Frequently Asked Questions

Tolls and Discounts

Why are two-person carpools only free during certain hours and during the first 3.5 years?

Prior to the I-405 Improvement Project, the carpool lanes regularly failed to provide a faster commute than the regular lanes. The carpool lanes were degraded to the point that they often moved just as slow or sometimes slower than the regular lanes. The entire I-405 Improvement Project and the adopted toll policy allow congestion to be managed in both the near-term and long-term based on expected growth in demand. Degraded carpool lanes are an issue throughout Orange County and more information on this topic can be found in a study that Caltrans conducted, called the HOV Degradation Report

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Contact Customer Service using the options below.

In Person
405 Express Lanes Customer Service Center

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday


OCTA Store

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday

Phone

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday

Email/Mail
Email Address
CustomerService@405expresslanes.com

Mailing Address
405 Express Lanes
P.O. Box 2177
Costa Mesa, CA 92628