California EV Rebates on the Toyota bZ: What Still Exists in 2026

Most pages about electric vehicle incentives in California are out of date. The $7,500 federal credit is gone. California's original CVRP rebate has been closed since 2023. If you are shopping a Toyota bZ from the San Fernando Valley, what matters is the money that is still on the table right now — and there is real money still on the table. Here is the honest accounting, current as of September 2026, with every figure sourced to the agency or manufacturer that sets it.

California and Federal EV Incentives — Status as of September 2026

Incentive program terms, funding availability, and eligibility requirements are set by the administering agencies and manufacturers and are subject to change or depletion without notice. Amounts shown are current as of September 2026. Eligibility is determined by the administering agency, not by the dealership. Confirm current terms before purchase.

Toyota renamed the bZ4X to simply bZ for the 2026 model year, alongside a substantial update. If you are cross-shopping listings, the 2023–2025 bZ4X and the 2026 bZ are meaningfully different vehicles. Specifications below are drawn from Toyota's official 2026 bZ announcement.

What Changed for 2026

• Manufacturer-estimated range up to 314 miles on the XLE FWD Plus, up from 252 miles on the outgoing bZ4X
• A larger 74.7-kWh battery on XLE FWD Plus, XLE AWD, and Limited grades; a 57.7-kWh pack on the base XLE FWD
• A native NACS charging port, giving direct access to Tesla Supercharger stations without an adapter
• 150 kW DC fast charging, roughly 30 minutes from 10% to 80%
• Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 standard across the lineup
• Seating for five

Figures are manufacturer-estimated and subject to change. For the full trim walk, dimensions, and feature breakdown, see our 2026 Toyota bZ research page.

EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.

MyFirstEV was created by SB 168 and is administered by the California Air Resources Board. The program launched August 7, 2026, and Toyota is a participating manufacturer — Toyota's own offer disclosures confirm the incentive on both the 2026 and 2027 bZ.

Unlike the old federal credit, this is not a tax filing. The discount is applied in your sales contract at the dealership.

New vs. Used: How the Two Tiers Compare

MyFirstEV Eligibility at a Glance

Incentive program terms, funding availability, and eligibility requirements are set by the administering agencies and manufacturers and are subject to change or depletion without notice. Amounts shown are current as of September 2026. Eligibility is determined by the administering agency, not by the dealership. Confirm current terms before purchase.

How the $50,000 Cap Actually Works

This is the detail that trips people up. CARB applies the cap to the base trim's manufacturer's suggested retail price, not to the configured price of the specific vehicle you are buying. If the base trim of a model comes in under the cap, higher grades of that same model can still qualify even when options push the window sticker higher.

• Every 2026 Toyota bZ grade — XLE, XLE Plus, and Limited, in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive — carries a base manufacturer's suggested retail price below the $50,000 cap
• Manufacturers, not CARB, decide which of their models and grades are enrolled, so enrollment is confirmed at the dealership rather than assumed from the price alone
• Plug-in hybrids are not eligible vehicles under the program, even though previously owning one disqualifies you as a buyer

Who Qualifies as a Buyer

• California residents purchasing or leasing their first zero-emission vehicle
• Any prior battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell vehicle — owned or leased — disqualifies you
• You sign a declaration at the dealership confirming first-time status
• Providing false information on that declaration can result in clawback of the rebate

The Conditions Most Pages Leave Out

These come straight from Toyota's own offer disclosures, and they are the terms that surprise people in the finance office.

• The vehicle must be registered in California, and you cannot resell it outside the state for four years
• Proof of California residency and first-time BEV status may be required at signing
• Funding is allocated per manufacturer, not statewide — when Toyota's pool is depleted, the offer ends regardless of what other brands have left
• One participating automaker exhausted its entire allocation within days of the program's launch

What It Stacks With

• Clean Cars 4 All and the Driving Clean Assistance Program, for households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level
• Utility charger rebates, covered below
• It does not stack with Toyota's conquest trade-in offers, because those require you to already own an EV — the opposite of first-time buyer status

The federal clean vehicle credits were repealed under Public Law 119-21.

Federal Clean Vehicle Credits — Termination Summary

The Only Remaining Exception

Per IRS guidance, a buyer may still claim the credit only if they acquired the vehicle on or before September 30, 2025 — demonstrated by a binding written contract and a payment made by that date — even if delivery came later. For any purchase made today, the answer is no.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project closed to new applications on November 8, 2023. CARB has stated the program is not receiving additional funding and will not reopen. Over its lifetime it issued more than 586,000 rebates.

What Took Its Place

• MyFirstEV — first-time zero-emission vehicle buyers, covered above
• Clean Cars 4 All — income-qualified households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, administered regionally
• Driving Clean Assistance Program — income-qualified financing and grant support
• Utility rebates — municipal and investor-owned, covered next

This is where most EV incentive pages get it wrong. Utility rebates follow service territory, not city proximity. Two neighborhoods three miles apart can fall under completely different programs.

Which Utility Serves You

Electric Service by Community

LADWP Home Charging Rebates

These apply whether your bZ is new or used, which makes them the most broadly useful incentive on this page. Current terms are published on LADWP's Residential EV Charger Rebate page.

LADWP Charging Incentive Stack

Used EV Rebates: LADWP and BWP Side by Side

If you are buying a used EV rather than a new bZ, both utilities run their own program. Terms are published by LADWP and by Burbank Water & Power.

Used EV Rebate Comparison

Incentive program terms, funding availability, and eligibility requirements are set by the administering agencies and manufacturers and are subject to change or depletion without notice. Amounts shown are current as of September 2026. Eligibility is determined by the administering agency, not by the dealership. Confirm current terms before purchase.

1. Confirm your first-time ZEV status before you shop. If you or anyone on the title has previously owned or leased a battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell vehicle, MyFirstEV is off the table. Knowing this up front prevents a wasted trip.
2. Verify Toyota's MyFirstEV funding is still available. Allocations are per-brand and first-come, and manufacturers choose which grades are enrolled. Ask before you build a deal around the $3,500.
3. Confirm the grade you want is enrolled. The program cap is measured against the base trim, so a well-equipped bZ can still qualify — but enrollment is the manufacturer's call, not an automatic result of the price.
4. Ask for an itemized contract. State and manufacturer incentives should appear as distinct line items, not folded into a generic price adjustment. This also gives you the paperwork you will need later.
5. Keep your purchase documents for the utility rebates. LADWP and BWP both require a bill of sale and DMV registration. Charger rebates are filed after installation, separately from the vehicle purchase.

Can I still get a federal tax credit on a new Toyota bZ?

No. IRC §30D, §25E, and §45W all terminated on September 30, 2025 under Public Law 119-21. The only exception applies to buyers who had a binding written contract and a payment in place on or before that date.

Who qualifies for the $3,500 MyFirstEV rebate?

California residents buying or leasing their first zero-emission vehicle, on a new model year 2026 or newer battery electric or fuel cell vehicle whose base trim falls under the program's $50,000 MSRP cap. You sign a declaration confirming first-time status, and the discount is applied instantly at the dealership. Any prior battery electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell vehicle — purchased or leased — disqualifies you.

Does a well-equipped bZ still qualify under the $50,000 cap?

CARB measures the cap against the base trim's manufacturer's suggested retail price rather than the configured price of the individual vehicle, so higher grades of a qualifying model can still be eligible. Every 2026 bZ grade sits under the cap at base. Confirm enrollment for the specific grade you want, since manufacturers decide which grades participate.

Is CVRP still accepting applications?

No. CVRP closed on November 8, 2023 and will not reopen. MyFirstEV, Clean Cars 4 All, and the Driving Clean Assistance Program are the current state-level programs.

I live in Burbank. Do I get the LADWP rebate?

No. Burbank is served by Burbank Water & Power, a separate municipal utility. BWP runs its own used EV and charger rebate programs with different amounts and requirements. Check the utility name on your electric bill.

Can I use MyFirstEV on a used EV from any dealer?

No. The $1,750 used-vehicle tier applies only to vehicles bought through a manufacturer's certified pre-owned program. Independent and private dealerships are not eligible, and the vehicle must be priced at $25,000 or less and be at least two model years older than the year of purchase.

Can I combine MyFirstEV with Toyota's trade-in offers?

Generally no. Conquest-style trade-in incentives require you to already own a competing electric vehicle, while MyFirstEV requires that you have never owned one. Confirm current program terms before assuming any two offers stack.

How do I find out what I qualify for on a specific bZ?

Eligibility depends on your utility, your household, and the specific vehicle. You can review current Toyota offers in North Hollywood or reach our team directly at 818-369-3922.

Disclaimers

Range and Fuel Economy

EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.

Vehicle Specifications

Range, battery, charging, and equipment figures are manufacturer-estimated, apply to properly equipped vehicles, vary by grade and configuration, and are subject to change. See Toyota's official model information for current specifications.

Incentive Programs

Incentive program terms, funding availability, and eligibility requirements are set by the administering agencies and manufacturers and are subject to change or depletion without notice. Amounts shown are current as of September 2026. Eligibility is determined by the administering agency, not by the dealership. Confirm current terms before purchase.