diff --git a/features/car/access.feature b/features/car/access.feature
index 93691d4d0..4e614a600 100644
--- a/features/car/access.feature
+++ b/features/car/access.feature
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Feature: Car - Restricted access
     Background:
         Given the profile "car"
 
-    Scenario: Car - Access tag hierarchy    on ways
+    Scenario: Car - Access tag hierarchy on ways
         Then routability should be
             | access | vehicle | motor_vehicle | motorcar | bothw |
             |        |         |               |          | x     |
@@ -148,3 +148,10 @@ Feature: Car - Restricted access
             | primary |      |         | no  |           | x     |
             | runway  |      |         |     | yes       |       |
             | primary |      |         |     | no        | x     |
+
+    Scenario: Car - only designated HOV ways are ignored by default
+        Then routability should be
+            | highway | hov        | bothw |
+            | primary | designated |       |
+            | primary | yes        | x     |
+            | primary | no         | x     |
diff --git a/profiles/car.lua b/profiles/car.lua
index c2f66e2e3..c5c57291c 100644
--- a/profiles/car.lua
+++ b/profiles/car.lua
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ local turn_bias                  = 1.2
 
 local obey_oneway                = true
 local ignore_areas               = true
+local ignore_hov_ways            = true
 
 local abs = math.abs
 local min = math.min
@@ -233,6 +234,12 @@ function way_function (way, result)
     return
   end
 
+  -- respect user-preference for HOV-only ways
+  local hov = way:get_value_by_key("hov")
+  if ignore_hov_ways and hov and "designated" == hov then
+    return
+  end
+
   -- check if oneway tag is unsupported
   local oneway = way:get_value_by_key("oneway")
   if oneway and "reversible" == oneway then
diff --git a/taginfo.json b/taginfo.json
index bc1883777..2760a6fc9 100644
--- a/taginfo.json
+++ b/taginfo.json
@@ -46,6 +46,12 @@
             "object_types": [ "way" ],
             "description": "Roads with area=yes are ignored by default."
         },
+        {
+            "key": "hov",
+            "value": "designated",
+            "object_types": [ "way" ],
+            "description": "Roads with hov=designated are ignored by default."
+        },
         {
             "key": "impassable",
             "description": "This is used by HOT."