Yes, you can still drive, buy, and sell used gas-powered cars after 2035. The regulations, such as California's Advanced Clean Cars II rule, only ban the sale of new gasoline-only cars, not the use of existing ones. Gas stations will remain open, and gasoline vehicles will likely stay on the road for decades.
Senate blocks California's rule banning new gas-powered car sales by 2035.
California is phasing out new gas car sales by 2035. California made history in 2020 as the first state to plan to ban the sale of new gas cars by 2035. In 2022, California passed a law requiring automakers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles each year.
Yes, there will still be gas cars in 2030, but their sales will be declining significantly as many regions push for half or more of new vehicle sales to be electric by then, with some states aiming to ban new gas car sales entirely by 2035. While new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will still be available, regulations are forcing them to be cleaner (hybrids), and the market share for electric vehicles (EVs) will grow substantially.
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, six automakers and 30 countries signed a pledge to end sales of gas and diesel-powered cars worldwide by 2040. The agreement also includes phasing out sales of those vehicles by 2035 in “leading markets.”
Costs: are gas cars really cheaper than electric? When people say gas cars are “better,” they often mean “cheaper.” That's only partly true. In 2025, gas cars usually win on the sticker price, but EVs often win on day‑to‑day running costs, energy and maintenance, especially if you charge at home.
You won't be forced to buy an electric car (EV) overnight, but government regulations (like the EPA's emissions rules) and state mandates (like California's 2035 ban on new gas car sales) are pushing automakers to sell more EVs, effectively making them the primary new vehicle option in many places by the 2030s, though this is subject to political and industry changes, with debates ongoing about consumer choice and affordability.
Across the globe, internal combustion engines are making a comeback, and consumers, automakers, and governments alike are reassessing the rush toward all-electric vehicles. According to a recent report from EY, half of all car buyers worldwide now plan to purchase a new or used gasoline-powered vehicle.
The phased-in zero-emission vehicle requirement is set to apply to California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington for the ongoing model year 2026, and Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. for model year 2027.
EPA's passenger vehicle rule will take effect very soon, starting with model year 2027 vehicles. The rule ends with model year 2032, at which point EPA's own compliance scenarios show new gas cars and trucks are likely to be limited to less than 30% of overall new vehicle sales, down from more than 80% of sales today.
Starting on January 1, 2035, the executive order would ban the sale of new vehicles that are powered by an internal combustion engine, which includes gasoline, diesel and hybrid electric vehicles.
The primary alternative gaining traction is the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), which offer a clean energy solution void of the emissions typical of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The growing availability of EV charging infrastructure is making this transition more feasible than ever.
But the end is in sight, as the government has declared that sales of petrol and diesel cars will end in 2030. Some car industry observers think this is ambitious, but either way, in a few years, there won't be many diesel cars on sale. They will survive beyond that, but by 2050, they could well be a rarity.
Global EV sales are growing faster than the overall car market, while gas-only sales are flat or shrinking. At the same time, EV growth in the U.S. has slowed in 2024–2025 as early adopters have mostly bought in and mainstream buyers demand clearer value, better charging, and more affordable models.
Gasoline Car Phaseout In California
California's ACC II requires that all new passenger cars, trucks, and light duty vehicles sold in California be zero emissions by 2035. ACC II amends California's Zero-Emission Vehicle Regulation to require automakers to sell an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles each year.
In September 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the ban on pure petrol and diesel cars has been pushed back from 2030 to 2035. This decision is said to be “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic,” easing the burden on people during the cost of living crisis.
"To be very clear, there are no plans to ban the use of classic cars," said Lys Mendez, communications director with the California Air Resources Board. "I think there's unfounded rumors that have been circulating on social media that we are doing something on classic cars, which is not the case.
Individuals whose adjusted annual income is no more than $100,000 — it's $200,000 for joint filers — can deduct the interest on an auto loan for a new car with final assembly in the United States. The benefit, which can be taken in addition to the standard tax deduction, will apply only between 2025 and 2028.
Concerns about range, broken chargers and upfront costs are deal breakers. Tesla's market dominance has exacerbated the issue. Many left-leaning California consumers, who were once loyal to Tesla, appear to have distanced themselves because of CEO Elon Musk's controversial public persona and alliance with Trump.
Yes, there will likely still be gasoline (gas) cars on the road in 2050, though they will be far outnumbered by electric vehicles (EVs) in new sales, with some projections showing EVs making up the majority of new purchases by then, while gas cars remain a significant portion of the total cars on the road due to their long lifespan. Government incentives and mandates, like California's goal to phase out new gas car sales by 2035, aim to accelerate the transition, but the existing fleet and consumer adoption rates mean gas cars won't disappear overnight.
Dave Ramsey's core car rules emphasize paying cash, avoiding new cars (unless you're a millionaire), keeping your total vehicle value under half your annual income, and using a strict budget, often suggesting the 20/4/10 rule (20% down, 4-year loan, 10% total car expenses) as a guideline if financing, but preferring no debt at all to avoid depreciating assets trapping you. He stresses buying reliable, used vehicles to prevent debt and build wealth.