We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more.

8 States Now Plan to Ban Gas-Powered Car Sales

- Money; Getty Images
Money; Getty Images

At least eight states plan to ban sales of new gas-powered cars after 2035, and several others are thinking about joining them.

The rules being adopted specify that only zero-emission vehicles — including electric vehicles and some plug-in hybrids — can be sold in participating states beginning with the 2035 model year.

Traditional gas-powered cars on the road at that point wouldn't be affected, and drivers would still be allowed to buy used gas-powered cars. Automakers and dealerships, however, would be prohibited from selling new gas vehicles in states where bans are in place.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
An Extended Car Warranty lets you drive with confidence
Endurance offers extended protection for your vehicle. Click on your state for a free quote today.
HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas
See Details

At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new rules on Wednesday that would require automakers to reduce the emissions of new vehicles by about 50% from model year 2026 to 2032

To get there, the EPA says it's likely that 35% to 56% of vehicles will need to be EVs, and between 13% and 36% will need to be plug-in hybrids. These targets are less ambitious than an earlier EPA proposal that would have essentially required that 67% of new car sales be electric vehicles by the 2032 model year.

States banning new gas-powered cars

Rhode Island was the most recent state to join the group with plans to ban sales of new gas-powered cars. A statement from the governor's office in May called the move "a pivotal moment in Rhode Island’s efforts to fight climate change."

Other states consider gas car bans

Megan O'Toole, with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, says the state adopted Advanced Clean Cars II in December 2022, including the 2035 zero-emissions vehicle requirement for new car sales. However, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has not come out in support and his office did not respond to a request for comment.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vows that the state will not ban sales of new gas-powered cars after 2035, but the state's emissions standards are currently tied to California's, and the latest effort to repeal the law failed in the state senate in January. As a spokesperson for the sustainability nonprofit Ceres explains, "Virginia passed legislation coupling the state with California standards... For now VA is technically required by law to implement ACC II starting with Model Year 2026."

In the fall, Delaware and Colorado finalized rules that would require 82% of new cars to be zero-emissions vehicles in 2032, but officials have not adopted 2035 bans.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced in July that the state will set annual targets for the sale of new zero-emission vehicles, and New Mexico may adopt parts of Advanced Clean Cars II. Like Delaware and Colorado, New Mexico has not endorsed the 2035 ban. The rules the state is advancing "do not prohibit the sale or ownership of new or used gasoline-powered vehicles," according to a spokesperson for Lujan Grisham.

For a brief period of time, nine states were pushing toward 2035 bans, but Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont withdrew his plan when it met legislative opposition. The issue is expected to be revisited this year.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
An Extended Car Warranty can protect you against costly repairs
Endurance offers extended warranties that protect your vehicle for up to 250,000 miles. For a free quote, click below and get started.
See Details

Why bans of new gas car sales matter

As states come out with plans to ban new gas-powered cars, automakers could feel pressure to accelerate their production of electric cars.

In 2023, 7.6% of new vehicle sales were electric, a major increase from 3.2% in 2021, according to Kelley Blue Book. The transition to electric cars is already underway, and the 2035 bans show how quickly it could speed up.

Automakers shift to EVs

Ultimately, it's unclear how restrictive these bans will end up being, given that major automakers are ramping up production of electric vehicles with the intention of phasing out gas-powered models.

Newsletter
Make smarter money decisions in just a few minutes every day
Subscribe to Daily Money to get more of the latest personal finance news, stories, and analysis delivered everyday to your inbox.

More from Money:

8 Best Car Loan Rates

3 Reasons Why New Car Costs Are Higher, Even Though Prices Are Dropping

How to Buy Tesla Stock

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
Stop paying for costly car repairs and get an Extended Car Warranty!

Tags