Choose your pathway
Choose the way that fits your situation and follow the steps below to get your battery electric vehicle (BEV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). Before applying for an incentive, you must confirm your eligibility for the program.
Point of sale
- Approved pre-qualification is required prior to purchase.
- EV must be purchased from a participating dealer.
- The incentive is applied directly to the purchase or lease agreement.
Post-purchase
- EV can be purchased at a licensed dealership, automaker, or a licensed third-party retailer, such as CarMax or Carvana.
- Incentive is paid directly to the applicant after the purchase or lease via ACH transaction.
Note: pre-qualification is not required, but it confirms your eligibility before you purchase or lease an EV.
Documents needed
- Proof of California residency: A copy of a valid California driver’s license
- Applicant household income eligibility documentation: Tax return transcript & Household Summary Form
OR
Proof of participation in eligible income-qualifying assistance program
If you apply for the incentive post-purchase, you will also need the following:
- Purchase or Lease Agreement
- Temporary or Permanent CA Vehicle Registration
Military Exemption: For active-duty military members or their dependents stationed in California, but with permanent residency in another state, military orders may be used as proof of residency, along with a valid out-of-state driver's license.
Minimum Driving Threshold (MDT): Applicants must also meet the MDT requirement of at least 4,500 passenger trips in the last 12 months. The program administrator will verify this requirement is met with Uber, Lyft and/or HopSkipDrive. The MDT verification process may take up to 20 business days to complete.
Point of sale
To apply your incentive at a dealership, you must apply for pre-qualification through the RIDE online portal prior to ordering, purchasing or leasing an eligible EV. Once you’ve completed your point-of-sale purchase or lease, the dealership handles the incentive redemption process.
Application process
Apply online
Submit your RIDE application and required documents through the online portal.
Eligibility review
The RIDE program administrator reviews your application to make sure you qualify. This includes checking with your rideshare company to confirm you meet the required MDT.
Get approved
If approved, you will receive a pre-qualification ID number in the online portal and via email.
Find a participating dealer
Participating dealers will be added following program launch in November.
Buy or lease your vehicle
Take your pre-qualification ID number to a participating dealership. You must purchase or lease your vehicle within 90 days of your approval date. The approval date is the day you received your pre-qualification ID number via email.
Dealer applies incentive
The dealership will apply the RIDE incentive at the time of purchase or lease.
Post-Purchase
You can get your incentive after purchasing or leasing an eligible vehicle at a licensed dealership, automaker or a licensed third-party retailer, such as CarMax or Carvana. When using the post-purchase pathway, pre-qualification is optional, however, recommended to confirm eligibility.
Application process
Applicant pre-qualification process
You have the option to pre-qualify for a post-purchase incentive to ensure your eligibility before purchasing or leasing a vehicle.
- If you choose to pre-qualify, log in to the RIDE portal to establish an account and then complete your application process after acquiring your vehicle.
- If you don't pre-qualify, you don't need to set up an account until you get your EV and apply for the incentive.
Note: pre-qualification is not required, but it confirms your eligibility before you purchase or lease your EV.
Depending on your choice, follow one of these pathways:
If you have pre-qualified ...
Gather all required documents
The application will take 10-15 minutes to complete, and you can save your progress at any time.
View the required documents.
Log in to the RIDE portal using your pre-qualification ID number
When you pre-qualified, you received a RIDE ID in both the online portal and by email.
Follow the instructions for beginning an application
You will supply information about you, your purchase, ACH info and more. You will agree to the RIDE Terms and Conditions.
Upload and submit your supporting documents
Once completed, you will immediately see your application status. You also will receive an email concerning your status in approximately 14 business days. If any information or documentation is missing, you will be notified.
If you qualify, you will receive your incentive
You can expect your incentive payment to be issued within 30 days of your application approval.
If you have not pre-qualified ...
Gather all required documents
Gather all required documents. The application will take 10-15 minutes to complete, and you can save your progress at any time.
View the required documents.
Create an account in the online portal
Applications can only be submitted through the online portal. You will receive notifications about your application using the email you supply when creating your account.
Follow the instructions for creating your account and beginning an application
You will supply information about you, your purchase, ACH info and more. You will agree to the RIDE Terms and Conditions.
Upload and submit your supporting documents
Once completed, you will immediately see your application status. You also will receive an email concerning your status in approximately 14 business days. If any information or documentation is missing, you will be notified.
If you qualify, you will receive your incentive
You can expect your incentive payment to be issued within 30 days of your application approval.
Note: applicants who choose the post-purchase pathway may be at risk of ineligibility for RIDE and unable to collect an incentive.
View the terms and conditions.