Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) - Financing Assistance Pathway

Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) - Financing Assistance Pathway is sponsored by Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) in partnership with California Air Resources Board (CARB). The Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) offers down-payment assistance through upfront grants paid directly to dealerships for income-qualified California residents to purchase or lease new or used clean air vehicles (battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell vehicles).

DCAP Eligibility - Driving Clean Assistance Program Eligibility and incentives for your clean air vehicle purchase. The Driving Clean Assistance Program The Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP), offers two pathways to getting into your new clean air vehicle. Both pathways offer down-payment assistance in the form of upfront grants that are paid directly to the dealerships and do not need to be paid back.

With DCAP you receive more than just the funding to get into a clean air vehicle, you also receive financial coaching, counseling, and access to fair financing options. DCAP Terms and Conditions To be program eligible, participants must: Be a California resident (community members with AB60 and ITIN qualify). Apply before purchasing/leasing a vehicle (incentive is not retroactive).

Have a household income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level* (e.g., $99,000 for a 4-person household, guidelines updated annually and vary by household size). Not have participated in any CARB light-duty vehicle purchase incentive program (e.g., Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, regional Driving Clean Assistance Program, Clean Cars 4 All).

Participants can only receive one incentive per household for the lifetime of the program. Program Eligibility Income Chart* (Number of people living in home) Combined Income Must Be Less Than *Subject to change every year.

The chart below outlines the available DCAP incentive amounts for both pathways—Clean Cars 4 All (scrap and replace) and Financing Assistance (without scrap and replace)—showing the options for vehicle purchase incentives and clean mobility benefits.

Cars 4 All (scrap and replace vehicle) Pathway (OPEN) Financing Assistance (without scrap and replace) Pathway (CLOSED) Vehicle Purchase Incentive non-disadvantaged communities Up to $10,000 + $2,000 Charge Card or $7,500 Mobility Option Vehicle Purchase Incentive disadvantaged communities Up to $12,000 + $2,000 Charge Card or $7,500 Mobility Option Up to $7,500 + $2,000 Charging Incentive Cars 4 All (scrap and replace vehicle) Pathway (OPEN) Program eligible and program qualified participants can receive up to $10,000 to purchase or lease a new or used battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

Income-qualified participants who reside in designated Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) are eligible for up to $12,000 for these vehicles. *Participants residing in an air district with a CC4A program will not be eligible to scrap and replace with DCAP but can still go through the financing assistance pathway. If they want to scrap and replace, they will have to go through the air districts program.

Criteria for Eligible Vehicles Gasoline or diesel-powered light- or medium-duty vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Must pass a functionality test. Model year 2010 or older for applications submitted during calendar year 2025.

Vehicle Title must be issued under the applicant’s name. Two Years Proof of Operation Required. Purchased or leased in California through an authorized dealership.

New or used with a maximum purchase price cap of $45,000 (excluding taxes and fees). New vehicles must be on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) list of eligible vehicles. Used vehicles must be eight* (8) calendar years or newer with 75,000 or less original miles.

*The model year of an 8-year vehicle is calculated by subtracting 7 from the current calendar year of the transaction (e.g., eligible replacement vehicles in calendar 2024 include model years 2017 and newer). DCAP can provide program eligible and program qualified community members with up to $7,500 to purchase or lease a new or used battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or fuel cell electric vehicle.

Community members are not required to scrap a gas vehicle to take advantage of Financing Assistance pathway. Financing Assistance (without scrap and replace) Pathway (CLOSED) DCAP can provide qualified participants with opportunities to access fair financing to complete the purchase of their clean air vehicle.

Through a statewide network of trusted Credit Union partners, DCAP can offer program participants, including participants with challenged or no credit, financing of up to $45,000 at an interest rate of less than 8% APR. To qualify for fair financing, participants must: Qualify for DCAP’s Clean Cars 4 All or Financing Assistance incentives. Participate in financial education classes.

Agree to undergo financial counseling and analysis with a DCAP Loan/Credit counselor to determine if the participant’s financial situation can comfortably sustain a vehicle loan. Participants who are approved for DCAP incentives can choose one of two charging incentives: $2,000 towards the purchase and installation of level 2 home charging equipment.

We’ve partnered with GRID Alternatives to offer professional home charger installations. * A $2,000 prepaid charge card to pay for public charging. *Depending on your location and the condition of your electrical panel, GRID Alternatives may have a partner electrician who can install your EV charger.

Please note: Depending on your electrical panel, upgrades may be required before the charger can be installed. Any additional costs for these panel upgrades will be the responsibility of the participant.

DCAP’s Credit Union Lending Partners We partner with the following credit unions to offer fair financing: Clean Energy Credit Union Tucoemas Federal Credit Union Valley First Credit Union Ventura County Credit Union – Santa Barbara and Ventura County Clean Miles Ahead with DCAP! “I used to drive a 1999 Nissan Pathfinder, that car was basically drinking gas. ” – Jielin Y.

For Jielin, upgrading to an electric vehicle was a major step toward a cleaner, more affordable way to commute — and one he had been thinking about for years “I’m actually the first EV owner on my street, and my friends and neighbors are excited for me. ” – Sarah F. I love how nimble the car is.

It actually drives better than my SUV, and I don’t have to go to a gas station and pay the high price of gas anymore. “If I get dizzy or lose my balance, I need something that’s easy to handle and has good safety features” – Wesley A. Wesley’s old 2000 minivan had become a hassle.

“The windows don’t go down, except for the driver’s window, and only if we had to take the side panel off. Now, with his new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle through DCAP, things are much different.