All of California · Instant discount
MyFirstEV point-of-sale incentive for first-time EV buyers (CARB)
Run by California Air Resources Board (CARB)
MyFirstEV takes $3,500 off a new or $1,750 off a used battery electric or fuel cell vehicle for Californians buying or leasing their first zero-emission vehicle at participating dealerships. No income limit; new vehicles must have a base MSRP of $50,000 or less, used ones a price of $25,000 or less.
Amounts
How much you get
A point-of-sale incentive at participating dealerships: $3,500 for a new vehicle (model year 2026 or newer) or $1,750 for a used vehicle, half from the state and half matched by the automaker. The amount depends on which of these fits your install.
| What you install | You get |
|---|---|
| New zero-emission vehicle | $3,500 |
| Used zero-emission vehicle (certified pre-owned) | $1,750 |
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 3 of these, plus one that applies only in some cases.
Your home is in California.
California resident buying or leasing a first zero-emission vehicle: you can't have been on the registration or title of a ZEV before. One incentive per individual; you sign a self-attestation form.
New or used battery electric or fuel cell light-duty car, van, SUV or pickup with a curb weight of 8,500 pounds or less. New: base MSRP $50,000 or less. Used: price $25,000 or less, certified pre-owned through the manufacturer's dealers, and at least two model years old. California-headquartered ZEV makers (Lucid, Rivian) are exempt from the price caps.
- Only in some cases
Only at participating automakers' dealerships; each automaker launches and closes its incentive on its own schedule.
Equipment
What equipment counts
Applying
How to apply
The discount comes off at the register. Launched August 3, 2026; offered first come, first served while each automaker's funding lasts.
- Check participating automakers.
Automakers publish eligible models and trims and whether their incentive is available now.
- Buy or lease at a participating dealership.
Sign the self-attestation that you haven't owned or registered a ZEV before; the incentive comes off the price at the point of sale.
Forms and instructionsCalifornia Climate Investments: MyFirstEV · CARB MyFirstEV Incentive Project Workgroup slides (August 27, 2026, PDF) · CARB: MyFirstEV Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about applyingMyFirstEV@arb.ca.gov
Stacking
Use it with
Can be combined with Clean Cars 4 All, the Driving Clean Assistance Program and other local and state incentives, subject to each program's rules.
All of California
Driving Clean Assistance Program: Clean Cars 4 All scrap-and-replace grant (DCAP)
Up to $12,000
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.
Checked Oct 27, 2026
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. Then, if you want, ask for a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
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 MyFirstEV point-of-sale incentive for first-time EV buyers (CARB) pay?
$1,750 to $3,500, depending on what you install. The table under How much you get lists each amount.
What’s the deadline?
No fixed deadline. Apply any time while it’s open.
Can I combine it with other rebates?
Yes, with Driving Clean Assistance Program: Clean Cars 4 All scrap-and-replace grant (DCAP). See Use it with.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 27, 2026.
Is there an income limit?
No. MyFirstEV has no income requirement.
Can I use MyFirstEV with Clean Cars 4 All or DCAP?
Yes. It can be stacked with Clean Cars 4 All, the Driving Clean Assistance Program and other local and state incentives, as long as you meet each program's rules.
Can I get MyFirstEV after I've already bought my EV?
No. It's a price reduction at the dealership at the time of sale, not a rebate after the purchase, and it isn't retroactive.
I owned an EV in another state. Do I qualify?
No. Any previous zero-emission vehicle ownership, even in another state, disqualifies you.
Do plug-in hybrids qualify?
No. Only battery electric and fuel cell vehicles count, because plug-in hybrids have gasoline engines.
Can I buy a used EV from an independent dealer?
No. Private dealerships aren't eligible; used vehicles must be certified pre-owned from a franchised brand dealer.
Plain words
Words used on this page
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- California Climate Investments: MyFirstEV
- CARB MyFirstEV Incentive Project Workgroup slides (August 27, 2026, PDF)
- CARB: MyFirstEV Frequently Asked Questions
- CARB: MyFirstEV
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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