More than $2 Million in Vehicle A/C Repairs Funded Statewide Since Pilot Launch in 2024 for Low-Income Californians
Fresno, Calif. – One year after launching as a pilot in a five-county region in the Central Valley, the Cool Air Rebate (CAR) Program has grown into a thriving, statewide movement providing critical financial relief to low-income Californians and boosting business for local auto repair shops.
The pilot program launched on July 18, 2024, with two-dozen participating shops in the five-county region of Fresno, Merced, Tulare, Kings, and Madera. One year later, that number has grown to 293 shops across 125 cities throughout California. In that time, the program has paid $2.07 million in vehicle air conditioning repairs directly to local businesses, helping thousands of residents stay safe and cool.
“The Cool Air Rebate Program started with a simple idea: help the Californians most impacted by extreme heat while improving air quality in our communities,” said Nathan Perrine, Executive Director of the Car Care Council, which manages the CAR Program. “Thanks to the success of the pilot in these Central Valley counties and the enthusiastic response from drivers and shops alike, the CAR Program has now spread to every corner of the state.”
Funded entirely by unclaimed deposits on cans of R-134a vehicle refrigerant sold in California, the CAR Program is designed to address two urgent priorities:
- Protecting public health by helping low-income Californians drive with a safe, functional vehicle A/C system
- Preventing environmental harm by removing leaking R-134a refrigerant, a greenhouse gas 1,400 times more potent than CO₂
The Central Valley counties of Fresno, Merced, Tulare, Kings, and Madera remain the Cool Air Rebate Program’s most active hub, leading the state in participating auto repair shops and generating $1,387,900.54 in payments to local businesses since the pilot launch.
Fresno leads all cities in the state with 32 participating auto repair shops, contributing to a Fresno County total of 48 shops and $789,362.95 in completed repairs.
“I want to thank the Cool Air Rebate Program for all they have done for our families and residents,” said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. “To be able to relieve their financial burden by replacing the air conditioning in their vehicles, but also for what they’re doing for our overall environment right here in Fresno.”
During California’s increasingly dangerous heatwaves, a functioning vehicle air conditioning system is more than just a comfort – it’s a necessity. For vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and individuals with chronic health conditions, having to drive in a car without working A/C during extreme heat can pose serious health risks, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. That’s where the Cool Air Rebate Program steps in.
The CAR Program is designed to help low-income Californians afford critical vehicle air conditioning repairs by covering up to 90% of the total cost to repair leaking R-134a refrigerant systems. Eligible applicants must meet income guidelines (225% of the federal poverty level or lower) and have a 1993–2019 model year passenger vehicle with an identified A/C system leak. Once approved, the CAR Program pays the covered cost directly to a participating repair shop, and the customer pays the remaining 10% at the time of the repair.
“Being part of the Cool Air Rebate Program since last summer has made a real difference for our customers and for our shop,” said Ricardo Diaz, owner of Ricardo Diaz Automotive Repair in Tulare. “It means we can help the people who need it most get their A/C working again when the heat is at its worst, at a much more affordable cost. It’s also helped us meet more people in our community and build relationships that go beyond just fixing cars.”
The CAR Program is actively partnering with 59 trusted community organizations throughout the Central Valley, including West Fresno Family Resource Center, Central California Asthma Collaborative, and Resources for Independence Central Valley, to work within their communities to reach as many eligible applicants as possible.
Electronic Press Kit Assets Available:
Media can access b-roll video, photos, CAR Logos and other visual assets of the Cool Air Rebate program here.
About the Cool Air Rebate ProgramThe Cool Air Rebate Program offers financial assistance to low-income Californians to cover up to 90% of repair costs to remove leaking R-134a refrigerant – a greenhouse gas 1,400 times more harmful than CO₂ – from passenger vehicles manufactured between 1993 and 2019. 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.
