California’s 2026 Transportation Laws: Higher Tolls, New Safety Rules and DMV Changes
In early January 2026, Californians are feeling the effects of a slate of new state laws that will impact how they travel and manage their vehicles. The year began with a 50-cent toll increase on seven state-owned Bay Area bridges including the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, San Mateo–Hayward Bridge, Dumbarton Bridge, and the Antioch, Carquinez, Benicia–Martinez, and Richmond–San Rafael bridges. Transportation authorities say the incremental increase, part of a multi-year schedule approved by voters in 2018’s Regional Measure 3, will help fund transit and road improvements around the region. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) fares were also adjusted upward by an average of 4 percent, the first significant fare change under the agency’s new inflation-based formula.
Safety is a major theme of the 2026 legislative package. Assembly Bill 390 expands the state’s “Slow Down and Move Over” law beyond highways to include local streets: drivers now must either change lanes or reduce speed to 20 mph when approaching any stationary vehicles displaying hazard lights, including tow trucks, road maintenance vehicles and regular passenger cars. Another measure, Assembly Bill 544, aims to reduce the growing number of e-bike injuries by requiring white front lights and red rear reflectors on all e-bikes sold or operated in California. Senate Bill 586 formally defines off-highway electric motorcycles and brings them into the state’s registration system; previously there was no clear category for these bikes. Senate Bill 1271 sets fire safety standards for e-bike and e-scooter batteries and requires devices sold after January 1, 2028 to carry certification from recognized testing laboratories. Together, officials hope these measures will reduce the risk of battery fires and collisions.
A handful of laws focus on equity and convenience. Assembly Bill 506 streamlines the process of updating a residential address with the DMV by authorizing a duplicate license solely for an address change, eliminating the need to wait for a renewal period. Another new statute, Assembly Bill 1299, creates a mandatory relief program for parking violations that requires counties to offer low-income motorists the option to reduce or eliminate late penalties and registration holds after completing a payment plan. This change is expected to help thousands of residents keep their vehicles registered and avoid compounding fees.
Other notable provisions include Assembly Bill 382, which empowers local governments to designate school zones with 20 mph speed limits, and Assembly Bill 1777, which clarifies how the DMV will handle complaints involving autonomous vehicles, ensuring that the department can suspend or revoke permits when safety rules are violated. Together, these laws represent a comprehensive approach to improving California’s transportation system—raising funds for infrastructure, enhancing safety for vulnerable road users, and making administrative processes more accessible. Drivers and transit riders should review these updates carefully to stay compliant and take advantage of new benefits, while advocacy groups will be watching how enforcement and implementation unfold through 2026.