California’s “CARS” Program

Pliot program announced to create an incentive program to scrap old polluting clunkers for hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (ZEVs).? Pilot program is for the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley air districts.

Need Based Incentives based on three separate income levels: (see Federal Poverty Level Tables below).

Low Income – household income equal to or less than 225 % of the federal poverty level
Moderate Income – household income 226 to 300 % of the federal poverty level
Above Moderate – household income 301 to 400 % of the federal poverty level

In addition, those individuals must reside in a ZIP code that contains a disadvantaged census tract

Incentives are also based on level of car being purchased.

	Hybrid(35+ mpg)	Plugin-in Hybrid	Electric Vehicle
Low Income	$7K	$11k	$12k
Moderate Income	$5k	$9k	$10k
Above Moderate Income	$0k	$7k	$8k

Have a clunker to scrap but don’t want to buy a new car?

Money for public transit
If you scrap an old, dirty car but choose not to replace it, you are also eligible for vouchers for public transit passes, between $2,500 and $4,500 in value, depending on your income level.

Contact the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District at (559) 230-6000, or in the Greater Los Angeles area contact South Coast Air Quality Management District staff at (909) 396-2647.

If the pilot programs are not available in your area learn more about existing etablished statewide California car buyback programs.

table source : Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines – 2015 Federal Register