What are the rules for the HOV lane in Virginia?

During HOV-restricted periods, HOV-2 lanes require a minimum of two people per passenger vehicle and HOV-3 lanes have a minimum of three. Some vehicles have exemptions. During all other times, HOV lanes are open to all passenger vehicles, except when the reversible lanes are closed.



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Generally, the lanes are open northbound starting early in the mornings on weekdays until 11 a.m. before closing during the middle part of the day for a few hours to set up for the switch. Starting at 1 p.m., the lanes switch to southbound until midnight.

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If you travel on I-66 Inside the Beltway during Express Lane hours, you need to have an E-ZPass funded and properly mounted in your vehicle. If you are an HOV driver, you'll need an E-ZPass Flex switched to HOV mode to use the lanes for free. Visit www.ezpassva.com to get your E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex.

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Saturday: Open southbound – 12am to 2pm. Closed for reversal – 2pm to 4pm. Open northbound – 4pm to 12am.

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I-495 and I-95 Express Lanes Tolling is always in effect. All drivers need an E-ZPass to use the Express lanes, and carpools with three or more people (HOV-3) need an E-ZPass Flex to use the lanes for free. Motorcycles also use the lanes for free, with or without E-ZPass.

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All Express Lanes in Virginia require an E-ZPass. If you travel on Express Lanes without an E-ZPass you will receive a toll invoice or violation notice unless you go to that particular facility's website and make a missed toll payment within a certain number of days of the transaction before the invoice is issued.

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The Express Lanes are a result of a public-private partnership between VDOT and Transurban. VDOT owns and oversees the Lanes while Transurban is responsible for the financing and operations.

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