California requires all new cars and light trucks sold in the state to be zero-emission by the 2035 model year. This does not mean every car on the road must be electric by then. The rule applies only to new vehicle sales, so you can still own, drive, and buy or sell used gasoline-powered cars after 2035.
What the 2035 Rule Actually Requires
In 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-79-20, directing the state to end sales of new internal combustion passenger vehicles by 2035. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) turned that order into a binding regulation called Advanced Clean Cars II, which sets escalating quotas for automakers. By the 2035 model year, 100% of new passenger cars and light-duty trucks a manufacturer sells in California must meet zero-emission standards.
The regulation does not ban gasoline cars from California’s roads. The governor’s office stated explicitly that the order “will not prevent Californians from owning gasoline-powered cars or selling them on the used car market.” If you already own a gas car in 2035, nothing changes for you. You can keep driving it, reselling it, or registering it as long as it passes smog checks.
Plug-In Hybrids Still Qualify, With Limits
Pure battery electrics and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles aren’t the only options that count. Plug-in hybrids can also satisfy the mandate, but they have to meet two conditions. First, they must deliver at least 50 miles of all-electric range under real-world driving conditions. Second, no more than 20% of any automaker’s total zero-emission vehicle sales can come from plug-in hybrids. So hybrids with short electric range, and traditional hybrids that can’t plug in at all, won’t count toward the requirement.
The Ramp-Up Before 2035
The switch isn’t a sudden flip. CARB built a gradual phase-in so manufacturers and the market have time to adjust. Starting with the 2026 model year, automakers must hit rising zero-emission sales percentages each year, reaching 100% by 2035. Manufacturers that fall short accumulate a deficit. Each unit of deficit counts as four zero-emission vehicle credits under California’s Health and Safety Code, and the state can pursue civil penalties for every unresolved shortfall.
Trucks and Commercial Vehicles Have Later Deadlines
Heavy-duty vehicles follow a separate, slower timeline. California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation requires truck manufacturers to sell an increasing share of zero-emission models, but the percentages are lower than for passenger cars. By 2035, manufacturers must ensure 75% of medium-duty truck sales (Class 4-8) are zero-emission, and 40% of the heaviest trucks (Class 7-8). That’s well short of 100%.
Fleet-level rules add another layer. State and local government fleets must purchase only zero-emission or near-zero-emission vehicles starting January 1, 2027. For private and commercial fleets, there’s an optional milestone system that phases in requirements by vehicle type:
- Box trucks, vans, and light-duty delivery vehicles: Full zero-emission compliance by 2035
- Work trucks and day cab tractors: Full compliance by 2039
- Sleeper cab tractors and specialty vehicles: Full compliance by 2042
Recent amendments to the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation repealed some requirements that applied to federal and private fleets, including drayage truck rules. Those changes are expected to take effect before January 2027, so the commercial vehicle landscape is still shifting.
Federal Approval and Legal Status
California needs a federal waiver from the EPA to enforce emission standards stricter than the national baseline. The EPA granted that waiver for Advanced Clean Cars II in January 2025. As of that date, there are no pending waiver requests awaiting EPA action, meaning the regulation has full federal authorization to move forward. That said, future administrations could attempt to revoke or modify the waiver, as happened during the first Trump administration with earlier California emission rules.
Financial Help for Buyers
California runs several incentive programs to make the transition more affordable, especially for lower-income households. The Clean Cars 4 All program offers grants of $9,500 to $12,000 depending on the type of vehicle you choose and whether you live in a disadvantaged community census tract. Battery electric and fuel cell vehicles qualify for up to $12,000 in those areas, while plug-in hybrids can bring up to $11,500.
Eligibility is income-based. A single person must earn $46,950 or less per year, and a household of four must be at or below $96,450. The cap increases by $16,500 for each additional household member beyond eight. These grants can be combined with federal tax credits, though the specifics of federal incentives change frequently.
What This Means in Practice
Gasoline cars won’t disappear from California roads in 2035. The average car in the U.S. stays on the road for about 12 years, so millions of gas-powered vehicles will remain in use well into the 2040s and beyond. What changes in 2035 is the new car showroom: if you walk into a dealership to buy a brand-new passenger vehicle, every option will be electric, hydrogen, or a qualifying plug-in hybrid. Used gas cars will still be available from private sellers and dealerships selling pre-owned inventory for years after that cutoff.