California has launched the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP), a new $242 million initiative designed to provide crucial Car Assistance Programs For Low-income residents. This program prioritizes helping low-income Californians access zero-emission vehicles through grants and loan assistance.
With California already achieving significant milestones in clean vehicle adoption—nearly 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold and 25% of new car sales being clean cars—DCAP addresses a critical need to ensure that car assistance programs for low-income communities are readily available. The program is specifically designed to benefit communities currently underserved by existing assistance programs, including tribal and rural areas, with Imperial County set to be the first to implement DCAP.
Participants eligible for car assistance programs for low-income through DCAP can receive up to $12,000 in grants for purchasing or leasing a new or used zero-emission vehicle when they scrap an older, less efficient vehicle. Furthermore, an additional $2,000 is available to help with electric vehicle charging costs. This assistance extends to zero-emission cars, motorcycles, and e-bikes, and low-interest loans are also part of the program’s offerings to broaden access to car assistance programs for low-income individuals.
Dr. Steven Cliff, CARB Executive Officer, emphasized the importance of these car assistance programs for low-income, stating, “California has ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality and a clean air future, but reaching those targets is not possible if Californians are priced out of clean transportation options. The new Driving Clean Assistance Program provides a necessary focus on low-income Californians, bringing zero-emission technology and increased transportation options to underserved communities across the state.”
DCAP is structured to offer tailored car assistance programs for low-income, ensuring the application process is user-friendly and accessible to priority participants. Eligibility requires applicants to be at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For those who do not have a vehicle to scrap or prefer to use it for other mobility solutions like carsharing, a purchase assistance of $7,500 is available through these car assistance programs for low-income. Additionally, eligible applicants can access vehicle loans with interest rates capped at 8% through partnerships with various credit unions, further enhancing the accessibility of car assistance programs for low-income.
Expanding the reach of car assistance programs for low-income, DCAP extends support to regions not covered by air district programs like Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A). CC4A, established in 2015, has already contributed over $165 million, assisting 20,000 Californians in acquiring cleaner vehicles and removing older, more polluting vehicles from California roads. The vehicles replaced under CC4A were typically around 25 years old with an average fuel economy of 22 mpg, while the replacement vehicles averaged an equivalent of 80 mpg, showcasing the significant environmental impact of such car assistance programs for low-income.
Despite rising loan interest rates, the five air districts administering CC4A programs—San Joaquin Valley, South Coast, Bay Area, Sacramento, and San Diego—have reported continued growth in program participation, highlighting the sustained need and effectiveness of car assistance programs for low-income. DCAP will further expand these vital car assistance programs for low-income to additional counties through early 2025.
Beyond the initial purchase incentives, these car assistance programs for low-income are designed to help families reduce ongoing expenses related to gasoline and vehicle maintenance. The transportation sector remains California’s largest contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gases, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. DCAP is a crucial component of California’s broader strategy to promote clean vehicles, aligning with Governor Newsom’s mandate for all new car and passenger truck sales to be zero-emission by 2035. These state car assistance programs for low-income can often be combined with federal incentives, maximizing the benefits for participants.
