV privileges.
The PZEV variant does not qualify for any CAV decal as of August 25, 2025. Clarification is essential regarding terminology:
- True PZEVs (non-plug-in gasoline vehicles meeting EPA Tier 2 Bin 2 standards) have never qualified for HOV access [2]. These are distinct from plug-in hybrids.
- Plug-in hybrid versions (likely what is marketed as "PZEV" for Ford Escapes) were historically eligible for green decals, but this program terminated permanently for new applications on January 1, 2024 under Senate Bill 1038 (2022) [1] [3].
Per the DMV's official CAV decal policy effective immediately in 2024:
"Green decals for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are no longer issued. Vehicles purchased after December 31, 2023, are ineligible for any carpool decal program regardless of certification" [1]
No exceptions exist for 2025 model-year plug-in hybrids. Existing green decals (if you owned a previous qualifying vehicle) expired on December 31, 2024, as mandated by CARB Executive Order [2].
The standard non-plug-in hybrid variant does not qualify for any CAV decal under any circumstances. California regulations have consistently excluded conventional hybrids (including all non-plug-in Toyota, Honda, and Ford hybrids) since the inception of the CAV decal program [2] [4]. These vehicles must meet standard HOV occupancy requirements (2+ or 3+ persons depending on lane) and derive no special status from emissions performance.
Your FastPass (FasTrak toll tag) does not determine HOV eligibility and cannot substitute for occupancy requirements or CAV decals. Per Caltrans' official guidance:
"Toll tags only facilitate payment on High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. They confer no special driving privileges in standard HOV or HOT lanes beyond the user's inherent eligibility based on occupancy or decal status" [4]
In Riverside County's HOT lanes (e.g., 91 ExpressLanes), your FastPass has two critical functions:
- Mandatory for toll payment if you lack HOV eligibility (e.g., driving solo in a non-qualifying vehicle)
- Required companion device for CAV decal holders to avoid toll charges [5]
Specifically for white decal holders (ZEV variant):
- You must possess a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV tag (standard FasTrak tags are insufficient) [5]
- The switch on your tag must be set to "2+" even when driving solo to signal CAV decal eligibility [5]
- Failure to correctly set the switch results in automatic toll charges despite having a valid decal
Importantly, if your vehicle lacks a qualifying white decal (PZEV or standard hybrid variants), your FastPass simply enables HOT lane usage through toll payment as a solo driver—it does not grant free HOV access.
White decal holders (ZEV variant only) may drive solo in all California HOV lanes meeting these conditions:
- The decal is properly affixed and unexpired [1]
- You are driving on any HOV lane in California during its operational hours [4]
- For HOT lanes, you comply with FasTrak requirements (as detailed above) [5]
This authority is explicitly defined in CVC Section 21655.5(b):
"A solo driver of a zero-emission vehicle displaying a valid white decal may operate in HOV lanes regardless of occupancy, provided other lane use restrictions are met" [3]
- Green decals no longer permit solo driving as of January 1, 2024 [1]
- White decal provisions expire on January 1, 2030, at which point all clean-air vehicle HOV privileges terminate unless renewed by legislation [3]
- Decals are vehicle-specific—your FastPass account cannot be linked to override these rules [5]
Corona is primarily served by two relevant corridors with distinct rules:
- Location: Between Weirick Road (Corona) and Cajalco Road
- Operational Hours: Weekdays only
- Northbound: 6:00 AM–9:00 AM
- Southbound: 4:00 PM–7:00 PM [5]
- Requirements During Active Hours:
- HOV 2+ (all vehicles)
- OR valid white decal (ZEV solo drivers)
- NO toll option—strictly HOV/decal only lanes [5]
- Off-Hours: Open to all traffic 24/7 on weekends and outside weekday peak times [5]
- Location: Runs parallel to Corona eastbound toward Riverside
- Operational Hours: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week [5]
- Requirements:
- HOV 2+ (free with FasTrak set to "2+")
- OR valid white decal (free with FasTrak Flex set to "2+" when solo)
- OR solo payment of dynamic toll (rate varies by congestion) [5]
- Key 2025 Change: Effective January 1, 2025, occupancy requirement increased to HOV 3+ during peak hours (5:00 AM–9:00 AM eastbound) for non-decal vehicles. White decal holders remain exempt from this change [5].
RCTC's real-time lane status tool (updated every 5 minutes) is mandatory for planning trips:
"Corona-area drivers must verify current HOV/HOT status via RCTC's Lane Status Map before entering any restricted lane, as construction or incidents may temporarily alter regulations" [5]
- Green Decal Phaseout Complete: Final expiration occurred December 31, 2024. No green decals remain valid as of January 1, 2025 [1] [2].
- White Decal Program Extended: Active for new applications through January 1, 2026 (AB 92, 2023). Renewals for existing decal holders continue through 2029 [1] [3].
- Hybrid Vehicle Eligibility: Conventional hybrids (non-plug-in) never qualified for decals. Plug-in hybrids lost eligibility January 1, 2024 with no grandfathering for new vehicles [2] [3].
- Stricter Application Scrutiny: Since July 1, 2025, vehicles must undergo a DMV emissions verification scan before decal issuance to prevent fraud [1].
- Digital Validation Requirement: White decals must be registered in the CAV Digital Registry (accessible via CA DMV website) by September 1, 2025 for continued validity [1].
- Replacement Fees: Lost/stolen decal replacement costs increased to $50 as of January 1, 2025 [1].
- First HOV violation: $503 base fine (up 15% from 2024 rates) [3]
- CAV fraud (e.g., unauthorized decal use): Class 1 infraction ($2,500 fine + decal revocation) [1]
- Riverside County special note: Cameras on I-215 near Corona now provide 24/7 decal verification with automated violation notices [5]
- Immediately confirm your vehicle's exact certification:
- Check window sticker for CARB Executive Order number (BZR-XX for ZEVs)
- Verify on CARB's Official ZEV List [2] before applying for white decal
- If ZEV variant:
- Apply for white decal within 10 days via DMV Form REG-1000 (processing now takes 3–5 weeks) [1]
- Purchase FasTrak Flex tag only if using 91 ExpressLanes
- If PZEV or standard hybrid:
- HOV access requires 2+ occupants on I-215 during peak hours
- No solo HOV access permitted—your FastPass enables HOT lane payment only on SR-91
- Corona-specific scanning recommendation:
Always check RCTC's 511 Real-Time Lane Map before driving, especially during August 2025 heat events when temporary HOV restrictions may activate [5].
[1] California DMV. Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) Decal Program: Current Regulations and Applications. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/clean-air-vehicle-decal/
[2] California Air Resources Board (CARB). Zero Emission Vehicle Information. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/zero-emission-vehicle-program
[3] California Legislative Information. Assembly Bill 92 (2023) Vehicle Code Section 27004.5. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB92
[4] Caltrans. HOV/HOT Lane Operations Manual (2025 Edition). https://dot.ca.gov/programs/hot-lanes
[5] Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). 91 ExpressLanes and 215 HOV Operations Guide. https://www.rctc.org/expresslanes/91-expresslanes/
[6] California Highway Patrol. 2025 HOV Enforcement Data Report. https://www.chp.ca.gov/home/reports-statistics/motor-cyclist-statistics