California's $3,500 MyFirstEV Rebate Is Live
California’s MyFirstEV rebate is live. On August 7, Governor Newsom announced that Hyundai, Lucid, and Tesla are now applying it at the point of sale. The state puts up $135.5 million and participating automakers match it dollar-for-dollar, for a combined $271 million.
What you get
- $3,500 off a new EV with an MSRP up to $50,000.
- $1,750 off a used EV sold up to $25,000 through a manufacturer’s pre-owned program.
- Applied at signing. No application, no tax filing, no waiting.
Who qualifies
- California residents buying or leasing their first zero-emission vehicle. Leases qualify.
- Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell only. Plug-in hybrids do not qualify.
- No income cap. Eligibility is gated by vehicle price.
- Funds run until exhausted. Some brands are applying the rebate only to vehicles in inventory, not custom orders.
Participating brands
| Status | Brands |
|---|---|
| Live now | Hyundai, Lucid, Tesla |
| Later in August | Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Rivian |
| September | Honda, Lexus, Subaru, Toyota |
| November | Mitsubishi |
| Not yet set | Nissan, Volvo |
Each automaker chooses which models and trims it enrolls, so a vehicle under the price cap is not automatically covered.
How to claim it
- Confirm your brand is live and your model and trim are enrolled.
- Complete the MyFirstEV self-attestation form and get your CARB confirmation number.
- Give the dealer that number before the paperwork is finalized.
MyFirstEV can be combined with Driving Clean Assistance and Clean Cars 4 All when you independently qualify for each. If you are income-eligible for those, compare them first, because they can be worth more.
Updated August 7, 2026. Brands and funding are changing week to week; check the CARB program page for current status. EVs for All America worked with California policymakers on the first-time buyer incentive that became SB 168.