No way to select HOV diamond 2+ / 3+ lane when in CarPlay mode

Map Editors Community United States California
1

Hi all, longtime user of Waze on iOS – since 2011 or 2012 I think. Currently running Waze iOS release 5.14 on an iPhone SE 3 (2022) running iOS 26.2.

There doesn’t seem to be a way in the CarPlay interface to select the HOV lane (i.e. 2+ or 3+) when choosing routes or selecting route options.

The feature is there if I am just working from my iPhone before I get into my car. Unfortunately, as soon as I connect to CarPlay, the Waze app blocks me from choosing route options on the phone, telling me that I need to use the CarPlay interface for choosing route options.

I live in California and have an EV. Up until September 30, 2025, because I had a valid Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) sticker on the vehicle – and thus I had been allowed to drive the HOV diamond lane as a single-occupancy vehicle. Thus, I had selected three options under “Tolls and Passes” within Waze’s settings:

  • FasTrak
  • FasTrakCAV
  • FasTrak Flex (as I have a selectable transponder as well)

As people here probably know, Congress did not extend that program, so as of October 1, 2025, I can only drive the HOV diamond lane if I have at least one passenger in my car.

Here’s the problem: there are times when I do have a passenger in my car – and I’d like Waze to understand that I’m able to legally drive the HOV diamond lane.

Note: I’m NOT talking about the Express Lanes, like along a stretch of the I-405 between Costa Mesa and Long Beach. Strictly talking about the normal HOV diamond lane.

My Waze experience:

  1. I get in my car.
  2. In Waze’s CarPlay interface, I select my destination – which will take me on the I-5 to the I-405.
  3. I select the forked arrows icon in the lower-right corner of the CarPlay interface, Alas no option to say “please take me via the HOV lane aka 2+”.
  4. Within the Route Options button, there’s also no option to say “please take me via the HOV lane aka 2+”.
  5. When the opportunity presents itself, I start driving the HOV lane.
  6. Shortly thereafter, Waze detects I’m in the HOV diamond lane – and tells me to re-route back to the normal, non-HOV diamond lanes on the freeway. This re-routing interrupts whatever music or audiobook I’m listening to, which is not just annoying but distracting my driving.

HELP?

When I’m in the CarPlay interface, how do I tell Waze that I’m allowed for this particular trip to drive the HOV diamond lane?

3 Likes
2

This is a known issue with CarPlay and Android Auto, and I have been providing feedback to staff about it for several years. I will add this to the forum post in the beta section so they have your input.

1 Like
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We feel your pain, we are California residents too and we have to struggle through this limitation as well. Really the only way to get the HOV routing is select an HOV route before you connect to CarPlay or disconnect from from CarPlay then get an HOV route. As @turbomkt mentioned we’ve been lobbying the developers for years to change this.

A note on the CAV decal, if you still have that selected in the passes you own you will still get some HOV routing. We are in the process of removing all of the CAV decal routing but it’s been a longer process than we expected.

1 Like
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Link to the post for anyone who has access.

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Alas @turbomkt , “Oops! That page is private.” :frowning:

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Like I said, anyone who has access. That’s the Beta section of the forum.

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Here are some links to the Waze Uservoice Suggestion Box for all users. These definitely need more votes. (Log in required to vote)

Carplay: https://waze.uservoice.com/forums/59223-waze-suggestion-box/suggestions/46408069-ability-to-select-hov-routes-in-carplay
Android Auto: https://waze.uservoice.com/forums/59223-waze-suggestion-box/suggestions/45024079-allow-hov-lanes-to-be-selected-in-android-auto

1 Like
8

Voted!

And wow – this has been on UserVoice for nearly 3 years now :man_facepalming: