On October 1, 2025, New York citizens said farewell to Clean Pass perks as New York’s Clean Pass program came to an end. The initiative put forward for New York electric and hybrid drivers is no longer a reality in the state, and these drivers have lost their privilege of using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Electric and hybrid drivers are now faced with commuting realities and may face new penalties for not obeying this new law. This is clearly the end of an era for eco-conscious motorists.
Clean Pass perks end after 20 years of this green initiative
The multi-agency initiative that involved the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created as a way to encourage drivers to use low-emission vehicles. As part of the program, approved as per federal law, drivers of fuel-efficient vehicles were allowed single-occupant access to the 40-mile Long Island Expressway HOV lane.
At the end of September, the benefit of using the Long Island Expressway HOV lane came to an end. From this October, all drivers of low-emission vehicles ought to comply with the HOV rule, which requires at least two occupants per vehicle during restricted hours.
Due to traffic congestion on the Long Island Expressway, “green commuters” may face challenges on the roads since this initiative has come to an end. Although this privilege for commuters who drive low-emission vehicles may be over, New York still regards reduced emissions and cleaner air as core goals in the state.
With the new rule comes the chance for new penalties
Now that the exemption is no longer applicable, traffic officers will start ticketing those Clean Pass vehicle owners if they don’t heed the HOV lane occupancy rule. Penalties for disobeying the HOV lane occupancy rule may vary, but the fine can very well exceed $150 per violation. Aside from just a financial penalty, not adhering to the HOV lane occupancy rule can result in points on the driver’s license. New York, however, is not in favor of offering a grace period to Clean Pass vehicle drivers as they learn to embrace the new law.
In New York, although the Clean Pass lane benefit is no longer on offer, other benefits for zero-emission or limited-emission vehicles remain. The E-ZPass Green Pass discount for E-Toll savings is still available. Another perk is that of PSEG Long Island and Con Edison EV programs, which offer incentives and rebates for EV owners.
Why did the Clean Pass perk come to an end in New York?
As part of the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST), this Clean Pass perk had to come to an end. This Act allowed states to let single-occupancy EV drivers use HOV lanes for a duration of 10 years. After a decade of enjoying this perk, the perk has come to an end, and Congress has yet to pass a new law that allows for the extension of this perk.
In the pipeline is the proposed HOV Lane Exemption Reauthorization Act. However, federal budget disputes have caused this act to stall slightly despite the act receiving bipartisan support. For now, two’s the rule in Arizona, too.
Will New Yorkers gain HOV access again, or is the road ahead unclear?
The initiative was a saving grace for electric and hybrid car owners in the state. After a decade of experiencing this perk from the New York Department of Transportation, the benefits, including that of reduced fuel costs, are rather clear. Supporters of HOV access are in favor of this law coming back. However, the road ahead may seem longer for electric and hybrid drivers, while conversations regarding the reauthorization of such an act are ongoing. Like in New York, Hawaii also enforced such a ban from October 1, where a minimum of two people in the car became the requirement.
