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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). However, unlike HOVs, which are allowed to drive toll-free
across the toll bridges during designated carpool hours, single-occupancy hybrid vehicles registered in the Bay Area must still pay tolls when driving across the Bay Area toll bridges in
an HOV/carpool lane.
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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 one of the
eight 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?
You must enroll your hybrid vehicle in a FasTrak account by providing a copy of your vehicle registration
to the FasTrak Customer Service Center, which identifies your vehicle as a hybrid registered in the Bay Area. Then you must display the special
stickers issued by the DMV. Click here
for instructions on how to open a FasTrak account for hybrid vehicles registered in the Bay Area.
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What if I purchased my hybrid vehicle recently and do not have the DMV vehicle registration yet?
If you do not yet have your DMV vehicle registration, the FasTrak Customer Service Center will accept either: 1)
your purchase agreement from the auto dealer with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) typed in by the dealer (a
handwritten VIN is not acceptable), or 2) the temporary registration that is affixed to the lower right-hand side of
the windshield.
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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. Bridges with designated
carpool-only lanes include the Carquinez, Dumbarton, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. The Golden Gate, Antioch,
Benicia-Martinez, and Richmond-San Rafael bridges do not have designated carpool-only lanes. Therefore, carpool vehicles or single-occupant
hybrid vehicles on these bridges must use lanes that are staffed by toll collectors and can pay their tolls using either FasTrak or cash.
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How do I know if my hybrid vehicle qualifies under the law?
To find out whether your hybrid vehicle qualifies, you can go to the California Air Resources Board’s website at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm to see a list of qualified vehicles. Only those vehicles listed will be issued a hybrid toll tag.
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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?
No. If you have the minimum number of occupants in your 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 are allowed to drive toll-free across the bridge.
To avoid being charged the toll, you MUST insert your FasTrak toll tag into the Mylar bag (provided to you when
your account was opened) before driving through the toll lane. No credits will be issued to your FasTrak account
if you fail to use the Mylar bag as described.
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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 toll tag in all lanes and on every Bay Area bridge – not just in the HOV/carpool lanes.
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Can I use my hybrid toll tag with my other vehicle, or use my “regular” toll tag with my hybrid vehicle?
No. Your hybrid toll tag can only be used in your hybrid vehicle. You cannot use your hybrid toll tag in a non-hybrid vehicle, nor
can you use your “regular” toll tag in your hybrid vehicle.
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