Can you drive hybrid cars in the carpool lane without a clean air access ok sticker?

Question

The California DMV does not hand them out any longer.

Answer 1

No, only the first certain number of hybrid cars are eligible.

Answer 2

Officially you need the actual sticker.  It's not enough to have a qualifying hybrid.  The Prius hatchback is so distinctive that the cops might to overlook it, but it's a big fine if they don't.

Answer 3

yes, you could

Answer 4

The CA DMV gave out two batches of clean air stickers for qualifying Hybrid cars. I had these on my Honda Insight.

After they gave out the 85,000 stickers they stopped issuing them. You can buy a car with them but you can't get them for a car that you have just purchased. You can get a set to replace damaged ones but again no new ones are available beyond these replacements.

If you run your hybrid in the car pool lane with a single occupant and no stickers you can be fined for that. Last time I saw those fines they were at about $400 and they could be doubled in construction zones.