All of California · Grant
Driving Clean Assistance Program: Clean Cars 4 All scrap-and-replace grant (DCAP)
Run by Community Housing Development Corporation (for the California Air Resources Board)
DCAP gives Californians with income under 300% of the federal poverty level up to $10,000 ($12,000 in disadvantaged communities) toward a new or used electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicle when they scrap an old car, plus $2,000 for charging. It serves areas outside air districts with their own Clean Cars 4 All program.
Amounts
How much you get
Down-payment grant paid to the dealership: up to $10,000 (up to $12,000 for residents of designated disadvantaged communities) for a new or used battery electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicle, plus a $2,000 charging incentive (home charger installation or a prepaid public charging card); or a $7,500 clean mobility option instead of a vehicle. The amount depends on which of these fits your install.
| What you install | You get |
|---|---|
| Outside disadvantaged communitiesVehicle purchase incentive | $10,000 |
| Disadvantaged communitiesVehicle purchase incentive | $12,000 |
| Charging incentive (home charger or charge card) | $2,000 |
| Clean mobility option (instead of a vehicle) | $7,500 |
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 7 of these.
Your home is in California.
Household income under 300% of the federal poverty level: under $47,880 for 1 person, $64,920 for 2, $81,960 for 3, $99,000 for 4, $116,040 for 5, $133,080 for 6, $150,120 for 7.
People in your home Income at or below 1 $47,880 2 $64,920 3 $81,960 4 $99,000 5 $116,040 6 $133,080 7 $150,120 18 or older and a California resident (AB 60 and ITIN holders qualify).
Scrap-and-replace is only through DCAP for people who don't live in the Bay Area, Sacramento Metro, San Joaquin Valley or San Diego County air districts, which run their own Clean Cars 4 All programs.
The vehicle to scrap must be a gasoline or diesel light- or medium-duty vehicle under 10,000 pounds that passes a functionality test, titled in the applicant's name, with two years' proof of operation (model year 2010 or older for 2025 applications).
No earlier CARB light-duty vehicle purchase incentive (Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, regional DCAP, Clean Cars 4 All); one incentive per household.
Apply before buying or leasing; the incentive isn't retroactive.
What to doGet approved by DCAP before you sign for a vehicle.
Equipment
What equipment counts
The program sets these minimums for ev charging.
New or used battery electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicle bought or leased in California from an authorized dealer; price cap $45,000; used vehicles 8 model years old or newer with 75,000 or fewer miles.
Applying
How to apply
You apply online. Open while each priority tier has funds; there is no reservation list after funds run out. Get approved before you buy anything.
- Check eligibility.
Confirm income, residency and that your air district doesn't run its own Clean Cars 4 All program.
- Apply online.
Apply through the DCAP website before buying; applications are sorted into three priority tiers (call 1-833-202-3227 with questions).
- Financial counseling.
Approved applicants work with a DCAP counselor; fair financing up to $45,000 under 8% APR is available through partner credit unions.
- Scrap and buy.
Retire the old vehicle and buy or lease an eligible vehicle at an authorized dealership; the grant goes to the dealer.
- Choose a charging incentive.
Pick a home Level 2 charger installation or a $2,000 public charging card.
Forms and instructionsDriving Clean Assistance Program: FAQs · Driving Clean Assistance Program: Contact Us
Questions about applying1-833-202-3227
Stacking
Use it with
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. This program has to approve you before you buy anything, so start with the program, not a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
Get approved by DCAP before you sign for a vehicle.
Your quote request is in If a contractor we work with serves your ZIP, they can contact you. We take one request per person; contact us to change it.
Get an email if this program changes
We'll write if its amount, status or deadline changes. Nothing else.
FAQ
Questions
How much does Driving Clean Assistance Program: Clean Cars 4 All scrap-and-replace grant (DCAP) pay?
$2,000 to $12,000, depending on what you install. The table under How much you get lists each amount.
Is there an income limit?
Household income under 300% of the federal poverty level: under $47,880 for 1 person, $64,920 for 2, $81,960 for 3, $99,000 for 4, $116,040 for 5, $133,080 for 6, $150,120 for 7.
Do I need approval before I buy?
Yes. Apply before you buy or install anything; purchases made first don’t qualify. Apply before buying or leasing; the incentive isn't retroactive. Get approved by DCAP before you sign for a vehicle.
What’s the deadline?
No fixed deadline. Apply any time while it’s open.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 27, 2026.
Is there a waitlist if funding runs out?
No. DCAP won't keep a reservation list after funds are exhausted.
Can I get help without scrapping a car?
Not right now. The Financing Assistance pathway (no scrapping) is closed to new applications and reopens only if new funding is found.
Plain words
Words used on this page
- No retroactive incentives
- Anything you bought before signing up doesn’t qualify.
- Federal poverty level
- An income line set each year by the federal government, by household size.
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- Driving Clean Assistance Program: Eligibility
- Driving Clean Assistance Program: FAQs
- Driving Clean Assistance Program: Contact Us
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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