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Welcome to ZEV Help! Your Guide to Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles

California HVIP Explained: Voucher Amounts, Eligibility and 2026 Status

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  • California HVIP Explained: Voucher Amounts, Eligibility and 2026 Status

California’s Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) is the largest point-of-sale incentive for zero-emission trucks and buses in the United States. This guide explains how HVIP works, current voucher amounts, who qualifies for the larger small-business vouchers, and what to do while standard funding is closed.

Funding status (checked October 13, 2026): Standard HVIP voucher funding is currently closed. HVIP says it aims to reopen with additional funding by the end of 2026. The Public Fleet and Drayage categories remain open. Always confirm current status on the official HVIP funding page before planning a purchase.

How HVIP works

  • Point-of-sale discount: the voucher is applied at purchase through a participating dealer, so you don’t wait for a rebate.
  • First-come, first-served: vouchers are issued while funding lasts.
  • Eligible vehicles only: the vehicle must be listed in the HVIP vehicle catalog and bought from an HVIP-approved dealer.
  • Funding source: HVIP is run for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as part of California Climate Investments. Since 2009, CARB reports nearly $1 billion in vouchers supporting more than 16,000 zero-emission trucks and buses.

Basic eligibility

  • The vehicle must be registered and operated in California.
  • The purchaser must operate, or oversee operation of, the vehicle for at least three years after the voucher is redeemed.
  • Private businesses must show at least one year of business operations in California before requesting a voucher.

See the HVIP FAQs and Implementation Manual for full requirements.

Voucher amounts: zero-emission trucks

Class (GVWR)Base voucherSmall business voucher
Class 2b (8,501–10,000 lb)$7,500$9,000
Class 3 (10,001–14,000 lb)$15,000$40,000
Class 4–5 (14,001–19,500 lb)$60,000$130,000
Class 6–7 (19,501–33,000 lb)$85,000$160,000
Class 8 (33,001+ lb)$120,000$330,000
Class 8 fuel cell$240,000$420,000

Voucher amounts: drayage and refuse trucks

ClassBase voucherSmall fleet voucher
Class 4–5 refuse$75,000$130,000
Class 6 refuse$106,250$160,000
Class 7 drayage or refuse$106,250$160,000
Class 8 drayage or refuse$150,000$330,000
Class 8 fuel cell drayage or refuse$300,000$420,000

Voucher amounts: public school and transit buses

ClassSchool busSmall public school busPublic transitSmall transit agency
Class 2bN/AN/A$9,750$19,500
Class 3$81,000$103,500$58,500$117,000
Class 4–5$108,000$138,000$78,000$156,000
Class 6–7$153,000$195,000$110,500$221,000
Class 8$216,000$276,000$156,000$312,000
Class 8 fuel cellN/AN/A$312,000$552,000

HVIP also offers vouchers for electric power take-off (ePTO) systems ($20,000–$50,000 by battery size) and for zero-emission truck conversions (75% of the new-truck voucher for requests on or after November 22, 2024). Amounts from the HVIP funding page, October 2026.

Who qualifies for small business vouchers?

  • Private fleets: 20 or fewer vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR (counted worldwide, including non-operational vehicles) and $15 million or less in annual revenue.
  • Public and nonprofit fleets: 20 or fewer vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR.
  • Small business amounts apply to a maximum of five vouchers per purchaser, all-time. Existing unredeemed vouchers count toward fleet size.

Stacking HVIP with other incentives

  • HVIP “pays last”: it covers the remaining cost, up to the voucher amount, after other incentives are applied.
  • Combined public incentives can cover up to 90% of vehicle cost for private fleets and up to 100% for public fleets (excluding taxes and fees).
  • Standard HVIP cannot be combined with the Innovative Small e-Fleet (ISEF) program. Breaking stacking rules can mean returning voucher funds.
  • HVIP’s Funding Finder tool and the free Cal Fleet Advisor service can help identify other state, air district and utility funding.

What to do while standard funding is closed

  1. Sign up for HVIP updates on the HVIP website so you hear when funding reopens.
  2. Check the open categories: public fleets and drayage trucks can still request vouchers.
  3. Look at the California Clean Fuel Reward, which HVIP suggests for Class 2b–8 battery-electric trucks while standard funding is closed.
  4. Line up your dealer and vehicle now from the HVIP catalog so you can move quickly when funding opens.
  5. Run the numbers with and without a voucher using our TCO Calculator.
Related reading
Official sources

Last reviewed: October 2026. Voucher amounts and funding status change; confirm on californiahvip.org.