Reliable Transportation Shouldn’t Be Out of Reach

Reliable transportation is essential for getting to work, school, and everyday activities. Programs like the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) and Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) help income-qualified households access cleaner, more reliable transportation options.

Across California, these programs support families by helping replace older, high-polluting vehicles, providing financing assistance, and expanding access to clean mobility options that reduce air pollution and improve community health.

Through partnerships with local air districts and community organizations, DCAP continues working to ensure that cleaner transportation is accessible to more communities statewide.

Need to Know This Month

Clean Cars 4 All?

DCAP Helps Close the Gap

Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) provides incentives for eligible residents to replace older, high-polluting vehicles with cleaner options like electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Learn more below and check eligibility to apply now!

Free Clean Air Vehicle

Ride & Drive Comes to Goleta on March 14

Old Town Goleta residents are invited to test drive clean air vehicles, get help with DCAP applications, and pick up a free air purifier on Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center.

Community Partner Spotlight

This month we’re highlighting our partners Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD ) and Health Education Council (HEC).

Read the full article below.

DCAP Impact Stories from Across California

“It’s given me a confidence boost. I’ve had some things happen in my life recently, and it's really put me in a better mood."

– Steven M.

For Steven, getting an electric vehicle wasn’t just about transportation, it was about getting back on his feet and moving forward with confidence.

“My adventure with all of this started with Clean Cars 4 All in San Diego. That’s where I first learned there were programs out there to help people like me get into a cleaner, more reliable car.” Through that early experience, he was eventually connected to the Driving Clean Assistance Program, which opened a new door.

Steven knew from the start that he wanted an electric vehicle. “I was specifically looking for an all-EV,” he says. “I drive a lot, and I knew an electric car would make a big difference financially.” When DCAP became an option, he leaned in. “The application itself was really easy,” he says. “Once I got connected with someone on my file, everything became very clear.”

With DCAP’s support and a small, community-focused dealership's help, Steven found a Hyundai Ioniq EV that fit his needs and budget. “For whatever reason, this dealership said, ‘We’re going to help you out,’” he recalls. “They didn’t have to, but they did.”

Now that he’s driving electric, the impact is immediate. “It puts a lot more money in my pocket,” he says. “I was spending $25 to $30 a day on gas before, and now it’s about half of that.” Just as important, the car has helped him return to work he enjoys. “It’s allowing me to do deliveries again, and I’ll probably even go back to Uber,” he says.

Beyond the savings, owning a new car has lifted his spirits. “It’s quiet, it’s nice, it’s fresh,” Steven says. “It’s given me a confidence boost. I’ve had some things happen in my life recently, and it's really put me in a better mood. It feels good to have a nice car again.”

While environmental benefits weren’t his first motivation, he recognizes them now. “There are no emissions, no oil changes every 5,000 miles,” he says. “If you drive as much as I do, that really adds up. It’s definitely a good thing for the environment.”

Steven also appreciated the guidance DCAP provides. “Once I got my contact person, they were awesome,” he says. “You do have to be interactive and stay on top of your file, but the people you work with, their heart is really into it. You can tell they care.”

Clean Cars 4 All: Expanding Access to Clean Vehicle Incentives Across California

Older vehicles often come with higher fuel costs and more frequent repairs. DCAP's Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) financial incentive pathway helps income-qualified households replace older vehicles with cleaner transportation options. Participants may receive up to $12,000 in incentives toward a replacement vehicle while helping reduce emissions in their communities.

What DCAP's Clean Cars 4 All Offers:

🚗 Vehicle Replacement Assistance

Help replacing older, high-emission vehicles with cleaner options

🤝 Affordable Financing Support

Access to financing that makes cleaner vehicles more affordable

🔌 Clean Transportation Options

Support for transitioning to electric or other low-emission vehicles

📍 Statewide Access

Available in counties without a local Clean Cars 4 All program

Why Switching to a Cleaner Vehicle Matters:

🌎 Cleaner Air for Our Communities

Reduce harmful pollution and improve local air quality

⛽ Lower Fuel & Maintenance Costs

Cleaner vehicles can help lower fuel and maintenance expenses

🚗 Reliable Transportation

Upgrade to a newer, more efficient vehicle you can depend on

Learn About Clean Cars 4 All

Clean Cars 4 All Incentive Levels

Non-Disadvantaged Communities

Up to $10,000 toward a replacement vehicle
PLUS, a $2,000 Charge Card

Disadvantaged Communities

Up to $12,000 toward a replacement vehicle
PLUS, a $2,000 Charge Card (charge cards are only for PHEV/BEVs and FCEVs are excluded).

Clean Mobility Option

Participants who choose not to purchase or lease a replacement vehicle may select the Clean Mobility Option, which provides up to:

$7,500 in mobility benefits

Participants may choose from multiple transportation options, including:

Public transit passes
Car-sharing programs
Bike-sharing membership
Electric bicycle (e-bike) incentives

Program Availability

Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) financial pathway serves counties across Northern California, rural mountain regions, the Central Coast, and selecting Southern California communities. DCAP's CC4A is also available through our three partner air districts.

DCAP air district partners include:

DCAP helps expand access to cleaner transportation in counties where a local vehicle replacement program may not be available.

If you live in an area served by a regional air district CC4A program, you are not eligible to use DCAP for vehicle replacement (scrap-and-replace). To find out if your area is covered by a participating air district, visit your local air district website.

Community Partner Spotlight:

Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and Health Education Council (HEC)

This month we’re highlighting the work of the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and the Health Education Council (HEC). Together, these organizations support outreach and application assistance for the Driving Clean Assistance Program, including Clean Cars 4 All.

What local air quality or transportation challenge does your district see most often, and how are programs like Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) or Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) helping address it?

As it relates to air quality, residents have stated that they’ve sometimes had to access a clinic or urgent care for allergy or asthma related symptoms within the past year. These health impacts especially cause difficulties to low-income residents. In addition, most residents reported a “fair” knowledge of general air pollution and are “moderately worried” about its effects. Those same residents stated that they would like to learn more about air quality and contribute to a solution. Since transportation is the major air pollution contributor, programs like CC4A and DCAP are contributing on two fronts: First, they are helping low-income residents gain access to dependable transportation that they may not have, while decreasing costs on repairs and other financial hardships. Second, they are helping add more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road, which in time will decrease the criteria pollutants and carbon footprint and illnesses associated with such.

Can you share a recent story or example of how CC4A or DCAP made a difference for a resident or family in your district?

HEC staff recently assisted a Rocklin resident who was trying to get back onto his feet after a tough couple of years. This individual struggled with but overcame hurdles pertaining to housing, mental health, and food security, among other issues. They felt that securing reliable transportation was the next step that would catapult them into the next phase of their life. Staff met with and assisted this individual at Rocklin Public Library in November, and they submitted their application within 45 minutes. The resident expressed gratitude and stated that being able to secure reliable transportation would improve their quality of life by being able to get to work faster, shop for nutritious foods, and get from point A to point B safely.

What has your district learned about what residents need most when seeking cleaner transportation options?

We’ve learned that residents need various means of financial support. Apart from the down payment assistance, residents inquire about the interest rate and insurance costs of a potential electric or hybrid vehicle as well as accessible charging stations with affordable electricity rates. We continue to point qualified/successful applicants to DCAP-affiliated car dealerships and credit unions across the region and ease any concerns about financing a vehicle, as well as review the “Car Shopping” section of DCAP’s website so that residents can make the best decision for themselves regarding this program.

DCAP Clean Air Vehicle Ride & Drive Event

ADD TO CALENDAR

Eligibility and Requirements

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants for DCAP must be California residents, and income qualified, which means having an income at, or below, 300% Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Check Eligibility

Transportation Resources

Did you know? The DCAP Dealership List is updated regularly.

Check it out here for the most up-to-date partner dealership locations across California.

Dealerships

You Can Use

Know a dealership that should join our program? Refer to them today!

Visit our DCAP Dealerships or email dealershi p@drivingcle anca.org.

Dealerships must be approved before completing participants' purchase or lease.

Due to an extraordinary response and high demand, DCAP’s Financing Assistance pathway is now closed to applicants that fall under tiers 2 and 3. DCAP’s scrap and replace option, Clean Cars 4 All, is still open and accepting applications.

Learn More

Have questions about eligibility or applying?

Click below to find answers to common questions about the Driving Clean Assistance Program. From eligibility requirements to clean vehicle options and financing details, our FAQs provide all the essential information to help you navigate the program with ease.

DCAP FAQ

The Community Housing Development Corporation's (CHDC) Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) is a California Air Resources Board-funded clean-air vehicle incentive program to help low-income Californians, especially those in underserved, Tribal and disadvantaged communities, access clean-air vehicles.

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