Driving Clean Assistance Program

Start your eco-friendly journey with California’s new statewide financial assistance program, which makes electric vehicle ownership affordable for low to modest-income households. Through this initiative, eligible residents living in qualifying communities can access low-interest loans up to $45,000, making sustainable transportation more accessible than ever. Unlock subsidies for your electric vehicle purchase, or opt for a home charger**. 

Benefits:

• Qualify for thousands towards your purchase:
  • up to $7,500 towards your electric vehicle purchase, with no-trade in/non-qualified trade-in and
  • $2,000 towards the purchase and installation for an in-home electric vehicle charger or a $2,000 prepaid charge card to pay for public charging**
• Qualify for additional cash towards your purchase, up to $12,000, when accompanied by a Clean Cars for All (Scrap and Replace) vehicle trade-in**. Learn More.
• Loan financing up to $45,000 (if loan eligible) per household. 
• Interest rates are capped at 8.00% APR* maximum regardless of credit.

To Qualify: 

• Must apply with the Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) before purchasing/leasing a vehicle (retroactive incentives are not available).
• Be 18 years older.
• Be California residents in eligible communities, community members with AB60 and ITIN qualify.
• Have a household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. See income requirements.
• Not have participated in other CARB light-duty vehicle purchase incentive programs (e.g., Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), Clean Vehicle Assistance Program (CVAP), regional Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP), Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A)). 

Vehicle Eligibility:

• Must be a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, battery electric vehicle, or a fuel cell electric vehicle.
• $45,000 or less vehicle cost (does not include taxes and fees).
• $45,000 or less amount financed.
• 8*** model years or newer. Learn More. 
• 75,000 or less original miles.
• New vehicles must be on the California Air Resource Board list of eligible vehicles.

Participants are limited to one incentive per household for the program’s duration.

Protection Options:

Major Mechanical Protection. Protect your vehicle well beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. Major Mechanical Protection covers repair costs when your ride breaks down and provides a variety of additional benefits at no cost such as 24-hour Roadside Assistance, Rental Vehicle Assistance, Tire Protection, and more. 

Peace of Mind Protection. You can’t control everything in life – but you can help protect your finances with Peace of Mind Protection. Cancel your loan balance or payments in the event of involuntary unemployment, disability, or death. Coverage is customizable and voluntary, and it’s simple to apply.

Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) with PowerBuy. If your vehicle is stolen or totaled in an accident, your insurance will pay only the fair market value, often substantially less than what you still owe on the loan. GAP insurance protects you against costly out-of-pocket expenses by paying what your insurance won’t.  

**No cash-out option on the charging component (i.e. you can’t get $9,500 for charging component purchase).

***The model year of an 8-year vehicle is calculated by subtracting 7 from the current calendar year of the transaction.