Oregonians, if you’ve been considering buying or leasing an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, now may be the time. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will reopen the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program for a short window of time – April 3rd through June 3rd.

Until funds are depleted, Oregon residents, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies can apply for one or both of the following:

• A standard rebate up to $2,500 for the purchase or lease of a new battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a base MSRP under $50,000.
• A Charge Ahead Rebate of up to $7,500 for the purchase or lease of a new battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or up to $5,000 for the purchase or lease of a used battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. To apply for this rebate, the original base MSRP must be under $50,000, and your household must be low to moderate income with a total household income of less than 400% of the federal poverty guideline. Check DEQ’s Income Eligibility Calculator to determine your eligibility. To get prequalified for the Charge Ahead Rebate, complete this application. While clean vehicle purchases before April 3, 2024, or after June 4, 2024, do not qualify for state rebates, you may qualify for federal tax credits.

You’ll have up to six months from the date of purchase or lease to apply for rebates, but when funds are depleted, applications will go on a waiting list until after DEQ receives its next financial allotment in early spring of 2025. You can visit the Available Rebate Funding webpage to see the fund balance when the program reopens in April. The program was suspended in 2023 when there were more applicants than funds. DEQ is processing the applications on that waiting list now.

The clean rebate program receives at least $12 million a year, or 45% of the state’s Vehicle Privilege Tax. The Oregon Auto Dealers Association has lobbied to increase the funding or find a more stable source as we know this will help get more consumers behind the wheel of an EV or plug-in hybrid. This effort will continue in the 2025 legislative session.