A high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane is sometimes called a carpool lane and is available in many states, including California. This carpool or HOV lane is typically reserved for the use of carpools (a vehicle carrying 2 or more people), van pools and buses. The lane is normally located next to regular, unrestricted, lanes and is built to help those who carpool or ride buses to bypass the traffic in adjacent lanes.

The California driver's manual online at the California DMV website states that HOV lanes are available to those whose vehicle carries the minimum number of people required for that carpool lane, motorcycle riders (unless noted that they cannot use that specific carpool lane) or operators of a low-emission vehicle displaying a special DMV-issued decal.

The manual does not mention special provisions for those with a handicap license tag attached to their vehicle. We were also unable to find any California bill or statute allowing a single-occupant vehicle displaying handicap license plates to drive in the carpool or high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.

Some CA statutes regarding HOV regulations include California Vehicle code sections 21654 through 21655.9, 5205.5 and 42001.11. As for the service dog issue, we have not found that a dog will count as a second person for use of the HOV lane. This may be an issue that has been sorted out in court as the issue of a pregnant woman has.

You may want to contact the California DMV to find out for certain if there are special allowances for a car carrying handicap plates and the use of carpool lanes and if a service dog can count as a second or extra person in the vehicle. Changes may have been made to the CA Vehicle code regarding this issue that we are unaware of.

You can receive a motorcycle insurance rate quote by following this link or calling 1-800-936-0356 to speak with an agent of our partner Safeco.