Vehicle Replacement

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Get financial down payment assistance from the Valley Air District to replace your older, high-polluting vehicle with a new or used plug-in hybrid, electric vehicle, or zero-emission motorcycle. The program is limited to vehicle owners residing in the jurisdiction of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District who meet program requirements.

 

Due to limited funding available through the District’s vehicle replacement program, submission of an application does not guarantee approval. All applications are subject to review and approval based on program eligibility and available funding.

 

HOW IT WORKS

Once your application is approved, you can shop for a newer, cleaner-running vehicle at one of our authorized dealerships. The amount of the downpayment incentive you receive depends on the type of replacement vehicle you purchase—cleaner vehicles qualify for higher incentives!

 

We encourage our customers to upgrade to the cleanest models possible. Replacement vehicles must be 2019 or newer and meet our MPG requirements. See our FAQ page for more details.

 

We will collect your old car for retirement on the day that we provide the down payment check directly to the dealership, and you complete the purchase of your newer, cleaner-running vehicle. All retirement cars are destroyed and recycled so that they are no longer able to pollute our Valley air!

Current Vehicle:
Model year 2006 or older (2005, 2004, 2003, etc…)
Operational
Gas powered
Has been used in CA for the past 2 years
Under your ownership for at least 6 months

 

Income:
Household income must be at or below 300% of federal poverty level. We use a copy of last year’s (latest) tax return to determine household income and number of persons in household.

 

Residence:
You must reside within the jurisdiction of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Approved “Disadvantaged Communities” may receive higher incentives. Many neighborhoods in the Valley are designated as DAC – please contact us to find out if your address qualifies.
Note: For more detailed information please visit our FAQs.
AB 617 Residents: To see if you reside in an AB 617 eligible area, please click here.
REQUESTED DOCUMENTS

 
1.   2 years of CA vehicle registration (2024 through present if you have it)
 
2.   2 years of CA vehicle insurance (2024 through present if you have it)
 
3.   Vehicle Title  (You must have owned your car for at least 6 months. Needs to be under your name for at least 6 months)
 
4.   First 2 pages of last year’s 1040 tax return (You can cover the SSN, we don’t need it)
 
5.   Recent electricity bill (It does not have to be under your name)
 
6.   Valid CA Driver’s License

 

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

 

ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES

If you qualify for a plug-in replacement vehicle, we will help you apply for other rebates that you are eligible through your utility provider! Our team will guide you through the application and send it in for you. You must live at an address covered by PG&E or SCE electric to apply. Call 559-404-0255 for more information.

 

You may also choose to replace your car with a qualified mobility option (e.g., bike sharing, electric bicycles (e-bikes), public transportation, car sharing, etc.). For more information, email ebikes@valleycan.org or transitpass@valleycan.org.

 

Charging assistance is not available through this program.

 

Drive Clean in the San Joaquin is a program of the Valley Air District.