Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Certification on I-85 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes

Important Update Regarding the Expiration of Toll Free Benefits for Peach Pass Certified AFV/EV Customers:

The federal exemption allowing certified Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs), including electric vehicles, to ride toll free in the I-85 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes expired at 11:59 pm on September 29, 2025.

This change, based on 23 United States Code 166(b), means that as of September 30, 2025, all electric vehicles and other AFVs, regardless of whether they were Peach Pass certified AFVs, traveling in the nation’s high occupancy toll lanes, including Georgia’s I-85 HOT Lanes, must now pay tolls. Peach Pass AFV customers are strongly recommended to log into their Peach Pass accounts and confirm that their payment methods are current and active to avoid receiving a violation notice.

Toll Free Benefits Option for AFV/EVs

All Peach Pass customers, including owners of electric and alternative fuel vehicles can still travel toll free in the I-85 HOT Lanes when carpooling with three or more occupants who have been validated through the Peach Pass Verify app. Information on Peach Pass Verify can be found at https://peachpass.com/peachpassverify/.

What Peach Pass Certified AFV/EV Customers Should Know:

Effective September 30, 2025, all electric vehicles and other AFV customers regardless of whether they were Peach Pass certified AFVs must pay tolls unless they meet the carpool occupancy requirements through the Peach Pass Verify app.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles include vehicles fueled solely by electricity, natural gas, propane, bi-fuel, or dual fuel.
This change only applies to the I-85 HOT Lanes. All Peach Pass customers pay tolls on the I-75 Northwest Corridor and I-75 South Metro Express Lanes regardless of vehicle type and passenger number.
There is NO change to toll free benefits for Peach Pass certified motorcycles in the I-85 HOT Lanes.
The federal exemption expiration not only applies to HOT lanes but also to the utilization of High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes by AFVs nationwide. Single occupancy AFVs, including electric vehicles, will not be permitted to travel in the HOV lanes effective September 30, 2025. AFVs must be occupied by two or more people to travel the HOV lanes, like all other passenger vehicles. The change applies to all HOV lanes in the state of Georgia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are HOV/HOT Lanes?

High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are designated by a white diamond in the center of the lane and solid white lane lines. They are also referred to as carpool lanes. The Georgia Express Lanes on I-85 and the I-85 Extension are designated as High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes.

What is the expired federal law for the HOT Lane toll exemption?

The AFV exemption in Georgia was in effect since the I-85 HOT Lanes opened on October 1^st, 2011. The federal AFV exemption for HOT facilities can be found in 23 U.S.C. 166(b)(5) as follows:

Special Rule: Before September 30, 2025, if a public authority establishes procedures for enforcing the restriction on the use of a HOT facility by vehicles described in clauses (i) and (ii), the public authority may allow the use of the HOT facility by –

(i) alternative fuel vehicles; and
(ii) any motor vehicle described in section 30(D)(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.2

23 U.S.C. 166(f) defines alternative fuel vehicles, which includes electric vehicles, as operating solely on any of several alcohol-based fuels, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, solar, biofuels, or plug-in electrics as defined under 26 U.S.C. 30D(d)(l) of the Internal Revenue Code.1.

A list of vehicles that meet this description, based on the applicability of the Federal Electric Vehicle Tax Credit, is maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy at https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml.

Were all states required by law to allow the AFV exemption for HOV and HOT Lanes?

No, the provision was a discretionary condition (i.e. may, not must), but many HOV and HOT facilities had opted to allow alternative fuel vehicles, including Georgia.

What happens now given when the federal exemption expired at 11:59 pm on September 29, 2025?

Upon the September 29, 2025 expiration at 11:59 pm, States are no longer allowed, by sticker or special purpose license plate, alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) to drive without paying a toll in the HOT lanes with only one or two occupants.

I currently drive an electric vehicle with an Energy Efficient plate—can I still use the I-85 and I-85 Extension Express Lanes for free?

No, effective September 30, 2025, electric and alternative fuel vehicles with the proper license plate and certified with Peach Pass can no longer continue using the HOV and lanes, regardless of how many people are in the car. To utilize Georgia’s I-85 HOT lanes, also known as I-85 Express Lanes, vehicles must be registered via Peach Pass and will be tolled unless they meet the carpool occupancy requirements for Peach Pass Verify.

When should I expect to start being charged for tolls?

Effective September 30, 2025, tolls will be charged for all Peach Pass certified AFV customers on Georgia’s I-85 HOT lanes, unless they meet the carpool occupancy requirements for Peach Pass Verify.

Why am I being notified now about the expiration of my AFV Toll Free Benefits on the I-85 Georgia HOT Lanes?

The State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) alerted Peach Pass customers that a federal exemption allowing certified Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs), including electric vehicles, to ride toll free in the I-85 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes, expired at 11:59 pm on September 29, 2025. Even though this is a federal matter, Peach Pass shared this information in advance of the expiration because the outcome affects:

Peach Pass customers who are certified AFV owners who use the I-85 HOT Lanes
Travelers across the Metro Atlanta region
Owners and prospective buyers of alternative fuel vehicles
Businesses selling and servicing alternative fuel vehicles

Does this apply to all of Georgia’s Express Lanes?

The toll free benefit is no longer available provided for Peach Pass certified AFVs traveling on the I-85 HOT lanes. This change does not apply to the I-75 Northwest Corridor and I-75 South Metro Express Lanes, which are not HOT lanes and the exemption never applied. A Peach Pass is still required to use Georgia’s express lanes, and tolls will be charged as normal.

Are other states impacted?

Yes. The federal exemption that allowed states to permit EVs and AFVs to ride without paying a toll was available to all states, including Georgia, and expired at 11:59 pm on September 29, 2025.

I paid $35 for my specialty AFV plate in order to be certified. What do I do now?

Drivers of qualifying AFV’s, including electric vehicles, have the option to purchase the specialty AFV license plate for an additional $35 fee. By purchasing this specialty plate and certifying with Peach Pass, AFVs were eligible to drive in the I-85 HOT lanes without paying tolls since it opened in 2011, through September 29, 2025 (14 years).

Please visit https://dor.georgia.gov/alternative-fuel-vehicles for more information regarding registering and fee information.

What about the HOV lanes located on I-20, I-75, and I-85?

Per the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) which oversees operation of Georgia’s HOV lanes, the expiration of the federal exemption also applies to usage of HOV lanes by AFV drivers. HOV lanes are not tolled but do have occupancy requirements for all vehicles in the lanes. As of September 30, 2025, like all other passenger vehicles, AFVs must be occupied by two or more persons to use HOV lanes. The change applies to all HOV lanes in the state of Georgia. More information about AFV usage of HOV lanes can be found at https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/AFV.aspx

Where can I learn more about HOV/HOT lanes and the rules governing them?

SRTA offers more information at https://peachpass.com/travel-the-express-lanes/i-85-and-i-85-ext/ that explains how the I-85 HOT lanes operate, who can use them and other topics. It also answers many common questions about traveling the I-85 HOT lanes. The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) oversees the operation of Georgia’s HOV lanes. More information about AFV usage of HOV lanes can be found at https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/Pages/AFV.aspx

With the expiration of the AFV exemption will I still have to pay my Annual AFV fees?

Yes. Annual AFV fees are collected by the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR). Visit DOR Alternative Fuel Vehicles and or Annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fees for more information.

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