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Replace Your Ride

South Coast AQMD's Replace Your Ride programme offers eligible applicants support to replace older high-polluting vehicles with cleaner alternatives or mobility options.

Region scope South Coast AQMD region
Editorial status Active
Check eligibility Official sources

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Key facts Eligibility Apply Documents Sources Change log

Eligibility

Eligibility checklist

  • You need residence within South Coast AQMD jurisdiction.
  • You need to meet the programme's income rules.
  • You need an older eligible vehicle to retire.
  • You need to complete the online application and document upload process.

Apply

Steps to apply

  1. Go to ReplaceYourRide.com and create a user account.
  2. Complete the two-step online application.
  3. Upload the required documents.
  4. Wait for assignment to a case manager.
  5. If approved, select an eligible dealership or alternative mobility route.
  6. Do not attempt a private-party vehicle purchase if the programme rules require a participating dealership.

Documents

Required documents

  • Proof of identity.
  • Proof of residence.
  • Income documents.
  • Vehicle registration and ownership evidence.

Value / benefit

What the support usually covers

Replace Your Ride can substantially lower transition costs when eligibility conditions are met and documentation is complete.

Pitfalls

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming gasoline or ordinary hybrid replacements still qualify.
  • Expecting a quick answer when the case manager timeline may be longer.
  • Trying to buy from a private party when the programme requires a participating dealership.
  • Uploading incomplete or illegible documents.

Alternatives

Alternatives worth checking

  • If you are not in South Coast AQMD territory, look for your own district or California-wide alternatives.
  • If the vehicle route is not right, compare the e-bike or public transport option instead.

Official sources

The links we checked first.

Change log

Change history

  1. April 1, 2026

    Refreshed portal link and region-targeting summary.

    Source link

Editorial notes

Additional context

The body copy below lets editors capture nuance, edge cases, or source clarifications without turning the page into a wall of text.

Replace Your Ride is a practical, highly actionable scheme page because the source material is unusually direct: the programme is free to apply for, it publishes a headline maximum, and it states clearly that some routes are no longer allowed.

This is exactly the kind of page ScrapScheme should handle well - short, current, and explicit about the decisions that matter.

Important current note

The programme’s published FAQ says hybrid and gasoline vehicles are no longer eligible for applications submitted on or after 1 July 2024. Keep this note visible because it is exactly the kind of detail users miss.