The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) is funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and administered statewide by the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) in order to promote the production and use of zero-emission vehicles, including electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles.

CVRP’s Terms and Conditions and Implementation Manual are updated every six months to accommodate operational process changes. Both the Terms and Conditions and Implementation Manual in place at the time of application will determine an applicant’s eligibility for the program. Changes to these governing documents may impact the applicant’s eligibility for the program.

The next regular update is scheduled for August 15, 2023*.

Due to limited funding, CVRP does not expect to continue accepting new applications after funding is depleted.

*CVRP also reserves the right to update the Implementation Manual and the Terms and Conditions outside of the scheduled updates. The timing of these updates will be communicated here as early as possible.

Summary of August 15, 2023 updates:

• CVRP introduced an EV Charge Card in addition to the increased rebate incentive. All Approved BEV or PHEV Increased Rebate applicants will be mailed a $2,000 CVRP Charge Card to be used to offset expenses of electric vehicle charging. 
• The Charge Card is available to consumers that submit an application on/after August 15th, 2023 and meet all other eligibility requirements. 

Yes. You can download a copy of the CVRP Implementation Manual, which contains the detailed guidelines for CVRP.

Eligible Increased Rebate recipients who apply on or after August 15, 2023, will receive a $2,000 CVRP EV Charge Card to use at public electric vehicle charging stations. The EV Charge Card is provided in addition to the Increased Rebate. The EV Charge Card is restricted to use at public EV charging stations and will not work for other purchases.

The Charge Card will be provided to purchasers/lessors of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) or a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV’s) are not eligible to receive a Charge Card.

The Charge Card will be mailed separately from your rebate check. The Charge Card will be sent in an envelope that lists CVRP's logo and a Birmingham, Alabama return address. Instructions for card activation will be included in the envelope. Questions regarding your EV Charge Card can be directed to the third party provider, Dash, at 1-833-848-5768.

Please consider checking with your local utility provider for information on public charging stations near you. You may also consider an internet search for public charging support options; for example EVgo, PlugStar, or PlugShare. 

Important: Any applications received during the standby list period are not guaranteed to receive an EV Charge Card. Please see the "What does the standby list mean to me" FAQ for more information. 

All funding for CVRP has been reserved and the program is no longer accepting new applications. Applications submitted during the standby list period are not guaranteed to receive a rebate. CVRP is not receiving additional funding and will not reopen to accept new applications.

• If you applied on or before September 5, 2023:
  Your rebate amount was reserved when you applied. You will receive your rebate if you meet all requirements and submit the correct supporting documents within the required time frame.
• If you applied on or after September 6, 2023:
  Your application was placed on a rebate standby list. Payment of rebates for applicants that are placed on the standby list is not guaranteed and are dependent upon available funding.

Please continue to login and check the status of your application to ensure you are aware of any further action needed to complete or update your application. Applicants are provided ten days to correct issues with their application before the application is automatically cancelled.

No. You must adhere to the program Terms and Conditions and meet all requirements set in the Implementation Manual, including submitting correct, complete, and legible documents, and responding to emails by the dates requested.

All funding for CVRP has been reserved and the program is no longer accepting new applications. CVRP is not receiving additional funding and will not reopen to accept new applications. Please visit DriveClean.ca.gov to see other EV rebates that you may be eligible to receive.

If you applied prior to November 8, 2023, and your application was placed on the standby list, please read the standby list FAQ for more information.

Due to increased application volume, CVRP is experiencing higher than normal processing times.

If you have specific questions about your application, please contact the Center for Sustainable Energy at 866-984-2532 or by email at CVRP@energycenter.org.

CVRP staff members review applications in the order that they are received. These estimates were last updated: 06/24/2024.

• Average time to start an application review: 279 business days

Applications received prior to 9/6/2023 have priority over standby list applications. Applications on the standby list will only be reviewed once applications received prior to 9/6/23 have been processed and if funding is available.

Applications submitted on or after 9/6/23 are not guaranteed to receive a rebate.

CVRP considers an applicant’s most recent federal tax return to be the one most recently required to be filed by the IRS. CVRP switches to requesting a new tax filing year for applications submitted the day after the federal income tax filing due date. For example, CVRP began requesting tax transcripts for tax year 2022 after the tax filing deadline in October 2023.

If an applicant has filed their taxes for a tax year before CVRP switches to requesting it, the applicant may request that CVRP evaluate that tax year.

Applications are usually selected for income verification when you apply. If selected at this time, your confirmation email will include all necessary information and attachments. You will also see a place to upload Proof of Income on your My Application page immediately after you complete your online application:

Applications may also be selected for income verification later in our review process. If you are selected at a later time, we will send you an email with directions.

We are so glad you are checking! Please make sure that @energycenter.org is on your email safe senders list so you can receive our emails. Visit our FAQ for more information: How do I add @energycenter.org to my email safe sender list?

We send emails at each step in the application process. Emails should be received within 15 minutes after performing an action such as: submitting your application, submitting (or resubmitting) supporting documents, or resetting your password.

Our team asks that you add CVRP’s email domain @energycenter.org to your email safe sender list to prevent our emails from being blocked or landing in your spam folder. Notifications regarding your rebate application status and required follow up action are sent by email. Missed emails may result in application cancellation and processing delays.

What is an email safe sender list?

For guidance on adding CVRP’s email domain to your safe sender’s list, click the name of your email client below:

• AOL
• Gmail
• MSN Hotmail (Classic)
• Outlook
• Windows Live Hotmail
• Yahoo! Mail

If your email client is not listed, please perform an internet search for “how to add a domain to my safe sender list for [insert your email client name here]”. You may also click one of the links above and edit the email client in the search bar to your own.

Periodically check your Spam / Junk / Bulk mail folders in case one of our emails still gets caught in your filters. If you find one of our emails in your Spam folder, please mark it as “Not Spam.”

Some of our emails come directly from the specialist handling your application (example: firstName.lastName@energycenter.org), so please also add any email address that you receive from us to your safe senders list and/or Contacts.

Applications will no longer be accepted on/after 11/8/2023, regardless of vehicle purchase/lease date.

Required supporting documents are listed by applicant type below. 

Note: Submitting incomplete or incorrect supporting documents will delay your application approval and may result in your application being cancelled. Visit our sample supporting documents page and use the checklist included to help avoid the most common mistakes.  For examples of complete Tesla Purchase and Lease Agreements, please visit our Tesla Sample Supporting Documents page.

The name of the applicant must be listed on all original documentation. For tips and other guidance, please view sample supporting documents. Please contact the administrator immediately if there is a mistake on your application form. Applicants who submit an application form with an incorrect applicant name will need to re-apply. Eligibility will be reviewed based on the Terms and Conditions in place at the time a new application is submitted. Extensions will not be granted.

^{* For zero Emission Motorcycles, evidence of maintenance free batteries (and sealed if lead-acid) and a 24-month warranty is also required.}

^{† For CVRP Rebate Now preapproval applications, vehicle documentation (purchase/lease agreement and proof of registration) is not required until after the applicant has purchased or leased a vehicle. If the dealership claims the rebate and subtracts the preapproved rebate amount from the vehicle price, the dealership is required to submit these documents on the applicant’s behalf; if the applicant claims the rebate, the applicant is required to submit them in order to receive the rebate payment.} 

^{†† Only a portion of applicants will be selected for income verification. You do not have to submit proof of income unless you have been selected for income verification. For applicants selected for income verification and whose most recent tax year transcripts are not available, additional documentation will be required to verify compliance with current income requirements.  Additional documents may include, but are not limited to, W2s, bank accounts statements, business bank account statements, brokerage account statements, paystubs, and/or summary of benefits.} 

Easy Online Upload:

1. Log in with your application number and password.
2. Upload and submit your supporting documents online.
   • Where is my application number?
   • What is my password?

Mail:

Center for Sustainable Energy
Clean Vehicle Rebate Project
3980 Sherman Street, Suite 170
San Diego, CA 92110

Note: Documents mailed to the California Air Resources Board, CSE’s Oakland or Los Angeles locations will not be processed. Please refrain from using tape or staples to combine your documents within your envelope.

Email:

Because of security and privacy concerns, applicants are strongly discouraged from emailing their supporting documentation. However, applicants may email their supporting documentation to cvrp@energycenter.org with the understanding that they accept all risk associated with emailing these documents. Note: Emails sent with Zip files are blocked and the administrator will not receive your supporting documentation.

Your application number is in your confirmation email.  It is also in the top left corner of your application form, which was attached to your confirmation email. Your application number looks like this: A-123456. 

If you did not receive a confirmation email, please check your junk mail and add cvrp@energycenter.org to your email safe senders list for future emails. If you still cannot find your application number, please contact CVRP staff.

What is my password?

I'm not getting your emails. Where are they?

How do I add cvrp@energycenter.org to my email safe sender's list?

If you created a password and forgot it: Reset your password now.

Follow the directions to request a link to create/reset your new password. Be sure to check your junk mail and add cvrp@energycenter.org to your email safe senders list.

How do I add cvrp@energycenter.org to my email safe sender’s list?

Each supporting document must be in a single file. We accept PDF, JPG, and PNG files.

Please make sure your files are not sideways.

Scanners are available at most California public libraries. Please visit your local California public library website or call your local library branch for more information.

Scanning services are also available through stores such as FedEx, Kinkos, Office Depot, Staples, The UPS Store, and other office stores. Please contact your preferred store to verify services.

If you have a long purchase/lease agreement, you will need to take several scans and combine the separate scans into one file.

Be sure to include all sections of your agreement. We recommend overlapping your scans so that some information is duplicated on each page:

If you have more than one file for a supporting document, here are some ways to combine multiple files into one document:

1. Combine multiple pdf pages into one pdf document.
2. Combine your files into a zip folder.

If you can’t combine multiple files into one file, view How do I submit my supporting documents? for other options.

Yes. The address on your driver’s license does not need to match the address on your application form. However, the name on your driver’s license must match the name on the application form.

View Sample Supporting Documents PDF

Applications received prior to the date of purchase/lease will be cancelled and will no longer be able to reapply as CVRP is out of funding and is not accepting applications. Extensions will not be granted.

1. Log in to your CVRP application and click the Choose File option (if you’re unsure of which document is required, click the for more info):
   
   
    
2. Your computer file explorer will appear. Type the name of the file you want to upload:, for example MY NEW CAR:
   
   
    
3. When the File name is showing in your computer file explorer, click Open:
   
   
    
4. After the File name is listed in the empty white box (see highlighted below), click Upload:
   
   
    
5. When the uploaded document is successfully saved, the Choose File option will disappear. If you uploaded the incorrect file, you may Remove it to upload a new file:
   
   
    
6. Click the Choose File option for all supporting documents and continue the Upload process:
   
   
    
7. If you require more time to review your supporting documents, you may select "Not Yet" and upload your remaining documents later.
   
   
    
8. When you have uploaded all supporting documents uploaded, click Submit Documents.
   
   
    
9. Wait for confirmation message that all supporting documents have been uploaded:
   
   

Scanner steps: 

• Place your document on a printer-scanner device
• Select “scan to email” option
• Choose scan
• Enter your email address
• Send the photograph to your email address
• Save the document to your computer
• Rename the document (for example “registration”)

Smart phone steps:

• Place your document on a flat surface
• Open your phone’s camera
• Photograph the document
• Enter your email address
• Send the photograph to your email address
• Save the document to your PC or laptop
• Rename the document (for example “purchase agreement”)

Next step: Upload document 

• Log in at cleanvehiclerebate.org/login and upload document
  
  

There are three different types of vehicles eligible for the project:

Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV)
Any vehicle certified to zero-emission standards. Vehicles in the ZEV category include electric-drive, all-battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) up to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). For the purposes of CVRP, ZEVs are categorized as defined in the California Zero-Emission Vehicle Regulation Sections 1962 and 1962.1, Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR). The range extended battery electric vehicle (BEVx) is a regulatory vehicle category that was approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in January 2012 and was included as a zero-emission vehicle type in June 2012 as part of the FY 2012-13 AQIP Funding Plan approval.   

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
PHEVs are hybrid electric vehicles that have zero-emission vehicle range capability and an onboard electrical energy storage device that can be recharged from an external source of electricity. In general, PHEVs are vehicles that can be driven using electricity, gasoline or both. PHEVs must have greater than or equal to 30 miles EPA range on electricity alone.

Zero-Emission Motorcycles (ZEM)
A ZEM is defined as either a two-wheeled electric motorcycle meeting the provisions of CVC section 400 or a fully enclosed, freeway capable, three-wheeled zero-emission vehicle.

Vehicle manufacturers must apply for CVRP eligibility with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and meet a number of program requirements. If all requirements are met, the vehicle is added to the list of Eligible Vehicles.

Vehicle manufacturers must apply for CVRP eligibility with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and meet a number of program requirements.

Generally, a vehicle is not eligible to participate in the CVRP for one of these reasons:

• It does not meet required emission standards.
• It does not have an original equipment manufacturer’s warranty.
• It does not meet the 30-month lease term duration requirements.
• It does not meet the minimum 35-mile UDDS electric range requirement (implemented December 3, 2019).
• It does not meet the minimum 30-mile EPA electric range requirement (implemented April 6, 2021).
• It does not have a base Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $60,000 or less (implemented December 3, 2019).
• It does not have a base Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $45,000 or less for vehicles in the Car category (implemented February 24, 2022).

Vehicle models over two years old are also removed from the eligible vehicle list. The following table provides information on why several common vehicles are not on the list.

*Consumers who purchased or leased a new vehicle for these model years may still apply for a rebate within 90 calendar days of the vehicle purchase or lease date. Please contact our team for directions at 866-984-2532 or cvrp@energycenter.org.

Applications will no longer be accepted on/after 11/08/2023, regardless of vehicle purchase/lease date.

Medium and heavy-duty hybrid and zero-emission vehicles are incentivized through the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP). Please visit www.californiahvip.org for more information.

For Tesla vehicles the date of first registration with the California DMV will be considered the date of purchase or lease. Applicants who submitted an application post-purchase must have taken delivery of their vehicle prior to submitting an application.

Applications received prior to the date of purchase/lease will be cancelled and will no longer be able to reapply due to depleted funding. Extensions will not be granted.

If you have questions, please call our team at 866-984-2532.

For a complete Tesla motor vehicle purchase agreement, we accept the following combinations of documents:

• 7-page Retail Installment Sale Contract

OR:

• 3-page Tesla Lease Agreement
  • Note: occasionally these can be 4-5 pages in length

OR:

• Both the Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement: Final Price Sheet AND the Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement: Vehicle Configuration*.
  • Please note these are two separate documents.

If the Vehicle Configuration does not have a date, please also submit one of the following documents:

• A signed copy of the Delivery Declaration^† 

OR:

• A signed copy of the Tesla Terms & Conditions^†

*The Vehicle Configuration must have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and have a date next to the “Accepted by Customer on” line. 

^†These documents need to be signed and dated by the applicant and a Tesla representative.

To view samples of acceptable Tesla supporting documents, please visit: cleanvehiclerebate.org/TeslaSampleDocs.

Important: Applications will no longer be accepted on/after 11/8/2023 regardless of rebate limits.

Single applicants are eligible to receive one CVRP rebate either via direct purchase or lease. Previous applicants who received one of two eligible CVRP rebates available prior to December 3, 2019, are still eligible for one additional rebate.

Rental fleets and car share fleets can receive 20 rebates per calendar year. Public fleets can receive 30 rebates per calendar year.

Applicants submitting on behalf of a trust will have that vehicle counted toward their rebate limit.

CSE does not issue a 1099 for your rebate. We cannot offer tax advice of any kind, and advise you to contact a certified public accountant or tax professional regarding the taxability of the CVRP rebate.

No, vehicles purchased or leased outside of California are not eligible for CVRP.  Purchases/leases must be made via a California purchase or lease contract.  Vehicles ordered online and delivered outside of California are not eligible.   The seller’s address as reflected on the purchase or lease agreement must be in California.

Rebate checks are typically sent within 90 days of your application approval date. You will receive an email confirmation when your check is sent. Mailing delays beyond normal processing times may occur.

Low- and Moderate- Income individuals that are approved for the increased rebate for a PHEV or BEV will also receive a $2,000 “CVRP EV Charge Card” that will be mailed separately to consumers by a third-party card provider.

Important: Any applications received during the standby list period are not guaranteed to receive a rebate. Please see the “What does the standby list mean for me” FAQ for more information.

It can typically take up to 90 calendar days from approval date to issue a CVRP rebate check for the following reasons:

• CVRP funding comes from several state sources, and it is often accrued over time.
• The funding is distributed to the CVRP in batches throughout the year.
• CVRP rebate checks are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Go to the CVRP Application Status page to check the status of your application. You will also receive an email at each step in the application process.

Be sure to add cvrp@energycenter.org to your email safe senders list.

There is no right to administrative or judicial appeal.

Funds* for CVRP are exhausted and CVRP will not be receiving additional funding. Due to funding exhaustion, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is unable to accept new case evaluation requests and will stop processing case evaluations already submitted. The CVRP program administrator’s (The Center for Sustainable Energy) original decision to approve, cancel, or deny an application will be the final decision and cannot be appealed, and the applicant/consumer will not be eligible for a case evaluation by CARB.

* When an application is cancelled, any rebate funds that had been reserved for the application are released back to the project. When funds are reserved for an increased rebate, and the application is subsequently updated and approved for a standard rebate, any rebate funds that had been reserved for the increased portion of the rebate are released back to the project.

Rebated vehicles must be registered in California and stay in the possession of the applicant for 30 consecutive months from the original purchase or lease date. Resale of a vehicle or return to a dealer is allowed within this 30 month period if necessitated by unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.  Military duty exemptions may be approved by CARB on a case-by-case basis. If you are no longer in possession of your rebated vehicle, please give us a call at 866-984-2532 to discuss your available options.

CARB verifies vehicle ownership through periodic checks of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) in the California DMV database. If a vehicle purchaser or lessee sells or returns the rebated vehicle to the dealer and does not receive prior approval, CARB or its designee reserves the right to recoup CVRP funds from the original vehicle purchaser identified on the rebate form and may pursue other remedies available under the law for unauthorized early termination of vehicle ownership.  

Yes there are additional incentives for both vehicles and charging stations throughout California. These incentives vary by location and type of incentive. To learn more about what is available and how to apply, please visit the Air Resources Board's Drive Clean Buying Guide.

Federal tax credits for Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) range between $2,500 to $7,500, with factors such as battery capacity determining how much owners are eligible to receive. To meet the tax incentive's standards, a ZEV or PHEV must have a battery with a minimum capacity of 4 kilowatt-hours. Vehicles with a battery capacity of 5 kWh or greater are eligible for an additional $417 of tax credit added for every Kilowatt-hour in excess of 4 kWh. Vehicles such as the Nissan LEAF, with a 24 kWh capacity battery, will be eligible for the maximum $7,500 credit.

Please note, the credit has begun a phase-out period for certain manufacturers who have sold at least 200,000 electric vehicles for use in the United States.  For further information on federal tax incentives and to verify if the credit is still available for your vehicle, visit www.fueleconomy.gov. Additionally, local jurisdictions may also have incentive programs. Check with your local jurisdiction to find out what they offer.

New to EVs? CVRP’s EV 101 has all the information on electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles include cars, SUVs, motorcycles, and other passenger vehicles powered by electricity stored in rechargeable batteries or an energy storage device. There are four main types: battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hybrid electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). For an in-depth look at the types and differences, visit our Technology Overview.

Unlike standard vehicles that are powered by gasoline and other hydrocarbon fuels, electric vehicles rely on a rechargeable internal battery to provide power to an electric motor and electric drivetrain. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is a blend of these two methods, with both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

Consumers with household incomes less than or equal to 400 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for an increased rebate amount of $6,500 - $7,500. This amounts to:

• $7,500 for fuel cell electric vehicles
• $7,500 for battery-electric vehicles
• $6,500 for plug-in hybrid vehicles

Zero-Emission Motorcycles are not eligible for an increased rebate. Low- and Moderate- Income Consumers may still apply for the standard rebate amount for these vehicles ($750).

In addition to the increased incentive, Low- and Moderate-Income Individuals that are approved for the increased rebate for a BEV or PHEV will also receive a $2,000 Charge Card to use at electric vehicle charging stations.

For the purposes of CVRP, a household includes all family members or other unrelated persons, including the rebate applicant, who reside together and/or share common living expenses. Roommates who do not have a lease separate from the applicant are considered part of the applicant’s household.

To determine all the incentives available to you based on where you live, vehicle type, and household income, see our Savings Calculator.

Electric vehicle charging is often done at home using what is referred to as Level 1 or Level 2 charging equipment. All electric vehicles are delivered with a Level 1 charging cord that plugs into a standard 120-volt electrical outlet. For faster charging, there are Level 2 chargers that use a 240-volt electrical outlet—the same plug used by a clothes dryer. Level 2 chargers cost around $400-$800 and may require professional installation.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can drive 20-55 miles on electricity, whereas most battery-electric vehicles can drive from 80 to more than 300 miles, depending on the vehicle make and model. For hydrogen vehicles, the range is about 300-400 miles on a single fill-up.

Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than standard gasoline vehicles and tend to need less maintenance. One issue to be aware of is battery capacity. Though most manufacturers offer an 8-10 year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery, at some point the EV battery capacity will decrease, reducing the range of the vehicle on a full charge. While most vehicle batteries will last the life of the vehicle, replacement batteries can be expensive (if one is needed). However, the overall lower cost of fuel and maintenance over the vehicle’s lifetime may compensate the cost of a new battery.

If you like power and quick acceleration, then EVs are right for you. Because of their electric motor and drivetrain, EVs deliver nearly instant maximum torque whereas a standard gasoline vehicle doesn’t reach peak torque until it revs up. Electric vehicles also have improved handling due to a lower center of gravity and almost ideal weight distribution.

While hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles still use gas, battery-electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles do not, and as such, do not directly produce any smog-forming, toxic pollutants. California’s electricity grid is one of the greenest in the nation, so when you charge your EV you are fueling it with the cleanest energy available. If you have solar panels on your home, you are driving with an almost net-zero environmental impact.

• The customer must be a California resident.
• The vehicle must be on the Eligible Vehicle Models list.
• The vehicle must be new at time of lease or purchase.
• The vehicle must be owned, operated and registered in California for a minimum of 30 months (original lease term must be at least 30 months).
• One rebate per person. Individuals or businesses that have met the rebate limit with a non-fuel cell vehicle may apply for one additional rebate for an eligible fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell exception does not apply to Rebate Now applications. 
• The customer must meet the income requirements.
• A CVRP preapproval application must be submitted prior to purchasing or leasing a vehicle.
• A CVRP application must be submitted within 90 calendar days of vehicle purchase or lease date.

For more information, please visit our rebate eligibility guidelines to learn about application requirements, the rebate limit, the CVRP ownership requirement and vehicle eligibility.

Consumers are not eligible for CVRP rebates if their gross annual incomes are above the thresholds listed below. The income cap applies to all eligible vehicle types except fuel-cell electric vehicles.

• $135,000 for single filers
• $175,000 for head-of-household filers
• $200,000 for joint filers

Updated IRS tax forms were released for use starting with the 2022 tax year. As a result, for applications submitted using the 2022 tax year, the Administrator will review the following sections of an applicant’s federal tax return as reflected on their IRS tax transcript to help determine gross annual income:

• On 2021 IRS Form 1040: Sum of lines 1–7. Line 9 is not used to calculate total gross income for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
  and (if applicable), 
• On 2021 IRS Form 1040 Schedule 1: Sum of lines 1-8.
  Note: If Line 8, "Other Income," is negative, then it will not be included as part of CVRP’s income calculation, unless an exception applies. If Line 8 on Schedule 1 is negative, then the corresponding "Statement" filed with your 1040 must be provided.  CSE will review documentation for possible exceptions. One such exception is the inclusion of a negative community property adjustment. Net operating losses carried over from previous years are not an exception.

In some situations, more documentation will be requested at the discretion of the Administrator.  Please visit our income eligibility page for more information.

There are three exceptions to the new vehicle requirement:

• Unwind vehicle – The sale/lease was not consummated and buyer never took delivery
• Rollback vehicle - Returned to a dealership shortly after being purchased/leased
• Unregistered dealership floor model and test drive vehicles

These vehicles must not have been previously registered and must have an odometer reading of less than 7,500 miles. Additional documentation and/or written dealership verification will be requested at the time of application review to determine if a vehicle meets a new vehicle exception.

In cases of eligible rollbacks and unwinds, a Used Vehicle Dealer Notice/Temporary Identification may be submitted accompanied by the associated statement of facts.  The dealership must verify in advance that the vehicle has not been previously rebated. Additional documentation for the vehicle status as a rollback or unwind may be required. Vehicles that already received a rebate are not eligible for another rebate, unless the full amount of the original rebate was returned.

The following situations are NOT exceptions to the new vehicle requirement:

• Previously registered dealer demo vehicles
• Previously registered service loaners
• Previously registered extended test drive vehicles

Vehicles that have been registered to another party, including the dealership, are considered previously registered vehicles.

Vehicles previously used as dealership floor models and test drive vehicles (dealer demos and executive dealer demos) are eligible for the rebate only if the vehicles have not been previously registered and have an odometer reading of less than 7,500 miles at the time of purchase.

Unwind and rollback vehicles are eligible for the rebate only if the vehicles have not been previously registered and have an odometer reading of less than 7,500 miles at the time of purchase. Every unwind situation is different, so please contact CVRP immediately if you receive an unwind and we can walk you through the required steps.

If a vehicle is resold or traded in before 30 months after acquisition, the customer must contact the program administrator for instructions on refunding a prorated amount of the rebate.

We typically send your rebate check within 90 days of your application approval date. You will receive an email when your check has been placed in the mail. Delays beyond normal processing times may occur.

There are a number of additional incentives that may be available to you.  To learn more about what is available and how to apply, please visit the Air Resources Board's Drive Clean Buying Guide.

Please note: these incentives are separate from the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. Please contact the appropriate administrator of the incentive program for more information. CVRP cannot guarantee eligibility in any other incentive program.

For a vehicle purchased on or after January 1, 2018, an applicant's participation in both the Clean Air Vehicle Decal program and CVRP is based upon both the applicant's gross annual income and the vehicle type:

In other words, for higher-income consumers that purchase or lease a BEV or PHEV that do not qualify for a CVRP rebate, qualification for the Clean Air Decal should be unaffected. Higher-income consumers that purchase or lease a FCEV, and thus, are currently exempt from the income caps listed above, will not receive a rebate if they have received a Clean Air Decal, and vice versa.

The CVRP Rebate and California’s Clean Air Program are administered by different entities. Information and updates regarding California’s Clean Air Decals may be found at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/carpool-stickers or by calling (800) 242-4450. CVRP staff are unable to help consumers determine income eligibility for the decal program and recommend that consumers apply to the program that is most important to them.

Important Note: The CVRP Income Limits listed on the Decal Application from the DMV are not reflective of CVRP's income limits that went into effect on February 24th, 2022. Consumers are advised to always refer to the CVRP website for the most current information and to determine eligibility for the CVRP rebate program.

Many utility companies offer incentives in the form of rebates and/or time-of-use rates that allow consumers access to lower cost electricity rates by charging their electric vehicle during off-peak hours. Please visit our air district and utility rebates page for more information.