California has passed some new laws in recent years regarding allowing certain low-emissions vehicles in the HOV lanes with a single driver. For example: HOV Decal Program (AB 544 Bloom): Beginning January 1, 2019, this law creates a new decal program to allow certain low emission vehicles to access high-occupancy vehicle lanes, regardless of vehicle occupancy level, for a four-year term. Access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes for vehicles with green and white decals will expire January 1, 2019. Vehicles issued a green or white decal in 2017 or 2018 will be eligible to reapply for a decal in 2019 granting them access to high–occupancy toll lanes until January 1, 2022. See: DMV Reminds Motorists of New 2018 Laws Bill Text - AB-544 Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Does the Gen3 Prius qualify?
.... & you have to apply for - & pay for stickers. Go to the Calif. DMV website for the particulars. In short - nothing older than 2018 plug-ins's (or Hydrogen, or EV's) gets stickers now. Even a twin turbo V8 29mpg BMW can get stickers; or - get stickers to drive your lumbering 7 passenger minivan solo; Either a Red or Purple sticker . . . . . No sticker? No soup for you! .
Pretty sure it used to. But part of the deal was to reward the early adopters of the very latest & greenest, so older cars have been progressively expired out of the eligibility window. You're too late to the party.
