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Frequently Asked Questions

Following are general questions asked about the rebate program. For vehicle-specific topics and administrative changes to the program, please visit the Recent Program Changes page.

What is the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program?

The CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program (formerly CEVforBC) is intended to encourage and accelerate zero-emission vehicle deployment and technology innovation within British Columbia. The program provides point-of-purchase rebates. Qualified British Columbia residents who purchase or lease qualifying new vehicles, are eligible for up to $4,000 off the final, after-tax vehicle price for a new battery electric vehicle, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, or longer range (over 85 kilometres of electric range) plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and up to $2,000 for a shorter range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Businesses, non-profit organizations, public agencies and entities (including municipal and regional governments and first nations, but excluding provincial, crown, and federal government agencies) who purchase or lease qualifying new vehicles, are eligible for $3,000 off the final, after-tax vehicle price for new battery electric vehicle, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, or longer range (over 85 kilometres of electric range) plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and $1,500 for a shorter range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

How does the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program work?

Individuals are required to apply to have their eligibility assessed through the CleanBC Go Electric website and application web portal available there, as specified here.

The dealership must be an eligible dealer, and would be required to deduct the rebate amount off the final vehicle price for each eligible applicant from each eligible zero-emission vehicle. The dealership would then submit an application to the New Car Dealers Association of BC for reimbursement for each of the rebates provided to eligible purchasers/lessees. The point-of-purchase rebates are available for eligible vehicles sold/leased until program funding is depleted, on a first-come, first-served basis.

How does an individual receive their rebate?

Individuals are required to apply to have their eligibility assessed through the CleanBC Go Electric website and application web portal available there, as specified here.

Once deemed eligible, (through the individual’s CleanBC Go Electric application process), the individual’s eligibility approval is linked to their BC driver’s licence number. The customer must provide their BC driver’s licence at the point-of-purchase, but they do not need to apply to receive the rebate– the onus is on the dealership. The dealership gives the rebate as indicated in the NCDA system, by the driver’s licence number at the point-of-purchase. Then, the dealership must apply to get reimbursed, by following the Reimbursement Procedures.

How does an industrial, commercial or institutional organization receive their rebate?

Businesses and organizations are NOT required to apply to have their eligibility assessed. Instead, the dealership must ensure the applicant is eligible by reviewing the Rebate Eligibility Criteria.

Once found eligible, the applicant does not need to apply to receive the rebate – the onus is on the dealership. The dealership gives the rebate at the point-of-purchase. Then, the dealership must apply to get reimbursed, by following the Reimbursement Procedures.

Are there any rebates for installing charging equipment?

Yes, additional information is available for BC Hydro customers and for FortisBC customers.

Is there a rebate limit per individual?

Yes, an individual may only receive one (1) rebate during the lifespan of the program. Furthermore, individuals are required to apply to have their eligibility assessed through the CleanBC Go Electric website and application web portal available there, as specified here.

What is the vehicle eligibility criteria?

Vehicles must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a point-of-purchase rebate:

Be New

To be eligible, the vehicle must be a new vehicle constructed entirely from new parts that have never been the subject of a retail sale, or previously registered in British Columbia or any other jurisdiction. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or its authorized licensee must manufacture the vehicle. If the vehicle is not new, has been re-leased, is the subject of a lease assumption or has been transferred into British Columbia after previously having been registered out-of province, the vehicle is not eligible for a rebate through the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program (the “Program”). Aftermarket plug-in hybrid electric vehicle conversions are not eligible for Program rebate funding.

For the purpose of the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program, vehicles with over 500 km at the time of the sale/delivery are not considered new.

We do also accept demo / service loaner vehicles that have less than 10,000 km and have never been previously registered outside of the manufacturer or dealership. Click here for the Demo / Service Loaner Vehicle Declaration form.

Be an Eligible Vehicle Class

To be eligible, a vehicle must be classified in either of the following classification as per Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Fuel Consumption Guide:

Vehicle ClassDescription
CarsTwo-seater
Minicompact
Subcompact
Compact
Mid-size
Full-size
Larger Vehicles*Station wagon
Pickup truck
Sport utility vehicle
Minivans
Small pickup truck
Van
Special purpose vehicle

*Includes the vehicle types listed here, and vehicles classified as Class 2a vehicles (up to 8,500 pounds).

Be Certified

To be eligible, the vehicle must be either covered by a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certificate or be deemed to be covered by an EPA certificate in accordance with the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999), and must meet all requirements outlined in Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act and its regulations. Vehicles from foreign OEMs must be on Transport Canada’s Pre-Clearing Appendix F (import over 2,500 vehicle per year) or Appendix G (import less than 2,500) list to be eligible.

Be Highway Capable

BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation may request that a vehicle manufacturer provide a written statement declaring whether or not the vehicle is capable of highway operation. A vehicle will be presumed not capable of operation on the highway if any one of the following circumstances apply:

  • The vehicle is a low-speed vehicle.
  • The vehicle is prohibited by law from being operated on the highway or is only capable of limited operation on the highway.
  • The manufacturer has required, or will require, the purchaser or lessee to sign an agreement that limits, or prevents, the operation of the vehicle on the highway.
  • There is a written manufacturer’s statement or recommendation (which can include the owner’s manual for the vehicle) that the vehicle should not be operated on the highway or should have limited operation on the highway.

Time in British Columbia

To receive a vehicle rebate the vehicle must remain plated, registered and insured in British Columbia in the applicant’s name for at least 12 months from date of sale.

It will be expected that the dealership through tracking of the applicant ensure that the vehicle is registered, plated and insured in British Columbia under applicant’s name for 12 months from date of sale.

If before the 12 months is up, the applicant does not abide by all of the above conditions, the dealership will be required to collect from the applicant the repayment of the full amount of the point-of-purchase rebate they had received through the Program.

The dealership would submit the repayment to the NCDA, who would put it back into the point-of-purchase funding. However, if the repayment is received after the term of the agreement has expired, NCDA would in that case submit the repayment to BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

In the circumstances in which the dealership is unsuccessful after 12 months of attempting to obtain repayments from the non-abiding applicants, the dealership would submit documentation of all attempts at recovery. NCDA would submit the documentation to BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovations. These repayment procedures would also apply to any repayments received regarding leases.

Be on the CleanBC Eligible Vehicles List

The vehicle must be on the list of eligible vehicles at the time of the sale/lease.

Policy regarding traded-in ZEVs

The Program requires participating dealers to track applicants to ensure that the applicant abides by the condition that the vehicle remains plated and insured in British Columbia in the applicant’s name for 12-months from the date of purchase and to collect from non-abiding applicants the repayment of the appropriate amount of the point-of-purchase discount that the applicant had received through the Program. The Program only allows individuals to receive one rebate from the program for the life of the program.

If a ZEV is being considered for a trade-in on the purchase of a new ZEV it is best practice before completing a deal to determine if the customer has met the 12-month ownership requirement of the Program and if they’ve received a rebate from the Program for a previous vehicle purchase. Dealers can contact the Program team to check if the customer has met the 12-month ownership requirement of the Program.

If a ZEV is sold under a deal where the applicant is not eligible to receive another rebate or has not met program requirements a rebate will not be issued to the dealer or the rebate payment will be held until the applicant meets program criteria (either meeting the 12 month requirement or repaying the original rebate to the original dealer).

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) Cap

Eligible vehicles must have a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of $55,000 and below for “Cars” category and $70,000 and below for the “Larger Vehicles” category. Cars under the program are equivalent to Cars as classified under the NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide, except for the station wagon designation, which is classified as a Larger Vehicle for the purpose of the program. The larger vehicles category under the program is equivalent to the light trucks classification under NRCan Fuel Consumption Guide. Larger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 3,856 kg (8,500 lb) are not eligible for rebates under the program. Ministry staff are monitoring these price caps and will adjust it if necessary.

Optional accessories/equipment (e.g., packages) and fees (e.g., destination, documentation, tire levy, taxes) do not affect the vehicle eligibility for the program. Under the MSRP eligibility criterion, the battery and powertrain are not options. If an OEM offers a business model where the battery or the powertrain are options, the price of the battery or powertrain must be included in the MSRP. The MSRP criterion for vehicle eligibility is based on the vehicle model year, model, and trim. Vehicles must be on the eligibility list prior to purchase/lease to qualify for a rebate.

Demonstration and Service Vehicles

A dealer demonstration and service loaner vehicles will be eligible if the vehicle meets all the following criteria.

Dealer demonstration vehicles:

  • It has never been registered (except for the OEM/dealership);
  • It has only ever been driven by dealership staff (except for test drives); and
  • Its mileage is less than 10,000 km.

Dealer service loaner vehicles:

  • It has never been registered (except for the OEM/dealership); and
  • The mileage is less than 10,000 km.

Vehicles that have been previously registered to only the OEM will be eligible for the rebate if they meet program criteria and have a mileage of less than 10,000 km.

A consumer interested in purchasing a qualifying vehicle, how do they apply for the rebate?

As of August 2, 2022, the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation (Ministry) has modified the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate (the Program) eligibility requirements and rebate amounts for applicants to enhance affordability and accessibility. Under the modified program, individuals need to meet income eligibility requirements and receive approval for a maximum rebate amount from the Ministry prior to purchasing an eligible Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV). Please visit here for more information and how to apply for income tested eligibility. After receiving the approval from the Ministry, the consumer visit any authorized dealership to start the sale process.

What are the application requirements?

Eligible Applications must meet requirements that include, but are not limited to, the following:

The purchaser/lessee (applicant) of the vehicles must be an individual who was deemed eligible by the BC government, business, public agencies and entities (including municipal and regional governments and first nations, but excluding provincial, crown, and federal government agencies), and non-profit organizations that is a BC resident of the business, non-profit or public entity is based in British Columbia or has a BC-based affiliate. All businesses must be licensed to operate in BC.

Individuals can only receive one rebate during the life of the Program. A valid BC Driver’s License of the individual is required.

A fleet may receive a maximum of 10 rebates from the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program. Requests for more than 10 rebates will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any exception is at the sole discretion of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. A Car Share fleet may receive a maximum of 50 rebates from the CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate Program. Requests for more than 50 rebates will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any exception is at the sole discretion of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

The purchase/lease date is not prior to the vehicle being included on the list of eligible vehicles, and prior to exhaustion of available rebate funds.

The vehicle must be plated, registered and insured under the applicant’s name for a minimum of 12 months.

Submit the application form and attach all required supporting documentation within 15 days of the date of sale/lease.

Required documentation to be submitted as part of the Dealers application for reimbursement to the NCDA for rebates issued will include, at a minimum, the following:

  • Application Checklist
  • Letter of Received Rebate
  • Proof that each sale / lease of an eligible ZEV vehicle was made to a BC resident (or BC business operating in BC with a valid business license or to a public agency in BC). Please ensure that:
  • For Individuals: Applicant’s current BC driver’s license number is included on the application form AND; a copy of the applicant’s current BC driver’s license is attached with the supporting documents OR the applicant’s current BC driver’s license is included on the binding contract.
  • For Business: Applicant’s valid BC Incorporation number (formatted “BC0000000” [“BC” followed by 7 digits]) is provided on the application form and/or a copy of the BC Registry Services BC Company Summary is attached with the supporting documents.
  • A copy of the sales contract (for sales) or lease contract (for leases) signed by all parties with an itemization of credits, discounts, and rebates received, if applicable.
  • In a scenario where the dealership sells a vehicle to a third-party leasing company and the leasing company leases it to an end-user, please visit this page.
  • A copy of the sales or lease contract signed by all parties with an itemization of credits, discounts, and rebates received, if applicable.

Ensure modifications are not made or allowed to the vehicle’s emissions control systems, hardware, software calibrations, or hybrid system.

Be available for follow-up inspection if requested by NCDA, BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation or the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation’s designee for the purposes of program oversight and accountability.

The Dealership submitting the application must be a member in good standing of the New Car Dealers Association of BC.

What happens if the applicant breaks a lease?

If the applicant breaks the lease in the first 12 months of the lease, the applicant will be required to return the FULL amount of the CleanBC Go Electric Vehicle Rebate.

Is the SCRAP-IT BC program affiliated with the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program? Can the rebates available through each program be combined?

The SCRAP-IT Program has no affiliation with the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program.

Depending on the type of vehicle purchased, it is possible to combine the incentives offered through each program.

Click here to see the incentives offered by the SCRAP-IT BC Program.

The BC SCRAP-IT Program will offer incentives to owners of vehicles to scrap their older high polluting vehicles and provide them with an incentive towards the purchase of a new electric vehicle. Specifically, SCRAP-IT will offer up to $500 incentive to vehicle owners to scrap their existing vehicle and replace it with a new electric vehicle. Battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with an MSRP below $55,000 will qualify for the program.

Is there a rebate for converting a car to compressed natural gas (CNG) or to electric?

No. Aftermarket conversions are not eligible for the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program.

Are demo / service loaner vehicles eligible for the rebate when they are sold?

As of April 2021, a demo / service loaner vehicle is only eligible if it meets all of the following criteria:

  • It has never been registered (except for the OEM/dealership).
  • Its mileage is less than 10,000 kilometers.
  • For demo vehicles only: It has only ever been driven by dealership staff (except for test drives).

For demo / service loaner vehicles deals, a demo / service loaner vehicle declaration must be provided along with the other required supporting documents. More information can be found on the Demo/Service Loaner Vehicle Declaration page.

Will new models introduced be added to the eligible vehicle list?

Manufacturers are able to apply to have new models added to the list at any time. Customers must purchase newly added models on or after the date that the vehicle is added to the eligible list on our website in order to receive the rebate.

Is a resale car available for the rebate?

Only new cars that have never been the subject of a retail sale or been previously owned are eligible for the point-of-purchase rebate. More information is available at Vehicle Eligibility Criteria.

Are municipalities/regional districts eligible for the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle rebate?

Yes. Municipalities/regional districts are eligible for up to 10 rebates for the lifetime of the Program.

In general, ensure the purchaser / lessee of the vehicle is an individual, business, non-profit, or public entity that is a British Columbia resident of the business, non-profit or public entity is based in British Columbia or has a British Columbia-based affiliate. All businesses must be licensed to operate in British Columbia.

If a customer bought a qualifying vehicle just before the program changed on August 2, 2022, are they eligible for a top-up to the new rebate amount?

No, the Program does not offer top-ups for rebates redeemed before the new eligibility requirements were implemented.

How will personal information collected on the application form be used?

Any personal information collected on the application form is subject to the terms set forth under the Privacy Policy on this website.

Will dealerships be reimbursed for the processing of the rebate application?

No. The dealer acts as an agent on behalf of the customer and is not allowed to charge a fee for this service.

Can the customer also receive other rebates and discounts?

Yes. Participation in the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program does not preclude a vehicle purchaser or lessee from taking advantage of other rebate opportunities. Rebates could be combined with other federal, provincial, or local agency rebates.

Can one application form be used for multiple vehicle purchases/leases?

No. A single application must be made for each vehicle. Furthermore, there can only be one applicant per reimbursement application (if there is more than one buyer/lessee, only one must be selected to be the applicant).

Are there residency requirements that must be met to qualify for the rebate?

Yes. The purchaser/lessee of the vehicles must be an individual (who was deemed eligible by the BC government), business, non-profit, or public entity (including municipal and regional governments and First Nations, but excluding provincial, crown, and federal government agencies) that is a BC resident or the business, non-profit or public entity is based in BC or has a BC-based affiliate. All businesses must be licensed to operate in BC.

Is there a limit to the number of vehicles that can be purchased by a business or organization?

Yes. The limit is a maximum of ten (10) rebates per business or organization for the lifetime of the Program.

Eligible car share fleet applicants can receive up to fifty (50) rebates for the lifetime of the Program.

Leases must be for 36 months or longer to be eligible.

Are vehicles purchased out-of-province or out-of-country eligible?

No. Vehicles purchased out-of-province or out-of-country, are not eligible for the point-of-purchase rebate. Please visit the dealership directory to find a participating BC dealership in your area that is authorized to provide eligible zero-emission vehicle rebates.

What types of zero-emission vehicles are eligible for the rebate?

The following types of four-wheel vehicles qualify for the rebate:

  • Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
  • Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) or Extended Range Electric Vehicle (ER-EV)
  • Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)