an ev driver smiling

DRIVER REQUIREMENTS

Applicant eligibility

You must meet the following requirements to participate in RIDE:

  • Rideshare platform

    Uber, Lyft or HopSkipDrive

  • Applicant type

    Individual applicants only (no businesses or entities)

  • Applicant name

    Must be listed on the Purchase Agreement or Lease Agreement

  • Residency

    California resident with a valid California driver's license (or, for active-duty military stationed in California, military orders and a valid out-of-state driver's license)

  • Household income

    At or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level

  • Ride requirement

    Completed 4,500 or more passenger trips across your rideshare platforms in the last 12 months (verified by the platform; no manual logging required)

View the terms and conditions for more details.

Don’t qualify for RIDE?

Check out other incentives you may qualify for.

Incentive finder tool 

a couple interacting with a car dealer

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

Vehicle ownership

Here’s what qualifies as an eligible vehicle:

  • Vehicle type

    Battery electric vehicle (BEV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
    Not eligible: plug-In hybrids and traditional hybrids. View eligible vehicle list.

  • Where you buy/lease

    A RIDE participating dealership, licensed dealership, automaker or third-party retailer

  • Ownership/lease term

    Must own or lease the vehicle for at least 36 months

  • Registration and use

    Registered and used in California for rideshare activity

  • Vehicle status

    Can be new or used

  • Eligible trip type

    Passenger trips only (no deliveries)

  • Platform vehicle rules

    Must meet Uber, Lyft and HopSkipDrive vehicle requirements

  • Resale/transfer

    No resale or transfer within the 36-month period

a driver and a passenger

CHARGING INCENTIVE ELIGIBILITY

Ongoing charging incentive

Drivers who receive a RIDE vehicle incentive automatically qualify for an incentive to help pay for public charging.

  • $1,170 per year for up to four annual allotments (up to $4,680 total)

  • Year 1 Charging Incentive is issued within 30 days of an incentive-reimbursed vehicle purchase or lease

  • Must maintain eligibility to receive charging support in future years

Find incentives

Ready for the next step?

Review the application process and gather the paperwork you'll need.

How to apply