Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find answers to common questions about the Driving Clean Assistance Program. From eligibility requirements to clean vehicle options and financing details, our FAQs provide all the essential information to help you navigate the program with ease. You can find comprehensive program information in the DCAP Consumer Guide (English Version) / DCAP Consumer Guide (Spanish Version) and the DCAP Terms and Conditions, available in both English and Spanish.
Program Status and Background
DCAP is launching a regional rollout organized by air districts and is open to all Native American and Indigenous communities across the state. Below are the DCAP regions along with their expected application opening dates. To view a list of air districts, please visit: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/california-air-districts.
Region 1
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: Imperial County: Imperial |
Now Open! |
Region 2
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: Mojave Desert AQMD County: San Bernardino*, Riverside* |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Eastern Kern APCD County: Kern* |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Antelope Valley AQMD County: Los Angeles* |
Now Open! |
Region 3
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: Great Basin Unified APCD County: Alpine, Inyo, Mono |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Mariposa County APCD County: Mariposa |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Tuolumne County APCD County: Tuolumne |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Calaveras County APCD County: Calaveras |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Amador County APCD County: Amador |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: El Dorado County AQMD County: El Dorado |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Placer County APCD County: Placer |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Feather River AQMD County: Yuba, Sutter |
Now Open! |
Region 4
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: Northern Sierra AQMD County: Nevada, Plumas, Sierra |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Lassen County APCD County: Lassen |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Modoc County APCD County: Modoc |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Siskiyou County APCD County: Siskiyou |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Shasta County AQMD County: Shasta |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Tehama County APCD County: Tehama |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Butte County AQMD County: Butte |
Now Open! |
Region 5
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: North Coast Unified AQMD County: Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Mendocino County AQMD County: Mendocino |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Northern Sonoma County APCD County: Sonoma* |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Lake County AQMD County: Lake |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Yolo-Solano AQMD County: Yolo, Solano* |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Colusa County APCD County: Colusa |
Now Open! |
|
Air District: Glenn County APCD County: Glenn |
Now Open! |
Region 6
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: Monterey Bay Air Resources District County: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz |
01/22/25 |
|
Air District: Santa Luis Obispo County APCD County: San Luis Obispo |
01/22/25 |
|
Air District: Santa Barbara County APCD County: Santa Barbara |
01/22/25 |
|
Air District: Ventura County APCD County: Ventura |
01/22/25 |
Region 7
| Air District / County | Application Opening Date |
|---|---|
|
Air District: South Coast AQMD County: Orange, Los Angeles*, San Bernardino*, Riverside* |
03/25/25 |
|
Air District: San Joaquin Valley APCD County: Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Kern* |
03/25/25 |
|
Air District: Sacramento AQMD County: Sacramento |
03/25/25 |
|
Air District: Bay Area AQMD County: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano*, Sonoma* |
03/25/25 |
|
Air District: San Diego APCD County: San Diego |
03/25/25 |
*Counties fall in more than one air district. Individual address will be used to determine the Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) program administrator the participant will be referred to.
DCAP provides education, funding, financial counseling, and referrals to lenders for lower-income Californians. The program provides support for recycling an older and high-polluting vehicle, and referrals to vehicle dealerships to purchase, or lease, an eligible clean vehicle. Clean vehicles include a new or used, battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), zero-emission vehicle (ZEV), zero-emission motorcycle (ZEM), or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
The California Air Resource Board funds DCAP from the General and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fund. The program is administered by the Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC).
Eligibility and Application
The application review process can take up to 30 days from the date of submission. However high application volume may cause further delays. Participants who reside in a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) will have priority. For more information on the needs-based processing please see the consumer guide.
No, down payment assistance grants do not need to be repaid if the 30-month ownership requirement has been met. For more information about the ownership requirements please visit the Consumer Guide.
a. Enter your address into the system.
b. Click on the yellow dot that appears on the map.
c. Use the arrows to scroll through the classifications that are displayed.
d. Look for “Disadvantaged Community: CES 4.0” or “Low Income Community.”
e. If you see a “yes” next to either of these classifications, you live in a DAC or LIC.
| Category | Most Common Documents |
| Income- Employed |
|
| Income- Categorical Eligibility |
|
| Income- Self Employed |
|
| Residency |
|
| An additional list of documents is available on the application checklist | |
No, DCAP cannot be stacked with any other CARB funded program. To find a stacking option please refer to Access Clean California’s benefit finder.
Incentive Amount
| Program Pathway / Grant Amount | Vehicle Recycling Required? / Charging Grant |
|---|---|
| Program Pathway: Clean Cars 4 All
Grant Amount: <300% FPL + Living in a Disadvantaged Community-
|
Vehicle Recycling Required?: Yes
Charging Grant: $2,000 for Level 2 Charger Installation or Charge Card |
| Program Pathway: Clean Cars 4 All
Grant Amount: <300% FPL Only:
|
Vehicle Recycling Required?: Yes
Charging Grant: $2,000 for Level 2 Charger Installation or Charge Card |
| Program Pathway: Financing Assistance
Grant Amount:
|
Vehicle Recycling Required?: No
Charging Grant: $2,000 for Level 2 Charger Installation or Charge Card |
Financing
Even with down payment assistance, many people still need a loan to purchase/lease a vehicle. DCAP has built a network of vetted, community-based lenders who offer loans capped at 8% interest rate to access DCAP’s lending network, individuals must participate in at least one financial counseling session with one of DCAP’s certified credit-loan counselors. For more information about financial counseling and loan support please visit the Consumer Guide.
Participants can get financing from a third-party lender, but this financing must have an interest rate below 8% and not exceed $45,000. Participants can also purchase/lease the vehicle in cash, without getting a loan, and will be asked to provide a receipt showing the cash payment.
Purchase and Lease
Vehicles that are BEV, PHEV, FCEV, or ZEM must be purchased from a franchise dealer, dealer that is a member of the Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL) platform, or through a DCAP broker. In addition, used vehicles:
a. Must be eight model years old and newer, calculated by subtracting seven from the current calendar year of the transaction.
b. Eligible vehicles must be purchased or leased in California.
c. Cannot have been purchased/leased previously with CARB funds.
d. Must have 75,000 odometer miles or less.
e. Must be inspected by a licensed auto mechanic.
f. Must have a vehicle history report.
g. Cannot have an open recall per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Before finalizing the purchase or lease of the vehicle, participants must provide the dealership with their approval packet and, if applicable, a loan pre-approval letter. The dealership will use the grant as a down payment to reduce the vehicle’s cost.
Yes, however the vehicle and leasing terms still must meet program requirements
Clean Cars 4 All
For CC4A Participants, dealerships will need to reduce the state sales and use tax credit rate by 3.9375%. Dealerships and participants will need to sign the CDTFA-230-ZEV form titled “Partial Exemption Certificate- Zero Emission Vehicle Section 6368.2.” A copy of this document will be made available in the participant’s approval packet.
a. Must be model year 2009 or older.
b. The vehicle title must:
-
- Be free of Lienholders.
- Be issued under the participant’s name.
- Have an issued date that is at least one day prior to the application submission date.
- Salvaged titles are eligible so long as all other requirements are met.
c. Be a passenger vehicle, truck, SUV, or van with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
d. Operated continuously in California for at least two years prior to the application submission date with gaps during the period totaling no more than 120 days.
What if I want to recycle a qualifying vehicle, but don’t want to purchase or lease another vehicle?
Participants who choose the CC4A pathway may choose not to purchase/lease a replacement vehicle. Those participants can choose multiple alternative clean mobility options that include the following choices: public transit, car sharing, bike sharing, and electric bicycle (e-bike) passes for up to $7,500 total.
Dealerships
You may refer dealerships to the program by visiting our dealer page web page or by emailing our team at dealership@drivingcleanca.org. Dealerships must be approved before completing your purchase or lease.
Yes, the dealership may hold the vehicle until the payment has been received.
Charging
Participants who complete the purchase/lease of a qualifying plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle are eligible for a charging support grant of up to $2,000. Participants can choose between a public charging card, or a level 2 home installation. For more information on the charging options please visit the Consumer Guide.
