If you bought a car that's friendly to the environment you get a couple of perks. In some states that means you can drive in the carpool lane regardless of how many people are in the car.

So why are hybrid car owners complaining to Consumer Champ Bill Clarke?

Because they don't get the same perks.

Not all energy-efficient cars are created equal. And if you're thinking about buying one, listen up.

Stan Wawrzyniak is a big fan of the hybrid.

"I love it. It's my second one," he said.

His Toyota Prius is called a SULEV, or super ultra low emission vehicle. It's energy efficient.

"It's the cleanest on the road," Wawrzyniak said.

And in some states, environmentally friendly machines are allowed to drive in the carpool lane, or the HOV lane, even if just one person is in the car.

But that perk doesn't apply to the SULEV and the folks at Colorado's Department of Transportation are getting an earful.

"We have many many calls from owners of these vechicles, the hybrid vehicles, who would like to drive in the hov lanes and they're very frustrated," said a CDOT spokesman.

The SULEV operates on a combination of electricity and gasoline.

Because it uses conventional gasoline the government doesn't consider the hybrid to be an alternative fueled vehicle. And that's why Wawrzyniak won't get his HOV permit.

"It's been two years. I've been trying for HOV lane and and it's still the same obstacle. That needs to get changed," Wawrzyniak said.

CDOT has sent letters to local car dealers telling them to change their pitch.

Apparently, some dealers told hybrid buyers they could use carpool lanes but that is not the case.

Call 7 for Help also contacted the Environmental Protection Agency. It said only the ILEVs or inherently low emission vehicles are allowed in carpool lanes no matter how many people are in the car.