Sell More Clean-Air
Trucks and Buses

Get more eyes on your clean vehicle inventory by becoming an HVIP Approved Dealer.

How to Participate

We make it easy for you to close the deal. Become an eligible dealer and offer your customers point-of-sale price breaks with funding set aside at the time a voucher is requested. Training is required on an individual basis for each person who makes HVIP sales representing a dealership or Original Equipment Manufacturer.

If you are having technical difficulties with any step, please contact [email protected] directly.

Providers and dealers who are interested in offering ISEF to their small fleet customers can find the Provider Eligibility Application online.

01

Connect with HVIP Staff

New Dealers: Pre-register to notify the HVIP Dealer Trainer of your interest in participating in HVIP.

Returning Dealers (seeking recertification): Please email [email protected] with the following information:

  1. Full Name
  2. Dealership
  3. Phone Number
  4. List of each HVIP vehicle you sell

Manufacturers: See Manufacturer Resources at the bottom of this page.

02

Study up on the Dealer Training Materials

Training materials for FY22-23 are now available below.  

 

03

Take the Dealer Training Quiz and Fill out the Dealer Registration Form

This will be emailed to dealers who pre-registered in Step 1. Once you have successfully completed the Quiz with one hundred percent accuracy within three attempts, fill out the Dealer Registration Form and upload your W-9, Dealer License, and Manufacturer Authorization Letter. If you do not pass the quiz in three attempts, you are required to participate in the additional training call in Step 4. 

04

Complete your Training
with a Phone Call

Group calls will be set up between the HVIP dealer trainer and prospective dealers following the completion of Step 3 and is an opportunity for the dealer to confirm their understanding of the HVIP rules and requirements and ask questions about the VPC. This step is optional but recommended for those who pass the quiz and is REQUIRED for those who do not pass in three attempts. After the training call, your individualized Voucher Processing Center (VPC) credentials will be provided to you. If you opt-out of the training call, your VPC credentials will be provided to you following Step 3. 

How the Voucher Process Works (Standard HVIP Funds)

01

Dealer completes the Voucher Request Form in the Voucher Processing Center when they have a valid Purchase Order completed for an HVIP-eligible vehicle. The voucher discount must be passed on to the purchaser at the time of the sale.
The existing manufacturer rolling soft cap will continue until new Performance Review parameters are determined; a public Workgroup is anticipated in early 2024.

02

Voucher Request Form is reviewed by HVIP staff, who will contact the Dealer if any information is missing. Then, Dealer and Purchaser will sign the Terms and Conditions Form.

03

After the vehicle is delivered to the purchaser, the dealer will complete the required items on the Redemption Checklist in order to redeem the voucher. A voucher is valid for 18 months from the date of the request and must be renewed every 90 days once approved.

04

Once delivered and all paperwork is turned in, the dealer receives a check in the mail for the total voucher amount!

Manufacturer Resources

Telematics Requirement

The quarterly telematics reporting process is required from manufacturers for 3 years after a voucher is redeemed.

Telematics Instructions

Vehicle Eligibility

Any manufacturer of an on-road vehicle that meets HVIP technology requirements can become an HVIP eligible manufacturer. The HVIP Eligible Vehicles Catalog lists all vehicles currently eligible for a voucher. Before applying to CARB for HVIP vehicle eligibility (see Vehicle Application Forms), make sure you have an Executive Order. Also note that Zero-Emission Powertrain Certification (ZEPCert) will be required for all new applications submitted on or after January 1, 2023.

OEM Eligibility Contact

Deployment Spotlights

Spec sheets are great, but when fleets are considering purchasing a new vehicle, they want to understand how it will perform in the real world. That’s why HVIP is now sharing mini case studies, known as Deployment Spotlights. We plan to release additional Spotlights in the coming months. If you would like one of your vehicles to be spotlighted, please complete our form to get in touch with us!

Inquiry Form
Funding tools

Other Funding Resources

Help your customers understand the business case: how clean tech stacks up against conventional vehicles

Explore public funding options beyond HVIP – from state agencies, air districts, and utilities

Additional Resources

Key Documents

FAQs

I represent a dealership. How do I apply for a voucher?

Dealers must be HVIP-approved to be able to submit voucher requests on behalf of their customers. Any dealer or manufacturer who sells HVIP-eligible technologies should pre-register to begin the training process.

I was HVIP-certified in a past year; am I still an eligible dealer?

A Voucher Processing Center (VPC) account may be deactivated if a dealer has not logged in for over 365 days. If you believe your VPC login has been deactivated, please reach out to [email protected]. The program administrators will likely require that you pass the HVIP Dealer Quiz before your eligibility status is updated.

I’m having trouble accessing the Voucher Processing Center, what should I do?

You should reach out to [email protected]. A VPC account may be deactivated if a dealer has not logged in for over 365 days. We can help you restore access.

What paperwork is needed throughout the voucher request and redemption processes?

To submit a voucher request, an eligible dealer needs only a Purchase Order that makes clear that HVIP funding would be applied. The documents needed for redemption of an HVIP vehicle voucher can be found in the HVIP Voucher Redemption Checklist.

How do I know if funds are secured?

When HVIP is open to requests, the dealer and purchaser will be notified via email when a voucher request has been submitted. The initial review of the voucher by the Voucher Processing Center team will start. Then dealers and purchasers will be notified whether funding is set aside for the request or whether funding is unavailable due to first-come first-served demand triggering the randomization process.

My co-worker is an HVIP approved dealer, can I use his or her Voucher Processing Center login? 

No, you cannot. There should be no sharing of VPC logins within a dealership. Up to three individuals at dealerships can become HVIP-trained: this would allow for multiple individuals to sign off on paperwork for the same voucher and would allow for each dealer to submit and track voucher requests on the VPC.

It is strongly recommended that a dealership/organization dedicate one person to understanding HVIP’s policies/procedures/processes rather than multiple people.  Organizations with one HVIP point-person experience less issues brought to CARB’s attention, repeat offenses and voucher cancelations.

What happens if a vehicle is delivered/titled/paid for ahead of a voucher request being submitted?

It is against HVIP policy to provide funding for vehicles that are delivered/paid for ahead of voucher request. If a vehicle is paid for/delivered ahead of voucher request, the vehicle dealer and purchaser can appeal to CARB to allow for an exception. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

How does a vehicle become HVIP-eligible? 

Vehicle eligibility is handled by the California Air Resources Board. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Is retrofitting eligible for funding?

Yes, conversions of trucks and buses from internal combustion to hybrid and zero-emission can be funded through HVIP. Please refer to the Voucher Funding Tables for more information.

What is the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP)?

HVIP was created to reduce price barriers, enabling fleets to adopt more clean heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2009, HVIP provides point-of-sale discount vouchers that reduce the purchase cost of vehicles operated in the State of California. HVIP vouchers make zero-emission and Low NOx buses and trucks as affordable as their traditional fossil-fueled counterparts at point of sale and reduce prices for medium- and heavy-duty hybrid vehicles. Funded vehicles include parcel, beverage, and food-distribution trucks, transit buses, shuttle buses, and more.

Why did CARB create HVIP?

The goal of HVIP is to accelerate and facilitate the adoption of low-emitting hybrid, low NOx, and zero-emission trucks and buses. These vehicles are relatively new technologies and are therefore more expensive than traditional vehicles, especially in the early market years when production volumes are low. CARB recognizes that these vehicles have the proven ability to reduce criteria and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutants in California and aims to accelerate the penetration of these cleaner vehicles to help meet state clean air regulations and climate change goals. HVIP is part of the California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that invests Cap and Trade dollars.

What does first-come, first-served mean?

For standard HVIP and the drayage and transit set-asides, vouchers are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis unless a randomization process is needed if funds are subscribed within the first 24 hours that HVIP is open only.

The Public School Bus Set-Aside for Small and Medium Air Districts has different rules; please contact and [email protected].

Funding status is confirmed shortly after submission with no uncertainty regarding securing funding, and no lengthy application or bid process. HVIP is a streamlined funding mechanism that is set up for ease of use by end-users. Dealers, not purchasers, are responsible for securing HVIP funding – fleet owners do not need to gain an understanding of the voucher process to receive the full benefits of HVIP funding. A list of participating dealers can be found in the HVIP Eligible Vehicles Catalog.

How can I be notified of HVIP news and events?

Sign up for the California HVIP e-mail list by filling out the form: Contact Us.

Who can I contact for more information?

Please email [email protected] or call the HVIP toll-free hotline at 888-457-HVIP.

How do we know how much money is available?

After the first 24 hours of HVIP opening, the Available Funding table on the website lists how much money is available. This reflects the funds based on the vouchers requested to-date as long as funds remain. All voucher participants will be notified of which funding pots are open through the website, email, and VPC notifications.

How do I know if a vehicle is eligible for HVIP?

All HVIP-eligible vehicles can be found in the clean vehicle catalog. If you think a vehicle is eligible, but do not see it listed, please send an email to [email protected].

How much are the vouchers worth?

CARB recognizes that battery size is the largest determinant of battery-electric vehicle cost, therefore HVIP has simplified the voucher tables to one single voucher table based on vehicle weight rating. The incentive amounts are accompanied by voucher modifiers to support unique fleets (public transit and school districts) as well as costlier vehicle bodies. 

Can HVIP voucher funding be combined with other funding (grants, incentives, etc.)?

Yes, however the ability to combine funding sources may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Generally, local and federal funds can be stacked with HVIP, while stacking HVIP with state-funded incentives is NOT permitted, except for public transit buses or, effective 11/17/23, fleets that meet our small fleet definition (size 20 or fewer medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and less than $15 million in annual revenue) if the other program allows stacking, each incentive program is not paying for the same incremental cost, and the non-HVIP incentive program is not required to generate greenhouse gas emission reductions.This includes stacking with other California Climate Incentive programs.

For public transit buses or fleets size 20 vehicles and smaller, HVIP will fund the remaining cost up to the maximum voucher amount after the other incentives have been applied at their maximum allowable amounts.

The total voucher amount (base incentive plus voucher enhancements), plus all other eligible public incentives, may not exceed 90 percent of the total vehicle cost for purchases by private entities, and 100% for purchases by public entities.

Are light-duty vehicles eligible for HVIP?

No, they are not. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project provides incentives for the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero-emission vehicles, including electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles.

What is a Disadvantaged Community (DAC)? How can I determine eligibility for a DAC “Plus Up”?

A DAC is a Census-designated area that is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of socioeconomic and geographic factors. HVIP provides increased incentives for fleets domiciled within disadvantaged communities. The value of this “plus up” varies by vehicle type and increases for larger vehicles, and there are other requirements as listed in the “Community Specific Incentive” space on this page.

Effective 7/21/23, HVIP defines DAC eligibility as a vehicle domicile address in any of the following areas of the map at https://webmaps.arb.ca.gov/PriorityPopulations/:

  • Disadvantaged Communities (Yellow area on map legend)
  • Disadvantaged and Low Income Communities (Green; yellow AND blue area on map legend)
  • Low Income Communities within ½ mile of a Disadvantaged Community (Crosshatched purple area on map legend) and
  • Low Income Households within ½ mile of a Disadvantaged Community (Crosshatched grey area on map legend)
Where can I learn about HVIP policy changes for FY 2021-22?

Answers to frequently asked questions for Fiscal Year 2021-22 will be found in the FY21-22 Implementation FAQs.

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