Clean Cars 4 All Explained: Grants, Income Limits and Who Is Open
How the scrap-and-replace grant works, what it pays, the income limit, which programs are open, and what to do if you have no car to trade in.
Clean Cars 4 All is California's income-qualified scrap-and-replace program: retire a working older car and get $10,000 toward a battery-electric or fuel cell vehicle or $9,500 toward a plug-in hybrid, rising to $12,000 and $11,500 in a disadvantaged community, plus up to $2,000 for charging. Household income must be at or below 300% of the poverty level, $99,000 for a family of 4.
What it pays
| Replacement | Standard grant | Disadvantaged community |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-electric or fuel cell vehicle | $10,000 | $12,000 |
| Plug-in hybrid | $9,500 | $11,500 |
| Home charger or charging card, with a vehicle | Up to $2,000 | |
| E-bike or transit card instead of a car (where offered) | $7,500 | |
A "disadvantaged community" here means a census tract on CARB's SB 535 map, the most pollution-burdened areas in CalEnviroScreen. The grant goes straight to the dealer at purchase, so it lowers the price or the amount you finance. The vehicle can be new or used, but it must come from a dealer the program has approved.
Who qualifies
- Income: at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Programs check tax returns or other proof of income.
- A car to retire: it has to run, be registered to you and have been registered in California for about the last two years. A totaled car doesn't count. Each program sets its own model-year cutoff: 2010 or older in South Coast, 2007 or older in the Bay Area, 2006 or older in the San Joaquin Valley.
- The right replacement: a plug-in hybrid, battery-electric or fuel cell vehicle, or a zero-emission motorcycle. Conventional hybrids no longer qualify.
- Timing: approval first, purchase second. Grants are not retroactive.
| Household size | Income limit (300% of 2026 poverty guideline) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $47,880 |
| 2 | $64,920 |
| 3 | $81,960 |
| 4 | $99,000 |
| 5 | $116,040 |
| 6 | $133,080 |
Where to apply, and who is open
Five air districts run their own Clean Cars 4 All programs. Everyone else applies to the statewide Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP). They all pay the same CARB amounts, but each opens and closes on its own funding:
| Program | Covers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Replace Your Ride | Orange County and the non-desert parts of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties | Paused: New applications temporarily suspended because of high demand (notice on the Replace Your Ride portal, checked 2026-10-02). Existing applicants can still log in. |
| Clean Cars for All | Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma | Open: Open since the August 19, 2025 relaunch (checked 2026-10-02). |
| Sacramento's Clean Cars 4 All | Sacramento County | Unconfirmed: The district's site could not be reached on 2026-10-02 and third-party listings report the program closed for high demand. Check the district's page before you plan on this grant. |
| San Diego Clean Cars 4 All | San Diego County | Unconfirmed: Could not confirm the current application status on 2026-10-02. Check the district's page. |
| Drive Clean in the San Joaquin: Replace | San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties and the valley part of Kern County | Paused: Stopped accepting applications until more funding arrives, except for residents of the Arvin-Lamont, Shafter, Stockton and South Central Fresno AB 617 communities (district page, March 2026; the live site could not be reached on 2026-10-02). |
| Driving Clean Assistance Program: Clean Cars 4 All pathway | Everywhere in California outside the five districts above | Open: The scrap-and-replace Clean Cars 4 All pathway is open; DCAP's no-scrap Financing Assistance pathway closed in August 2026 with no reopening date. |
District programs pay first come, first served while money lasts. DCAP ranks applicants by need instead. Apply only to the program that covers where you live.
No car to trade in?
DCAP used to offer a Financing Assistance pathway for people without a car to scrap, but it closed in August 2026 and has no reopening date. The main option left is MyFirstEV, which CARB launched in August 2026: $3,500 off a new EV or $1,750 off a used one at the dealer, for people who have never owned or leased an EV, with no income test. See what replaced CVRP for how the programs fit together.
Run your numbers
The Clean Cars 4 All Rebate Estimator checks the income limit for your household, shows your grant range and tells you whether your program is taking applications. The EV Incentive Finder checks Clean Cars 4 All, MyFirstEV and charger rebates together, and the EV vs Gas Cost Calculator shows what you would save on fuel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Clean Cars 4 All pay?
$10,000 toward a battery-electric or fuel cell vehicle and $9,500 toward a plug-in hybrid. In a disadvantaged community census tract it is $12,000 and $11,500. Up to $2,000 more covers a home charger or a charging card, and programs that offer it pay $7,500 toward an e-bike or transit instead of a car.
What is the income limit for Clean Cars 4 All?
Household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. With the 2026 guidelines that is $47,880 for one person, $64,920 for two and $99,000 for a family of 4.
Can I get Clean Cars 4 All without scrapping a car?
No. Every Clean Cars 4 All program requires retiring a working vehicle registered to you. DCAP's separate no-scrap Financing Assistance pathway closed in August 2026. A first-time EV buyer can look at MyFirstEV instead, which pays $3,500 on a new EV with no income test.
Can I buy the car first and apply later?
No. Clean Cars 4 All grants are not retroactive. Apply, get approved, and then buy or lease through a dealer the program has approved.
Does a regular hybrid qualify for Clean Cars 4 All?
No. Conventional hybrids are no longer eligible. The replacement must be a plug-in hybrid, battery-electric or fuel cell vehicle, new or used, or a zero-emission motorcycle; leases must be for a new vehicle on CARB's eligible list.
This article is for general information only. The program administrator decides eligibility and the final amount, and funding windows change without notice. Sources: CARB Clean Cars 4 All FAQ (revised September 2026); South Coast AQMD Replace Your Ride flyer and portal; Bay Area AQMD Clean Cars for All program and eligibility pages; Valley Air District Drive Clean in the San Joaquin Replace page; Driving Clean Assistance Program; HHS 2026 poverty guidelines.