California Fleet Reduction Has Eliminated 3,800 Vehicles So Far
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California governor's office said the Department of General Services expects savings of $57 million over the course of five years.
SACRAMENTO, CA – California Governor Jerry Brown’s office released a statement announcing the State’s progress in reducing the size of its vehicle fleet since the governor issued Executive Order Order B-2-11 in January, 2011. So far, the State has cut 3,800 vehicles out of a goal of reducing the fleet by a total of 5,500 vehicles.
The governor’s office said the Department of General Services (DGS) expects to save $11.4 million in 2012 and bring in $5 million from auction revenue.
“Significant progress has been made, but we are not done yet,” Brown said. “I’m not satisfied with purging just 3,800 vehicles—State departments can make deeper cuts. Every department must eliminate the unnecessary vehicles that waste taxpayer money. There is no excuse for an excessive State fleet.”
The governor’s office said a California State vehicle’s operational life is five years and costs $3,000 per year in maintenance, insurance, and depreciation. Based on these figures, the State expects to save $57 million over the course of five years.
The news release also said State departments have eliminated 600 vehicle home storage permits and that DGS is planning to eliminate more.
Brown’s office said largest reductions come from the following eight departments, which operate the largest fleets:
California Department of Transportation 926
Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation 795
California State Parks 388
California Highway Patrol 322
California Department of Fish & Game 251
CAL FIRE 234
California Department of Water Resources 204
California Department of Food & Agriculture 111
In addition, DGS plans to continue its analysis of overall State vehicle needs and implement right-sizing plans for State entities going forward.
More Operations

Is Delaying Fleet Replacement Really Saving Money?
Could delaying replacement cost your fleet more than it saves? This week’s recap takes a closer look, plus an update on GFX 2027.
Read More →What Government Fleets Are Missing About Their True Costs
What are fleet budgets missing, and how can agencies use the data they already collect to make a stronger case for change?
Read More →
Rethinking Fleet Decisions From the Budget Office to the Shop
This October we looked back at how public fleets are reconsidering familiar processes and using what they learn to make better decisions.
Read More →
Who Owns the Message on a Refuse Truck?
Refuse trucks can carry public messages into neighborhoods, but keeping those messages current takes planning and clear responsibility.
Read More →
Who Deserves Fleet Recognition and What Could You Teach at GFX?
Who helped shape your fleet career, and what have you learned that could help someone else?
Read More →
What’s Haunting Public Sector Fleets?
Public sector fleet challenges rarely happen in isolation, and addressing one often means understanding how it connects to another.
Read More →
Is Keeping Older Fleet Vehicles Really Saving Money?
Is keeping vehicles longer saving money, and what happens when a diagnostic test points to the wrong fix?
Read More →
How Smart Fleet Strategy Can Help Local Government Agencies Do More with Less
Keeping a vehicle longer may ease this year’s budget, but what does it cost the next one? A closer look at fleet decisions can reveal opportunities to reduce spending while protecting essential services.
Read More →
Connect with Government Fleet on LinkedIn
From industry news and fleet management strategies to conversations with peers, Government Fleet's LinkedIn page offers public-sector fleet professionals another way to stay informed and connected.
Read More →
Town of Queen Creek Named Most Successful Fleet Award Winner of Inaugural RTA Fleet Success Awards
Five fleets were honored at RTA Connect 2026 in Chicago for excellence across resource efficiency, intentional culture, risk management, and stakeholder satisfaction.
Read More →

