Santa Monica just closed a long chapter in local transportation policy: as of October 1, 2025, cars with California Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decals no longer get free time at city-operated parking meters. For more than two decades, that perk was a signature local nudge toward cleaner transportation. Now it’s gone—and thousands of residents, workers, and visitors who relied on it will need to adjust fast.
The short version
- What changed: Free meter parking for vehicles displaying state CAV or ZEV decals ended in Santa Monica. Everyone pays posted rates and obeys posted time limits.
- When it changed: The benefit expired September 30, 2025; normal, paid parking rules apply starting October 1, 2025.
- Why it changed: The state/federal CAV program authorization expired, and the city program was tied to that timeline. Santa Monica also adopted a clarifying ordinance so all decal colors ended at the same time (including “purple” decals that had been overlooked in earlier code language).
What exactly ended?
For years, Santa Monica allowed properly displayed CAV/ZEV-decal vehicles to park at city meters without paying for the posted time limit (e.g., 2 hours free at a 2-hour meter). That benefit is over. As of October 1, 2025, CAV/ZEV decal status confers no meter benefit in Santa Monica. If you park at a meter and don’t pay, you can be cited—just like any other driver.
The city’s official pages updated in late September make the timing explicit and emphasize that the local parking benefit was keyed to the state CAV program’s end date. That statewide/federal authorization sunset is the driver of this change, not a stand-alone local reversal.
Why did the city end it?
The local perk was not meant to run indefinitely. Santa Monica’s benefit was pegged to the lifecycle of the statewide Clean Air Vehicle decal program, which the California DMV confirmed would end September 30, 2025. When the state/federal authorization ends, local tie-ins typically go with it. Santa Monica’s transportation pages and a late-September city press release underscore that linkage.
Separately, city staff and council acted this year to clean up code language so that all decal colors—including purple decals—expired together. Without that clean-up, purple-decal vehicles might have retained the meter exemption for a period beyond September 30 due to a drafting gap. That fix ensures uniform treatment for all vehicles after the sunset.
How enforcement works now
From October 1 onward:
- Meters: Pay the posted rate and respect posted time limits, no matter what decal your vehicle has.
- Citations: Failure to pay or overstaying a meter limit can result in a ticket; decals are not a defense.
- Other rules still apply: Red zones, time-limited zones, permit-only sectors, and street cleaning rules remain in force.
The city’s parking pages are the best single stop for current rules, locations, rates, and permits. If you’ve been “riding” the CAV perk for years, get in the habit now of opening ParkSM or your usual payment app the moment you step out of the car.
What about EV-only spots and chargers?
The end of free meter time doesn’t eliminate EV charging stations or policies around EV-only spaces. You still have to follow posted rules at charging locations (for example, active charging requirement, time limits, overstay fees). Santa Monica notes a new EV parking permit option for certain surface lots with chargers; check the city’s EV topic page for details before you assume any special benefit applies to you.
Did other cities do the same thing?
Yes. Santa Monica wasn’t the only municipality with a free-meter perk tied to the CAV program, and several peer cities have already phased theirs out. Local outlets reported on these phase-outs through September as the statewide program sunset approached.
How this interacts with other 2025 parking changes (the “Daylighting” law)
There’s another 2025 rule change catching drivers off guard across California: AB 413 (the “Daylighting” law), which prohibits parking within 20 feet of the approach side of any crosswalk (15 feet where the curb is extended), even if the curb isn’t painted. If the CAV perk’s end is change #1 for meter habits, daylighting is change #2 for intersection habits. Together, they mean fewer “freebies,” less ambiguous curb space near corners, and more reasons you can be ticketed if you park like it’s still 2023.
Practical tips to avoid tickets post-sunset
- Assume you must pay at meters. If you’re at a city-operated curbside meter, pay for the posted duration—decal or not. Set a phone timer to avoid overstays.
- Watch the corners. Leave 20 feet before any crosswalk (15 feet at bulb-outs), whether the curb is painted or not. This is statewide law under AB 413.
- Check the sign stack. In mixed-use zones, you may see street cleaning, loading, or permit windows layered with paid parking hours. The most restrictive rule in effect governs.
- Use official resources. The city’s parking and EV pages are updated and specific to Santa Monica; bookmark them.
- Know private vs. city-operated. The former CAV perk only ever applied to city-operated meters. Private lots/garages set their own terms then and now.
How big a deal is this for Santa Monica drivers?
For some, it’s a mild inconvenience; for others—especially commuters who built their daily routine around “free meters”—it’s a meaningful new line item. Local reporting framed the change as the end of a 23-year tradition of meter benefits for qualifying cleaner vehicles. The policy did what it was designed to do in the early adoption years; by 2023, Santa Monica counted thousands of EVs on its streets, and EV charging and rate policies have matured. With the state program winding down, the city is pivoting to a more even-handed curb management scheme.
Frequently asked questions
1) Does my CAV or ZEV decal help me at meters anymore?
No. Starting October 1, 2025, decals do not waive meter payment or time limits in Santa Monica.
2) Was there any grace period after September 30?
No formal grace period was advertised for meters. The city communicated the end date repeatedly and updated parking pages to state that all vehicles must pay beginning October 1.
3) What about residential permits or employee permits?
These are separate from the decal program. If you live or work in a permit zone, follow the city’s permit rules and applications as usual. The CAV perk ending does not create new rights to a residential or employee permit.
4) Do I still get HOV or other on-road perks with my decal?
HOV policies are governed by separate state programs; the DMV’s notice is that the CAV decal program itself expired September 30, 2025. Check current CHP/DMV guidance for any remaining lane-use entitlements tied to decal type.
5) Can I fight a meter ticket by showing my decal?
No. The sunset is unambiguous. A decal doesn’t excuse nonpayment or overstays after October 1. Your best arguments will be factual (meter malfunction, improper signage, etc.), not the decal.
6) Does the end of the perk change EV charging rules?
Not directly. Charging-station rules are posted on-site. Some city lots have EV-specific permits; review the EV topic page for current options.
7) Why did the city mention “purple decals”?
Earlier code language risked letting purple-decal vehicles keep the perk past September 30 due to an omission. Council action clarified that all decal colors ended together.
How this ties into safety and curb-space policy
The parking perk sunset didn’t happen in a vacuum. Santa Monica—like many California cities—is simultaneously:
- Tightening speed management and adopting safety-first street designs.
- Implementing state-level rules like AB 413 to improve visibility at intersections.
- Managing intense curb demand from deliveries, rideshare, outdoor dining, scooters, bikes, and parklets.
In practice, that means less tolerance for ambiguous “free” use of the curb. Instead, pay-to-stay rules and clear, uniform limits are becoming the norm—whether you’re driving an EV or not. For drivers used to the CAV “break,” this represents a culture shift as much as a cost shift.
If you’re cited: quick steps
- Document immediately. Photograph the meter display, the sign stack on the block, your payment confirmation (if any), and the location from the nearest intersection.
- Check the citation code. Make sure the violation matches the facts (e.g., expired meter vs. no payment vs. overstay).
- Pull official references. Santa Monica’s parking pages and your payment app logs are your best evidence on rules and timing.
- Decide whether to contest. If signage was missing or contradictory—or if the meter malfunctioned—consider contesting within the stated deadline on the ticket.
Note: If a parking dispute escalated into a tow, property damage, or an incident involving injury, speak with a lawyer about preserving evidence and protecting your rights.
Looking ahead
While some drivers hope the city might craft a new EV-specific incentive at the curb, the broader trend is away from vehicle-type-based freebies and toward pricing that manages demand and turnover across all vehicle types. In other words, the city seems focused on consistency (everyone pays) and safety (clear sightlines near crosswalks, speed management), not carve-outs that complicate enforcement.
If you want to stay ahead of future tweaks—rate changes, time-limit adjustments, new EV programs—bookmark and periodically check the city’s official pages: the Parking category and the EV topic explainer. Those pages are where the city posts changes first.
Bottom line for Santa Monica drivers
The era of free meters for CAV/ZEV-decal vehicles in Santa Monica is over. The why is straightforward—the underlying state/federal program expired—and the what-now is simple: pay at meters and follow the posted limits, just like everyone else. Pair that with the new daylighting rules at intersections, and you’ve got two big reasons to rethink old parking habits.
This article is provided by Cohen Legal for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe a citation, tow, or parking-related incident caused you an unfair loss—or if a parking or visibility issue contributed to a crash—consult our qualified attorney about your specific situation.