The California Consumer Assistance Program gives consumers $1,000 or $1,500 (low income eligible) to retire their vehicle. However, the following requirements must be met:
Vehicle Requirements
Vehicle Equipment Requirements
- All doors
- Hood lid
- Dashboard
- Windshield
- At least one side window glass
- Driver’s seat
- At least one bumper
- Exhaust system
- All side and/or quarter panels
- At least one headlight, one taillight, and one brake light
Vehicle Operational Requirements
- Vehicle must be driven to a CAP contracted dismantler under its own power
- Vehicle engine starts readily through ordinary means without the use of starting fluids or external booster batteries
- Vehicle drivability is not affected by any body, steering, or suspension damage
- Vehicle is able to drive forward a minimum of 10 yards under its own power
- Interior pedals are operational
Retirement Eligibility Requirements
- You must be the registered owner with vehicle title issued in your name, and not have retired a vehicle (a joint owner must not have retired two vehicles) through the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) within the last 12 months.
- The vehicle shall have a gross vehicle weight rating of no more than 10,000 pounds including a passenger vehicle, truck, sports utility vehicle (SUV) or van.
- The vehicle must pass a visual and operational inspection. (See above)
- All vehicles undergoing an initial registration in California are ineligible.
- All vehicles registered to a business, fleet or non-profit organizations are ineligible.
AND
Vehicle FAILED smog check
- The vehicle must have failed its most recent Smog Check inspection (aborted, manual mode, and training modetests do not qualify).
- You must pay all appropriate fees for the vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- The Smog Check failure must not be due solely to an ignition timing adjustment, or a failed gas cap functional test.
- The vehicle must have been continuously registered as an operable vehicle in California for the 24 months prior to the postmark date of the application;or
- The vehicle was placed in non-operational status for a total of 60 or fewer days for the 24 months prior to the postmark date of the application;or
- The vehicle registration has lapsed for less than 121 days for the 24 months prior to the postmark date of the application.
OR
Vehicle PASSED smog check
- The vehicle must be continuously registered as an operable vehicle in California for at least 24 months prior to the postmarked date of the application;or
- The vehicle was placed in non-operational status for a total of 60 or fewer days during the continuous 24 month registration period and occurring at least 90 days prior to the postmarked date of application;or
- The vehicle registration has lapsed for less than 121 days during the previous 24 month registration period,provided that the vehicle is registered for at least 90 days prior to the postmark date of the application.
- The vehicle may be eligible if primarily driven in California for the last two years (not have been registered in any other state or country in the last two years). Documentation of operation in California includes the following:
- Proof of insurance for the last two years;or
- Invoice(s) (showing the vehicle identification number) for vehicle repairs and/or maintenance during theprevious two years and proof of owner’s residence in the State during the same period.
Dismantler List
Consumer Assistance Program Dismantlers list can be found here
