New rebate helps Californians repair car A/Cs amid record heat

July 9, 2025

The Cool Air Rebate (CAR) Program, initially launched as a pilot in Fresno, is now available statewide. It’s designed to help low-income Californians cover the cost of repairing leaking vehicle air conditioning systems that use R-134a refrigerant, a potent greenhouse gas.

A collaborative initiative between the nonprofit Car Care Council and the California Air Resources Board, the program covers vehicles manufactured between 1993 and 2019, as well as older models that have been retrofitted to use R-134a.

*Terms and conditions apply. Must be an eligible customer and a participating repair shop. Applies only to qualifying repairs. Repair reimbursement: The Cool Air Rebate Program will pay participating repair shop 90% of the cost of qualifying repairs up to a maximum of $1,500 per vehicle ($1,666.70 repair cost). Program does not pay any portion of repair costs exceeding $1,666.70. If the diagnosis results in qualifying repairs and the consumer accepts the repairs, the program pays participating repair shop 100% of the diagnostic fee. If the diagnosis results in non-qualifying repairs or the consumer declines the repairs, program pays participating repair shop 90% of the diagnostic fee.