Vehicle Replacement FAQ

Your current vehicle must be operational, gas-powered, and model year 2006 or older (2005, 2004 …. etc.)

You must reside within the jurisdiction of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

• Fresno County
• Kern County (partial)
• Kings County
• Madera County
• Merced County
• San Joaquin County
• Stanislaus County
• Tulare County

You must have owned the vehicle with the title in your name for at least 6 months.

No, the name on the application must match the name of the vehicle owner as it shows on the registration and Title.

Only one vehicle replacement is allowed per vehicle owner (or joint vehicle owner), per lifetime.

No, an active lien is not allowed. If the lien has been paid and the title has been signed, dated, and stamped by the lienholder company, then you are eligible to apply.

The following documents are requested to meet program requirements:

1. 2 years of registration in California (Two years ago through present)

2. 2 years of vehicle insurance in California. (Two years ago through present)

3. Vehicle Title – full page.

*You must have owned your vehicle for at least 6 months

* Needs to be under your name for at least 6 months

4. First 2 pages of last year’s (latest) Federal Tax return (FORM 1040):

* You can cover the SSN/ITIN, we don’t need it.

5. Recent Electricity bill

*If not in your name, let us know the relation to the person on the bill

6. Valid CA Driver’s License

Note: More information may be requested once an Application Specialist has reviewed your documents.

If you do not file taxes, but receive Social Security, we can use prior tax year 1099-SSA or a recent Verification of Benefits letter from Social Security.

 Household income is one requirement to determine eligibility. You must be at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) as listed on your prior year Federal Tax Return to qualify. We use the current Annual Poverty Guidelines and your recent years adjusted gross income to determine your household size and income (see below).

Note: Poverty Guidelines are updated yearly.

The documents requested are necessary to verify that you meet the the program’s eligibility requirements.

Yes, the vehicle must have the ability to drive onto the dealership lot under its own power and have no functional parts missing. Valley CAN staff will be present at the time of the final transaction to confirm functionality.

Submit what you have available and give us a call. Staff is on hand to answer questions and once one of our Application Specialists has reviewed your documents, more information/options will be provided.

No. This program provides incentive checks as down payments directly to the dealership to purchase cleaner vehicles.

It’s important to keep your email address and phone number up to date. Updates are sent by email and text. Having your current contact information will ensure messages are not missed.

Incentive amounts vary based on various factors such as your residence, income, and the type of vehicle you purchase. Current incentive amounts range from $9,500 to $20,000. Your incentive amounts will be listed on your approval letter.

Information on funding levels can be found here: Replace | Valley Air District

There are two main parts to the process: the Application Stage and the Vehicle Selection Stage. Each part includes several steps, and your wait time depends on where you are in that process. To be fair to everyone, we review documents in the order they are received.

We also send email updates with estimated wait times to help keep you informed. While we can’t provide exact timelines, we follow a consistent process to make sure everyone is treated fairly.

The timeline can vary widely. Some participants finish in as little as 5 months, while others may take longer. A big part of the timing depends on how quickly documents are submitted, whether a vehicle has already been selected, and other factors outside of our control.

To help keep you informed, we send email updates with estimated wait times based on where you are in the process. While you’re waiting, it’s a great time to start researching vehicle options and preparing your budget. Staying engaged and ready can help you move forward more smoothly when your turn comes.

Yes! Please visit the online application HERE.

Staff is ready to answer your questions. You can reach us at:

209-808-2939 or 559-852-9282 or 661-372-4112.

Approvals are first sent by email, followed up by text and a call. A Vehicle Purchase Consultant will be assigned and work with you through the Vehicle Selection stage of the program.

You will drive your older vehicle to the dealership on the day of the final transaction to purchase your new vehicle.

We will hold your retired vehicle for 5 days after the purchase of your new replacement vehicle before scrapping it. Once the retired vehicle is destroyed there is nothing that can be done. Your only option is to proceed with the program or rescind from program entirely forfeiting your vehicle.

No. Your eligible new vehicle options are plug-in hybrid and fully electric.

For more information on vehicle options, please visit: FIND YOUR VEHICLE

No, the new replacement vehicle must be purchased from one of the following authorized dealerships: Dealership List

Yes! There are now plug-in hybrid and electric pickup trucks, Jeeps and mini-vans.

Once approved, one of our Vehicle Purchase Consultants will be in touch to assist you through this stage of the program.

Yes! You can purchase a used vehicle as your replacement vehicle as long as it meets the program requirements — it must be a 2018 or newer model with low mileage. You also have the option to choose a brand-new car instead if you prefer.

• Model year 2018 or newer (2018, 2019, 2020…)

• Must be plug-in hybrid OR fully electric (Standard hybrid is not an option)

• Less than 100,000 miles on the odometer – ideally less than 80,000 miles

• Finance rate not to exceed 15.99%

• No active vehicle safety recalls

Please visit: Find Your Vehicle

Once approved and have your approval letter on hand, you can work with one of the authorized dealerships to select a vehicle.

You are required to keep the replacement vehicle for a minimum of 30 months.

Used Vehicles:

• 3 day minimum return period.
• Please verify with the dealership if they offer an extended return policy after 3 days.

New Vehicles:

• Have NO return period.
• Please verify with dealership if they offer a return option on a NEW vehicle.

No. Like any vehicle purchase, any repairs or maintenance are up to the vehicle owner to take care of. We encourage you to learn about and consider warranties offered at the time of vehicle purchase.

You have the option to replace your vehicle with a qualified E-Bike or transit pass.

Yes, but only NEW vehicles from the eligibility list can be leased under this program. The lease period must be a minimum of 30-month lease term. Used vehicles are not eligible.

The eligibility list maintained by the California Air Resources Board can be found here: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ZEV-eligibility-list

While Valley CAN does not help make payments, our Loan Department can help you step by step in applying for an auto loan through our partnership with Self-Help Federal Credit Union.

Why Self- Help? Because they offer competitive rates, understand the timing of this program, and offer an interest rate reduction of 0.25% – 0.50% for vehicles that are plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicles if certain criteria is met.

If you would like more information, feel free to reach out to our team:

loanteam@valleycan.org OR call: 559-392-4728

If you have PG&E Electric:

Pre-Owned electric vehicles may qualify for up to a $4,000 rebate.

*You must reside at an address that PG&E covers and be a current electric account customer.

Valley CAN will help you complete and submit the application AFTER the purchase of your replacement vehicle. More info about this program HERE.

Please call us at 559-404-0255 for more information.

If you have Southern California Edison Electric:

Pre-Owned electric vehicles may qualify for up to a $4,000 rebate.

*You must reside at an address that SCE covers and be a current electric account customer. ValleyCAN will help you complete and submit the application AFTER the purchase of your replacement vehicle.

Please call us at 559-404-0255 for more information.

Please check with the dealership or bank you are working with and ask if they have a pre-payment penalty. Paying off your vehicle loan early does not affect your agreement with Valley CAN.

Please call 209-808-2939 or 559-852-9282 or 661-372-4112.