The CAR Program has repaired 1,067 vehicles and provided nearly $1.2 million in subsidies to participating auto repair shops statewide
Riverside, Calif.—The Cool Air Rebate (CAR) Program, which provides financial assistance to low-income Californians to repair leaking vehicle air conditioning systems, announced changes to the program that allow more Californians to stay safe and cool in their cars this summer.
The Cool Air Rebate Program now covers up to 90% of eligible repair costs (an increase from 80% previously) to remove leaking R-134a refrigerant. The CAR Program is broadening the customer income requirements from 200% of the federal poverty level to 225%, expanding the number of individuals who qualify for the program.
The CAR Program also announced it is offering free diagnostic testing to determine vehicle eligibility at participating auto repair shops statewide for applicants in the month of July. These program guideline updates go into effect on July 1, and are permanent. The free diagnostic is a limited time offer and available only from July 1 – July 31.
“The critical updates to the Cool Air Rebate Program — increasing the financial assistance to cover up to 90% of repair costs, broadening income eligibility, and offering free diagnostic testing in July — are about making sure more Californians can get the help they need to stay safe and cool,” said Nathan Perrine, Executive Director of the Car Care Council, which manages the CAR Program.
In addition to helping vulnerable Californians stay safe this summer, a primary goal of the CAR Program is to directly reduce the amount of air pollution caused by the release of R-134a refrigerant into the atmosphere.
Since the program debuted as a pilot in Fresno in July 2024, the program has repaired 1,067 vehicles and provided nearly $1.2 million in subsidies to participating auto repair shops statewide. There are more than 110 cities throughout California that are now offering the CAR Program.
Funding for the Cool Air Rebate Program comes from unclaimed deposits on cans of R-134a sold in California. Use of the funding was authorized by the California Air Resources Board in 2024.
The CAR Program announced the updates to the program at CSAI Auto Service in Riverside, which has joined more than 225 certified auto repair shops as a CAR Program certified partner. At the announcement event, CSAI Auto Service owner Patricia Summers shared why her shop joined the program.
“We see families every day who put off repairs because they just can’t afford them,” she said. “Being part of the Cool Air Rebate Program means we can say ‘yes’ to more people. We’re proud to offer this service to our community.”
Funding for the Cool Air Rebate Program comes from unclaimed deposits on cans of R-134a sold in California, in coordination with the Car Care Council and the California Air Resources Board.
For more information on the Cool Air Rebate Program, visit www.coolairrebate.org.
Comments are closed.