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Eligibility and Application $12000 EV incentive

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Category
Car
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Eligibility
California households at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level with an older car to scrap, living where the local air district runs no Clean Cars 4 All program.
Auto Summary
UPDATE 2026-10-19: CARB says DCAP's Financing Assistance pathway (help buying or leasing an EV) closed in August 2026 with no reopening date. The Clean Cars 4 All scrap-and-replace pathway through DCAP is still open for households at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level with an older car to retire, where the local air district doesn't run its own program. CARB lists drivingcleanca.org as the DCAP site. Dollar amounts and the 1-833-202-DCAP line were not re-checked today (the administrator's site was unreachable). No car to scrap? See MyFirstEV ($3,500 off a first new EV, $1,750 off used, no income limit).
Value
Up to $12,000 incentive toward purchase or lease of a new or used EV
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URL
drivingcleanca.org
Last verified 2026-05-17. DCAP is open statewide. The "Clean Cars 4 All" pathway (you scrap an old gas car) is accepting applications. The "Financing Assistance" pathway is closed to Tier 2 and Tier 3 applicants as of 2026 due to high demand. [Source: drivingcleanca.org (accessed 2026-05-17)]

What this is

The Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) is a California program that helps low-income residents buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or fuel-cell vehicle. It is run by Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) for the California Air Resources Board (CARB). [Source: ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/driving-clean-assistance-program/about (accessed 2026-05-17)]

How much you can get

The amount depends on which pathway you use and where you live.
Clean Cars 4 All (you scrap an old, running gas car):
  • Up to $12,000 if you live in a Disadvantaged Community (DAC)
  • Up to $10,000 if you do not live in a DAC
  • Plus $2,000 for home Level 2 charger + install, OR a $2,000 prepaid public-charging card
  • Or instead: a $7,500 Clean Mobility option (transit passes, bike share, e-bike)
Financing Assistance (no car to scrap):
  • Up to $7,500 toward the vehicle
  • Plus the same $2,000 charging incentive
  • Loan APR is capped at 8%
  • Currently closed for Tier 2 and Tier 3 applicants. Check the site for openings.
One incentive per household, lifetime.
[Source: drivingcleanca.org/about-us/dcap-eligibility (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Who qualifies

  • 18 or older
  • California resident (AB60 driver licenses and ITIN tax IDs are accepted)
  • Household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of four that is roughly $93,600–$99,000 in 2026 (updated each year by household size).
  • You have not received money from another CARB light-duty vehicle incentive program before (for example, Clean Vehicle Rebate, Clean Cars for All from an air district)
  • You apply before you buy or lease — DCAP is not retroactive
[Source: drivingcleanca.org/about-us/dcap-eligibility (accessed 2026-05-17)]

What car you can get

  • New or used EV, PHEV, or fuel-cell vehicle on CARB's eligible list
  • Sale price cap: $45,000 (before tax and fees)
  • Used vehicles: model year 2017 or newer, 75,000 miles or fewer
  • Must be bought through an authorized dealer in the DCAP network

How to apply

  1. Go to drivingcleanca.org and open the FAQ + eligibility pages first.
  1. Start the application at chdc.my.site.com/dcap/s/application (linked from the URL field above).
  1. Call 1-833-202-DCAP (3227) if anything is unclear. Free help.
  1. After you are approved, you pick a vehicle from a participating dealer. The incentive is applied at the dealer — you do not pay it up front and wait for a check.

Common pitfalls

  • Do not buy the car first. If you sign paperwork before DCAP approves you, you lose the incentive.
  • Tier 2 / Tier 3 Financing Assistance is currently closed. If you do not have a gas car to scrap and you are not Tier 1, the pathway is on pause — call DCAP to ask when it reopens.
  • The $45,000 price cap rules out most new Teslas, F-150 Lightnings, etc. It works best for used EVs (Bolt, Leaf, Niro EV, Kona EV, used Model 3) and lower-priced new EVs.
  • One incentive per household, for life. If a spouse already used CVRP or a similar CARB program, you are not eligible.

Where to get help

  • Phone: 1-833-202-DCAP (3227)
  • Program operator: Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC)
  • Funder: California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Sources