Frequently Asked Questions

The California Cool Air Rebate Program provides financial assistance to eligible Californians to repair leaking air conditioning systems with R-134a refrigerant in cars and light duty trucks. Fix your AC, enjoy a cool ride and improve the air quality in your community.

To be eligible for the program, you must live in California and own a car manufactured between 1993 and 2019 or have an older vehicle that has been retrofitted with R-134a refrigerant. There is also an income requirement.

If you are a student attending school in California, you may pre-qualify as a California resident for program purposes.  Acceptable documentation may include:

• California school enrollment letter
• Official school records reflecting a California address

Residency documentation is required in addition to income verification and vehicle eligibility requirements.

If you are active-duty military stationed in California, you may pre-qualify as a California resident for program purposes.  Acceptable documentation may include:

• Military orders assigning duty location in California
• Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) showing California assignment (if applicable)
• DoD ID or USID Card (supporting identification only)

Residency documentation is required in addition to income verification and vehicle eligibility requirements.

Yes. If you or someone in your household is enrolled in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, California Healthy Families, or another qualifying public assistance program, you are pre-qualified for the Cool Air Rebate Program. Pre-qualification does not guarantee eligibility or approval. You must still meet all program requirements, including:

• Meet the program’s household income guidelines and provide any required income documentation for all household members.
• Own an eligible vehicle manufactured between 1993 and 2019
• Your vehicle MUST be leaking the R-134a refrigerant

All applications are reviewed to ensure they meet the program’s eligibility requirements before an approval can be issued.

You must report and provide all income documentation for all household members living in your home.  Additional documentation may be requested to verify household composition and income.

ALL applicants MUST submit valid income verification documentation for all applicable household members contributing to household income in order to determine eligibility and process the application.

Proof of Income (Required for All Households)

Acceptable income verification documents include:

• Most recent pay stubs (dated within the last 6 months)
• 2025 W-2 forms or 1099 forms
• 2025 federal tax return
• 2026 Social Security benefit letter (SSA/SSI/SSDI)

Proof of Income (Required for All Households)

Acceptable income verification documents include:

• Most recent pay stubs (dated within the last 6 months)
• 2025 W-2 forms or 1099 forms
• 2025 federal tax return
• 2026 Social Security benefit letter (SSA/SSI/SSDI)

Social Security, Retirement, Pension, and Disability Income

Acceptable income verification documents include:

• 2026 Social Security benefit letter (SSA/SSI/SSDI)
• Pension statements
• Retirement income statements
• Disability Verification of Benefits letter

Child Support Income (if applicable)

• Child Support Verification of Monthly Benefits Letter (required as proof of income for applicants receiving child support)

Unemployed / No Income Households

• If the entire household has no income, applicants must provide:
• Current unemployment Verification of Benefits letter, OR
• Recent State Verification of Benefits Letter (e.g., CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal).
• Please do not submit BenefitsCal screenshots in place of the official verification letter.

Military Personnel (if applicable)

Acceptable income verification documents include:

• Leave & Earnings Statement (LES)
• VA benefits or notification letter

Students (if applicable)

Acceptable documentation includes:

• Financial Aid Award Letter
• FAFSA Submission Summary
• If employed while in school, please also provide proof of income (such as recent pay stubs or W-2/1099 forms)
• If you are considered a dependent under your parents’ tax return, you must also submit your parent(s) and full household income documentation for eligibility review

Important Reminders:

• Avoid submitting blank screenshots, BenefitsCal screenshots, photos that do not meet program guidelines, bank statements, or handwritten letters stating no income without state benefit verification
• All income verification documents must be dated within the last 6 months from the date of application
• Tax returns prior to 2025 will not be accepted
• Screenshots must clearly show the applicant’s name, current income or coverage, and include pay period, date, and gross amount on pay stubs

Yes. The Cool Air Rebate Program allows each applicant one (1) approved application total.

A single approved application may include up to two (2) eligible vehicles, provided both vehicles are listed on the original application at the time of submission.

Once an application has been approved:

• No additional applications will be accepted or approved for that applicant.
• Submitting multiple applications does not increase eligibility or reset program limits.
• Additional vehicles cannot be added, swapped, or exchanged after approval is issued.

Each applicant is limited to one approval per lifetime of participation in the program, regardless of whether the voucher was used or expired.

No. Under the current program policy, each applicant is eligible for one application approval, which may include up to two (2) eligible vehicles listed on the original application.

Once your application is approved:

• Your voucher(s) are valid for six (6) months.
• Extensions are not available.
• Vehicles cannot be added, swapped, or exchanged after the original approval has been issued.

After your original approval expires, you are no longer eligible to receive another approval through the Cool Air Rebate Program, even if your voucher was not used or your vehicle was not repaired.

If you own two eligible vehicles, both must be included on your original application in order to be considered for assistance.

We are pleased by the incredible interest in the Cool Air Rebate program. We have received an overwhelming number of applications and are processing the applications on a first come first serve basis. We are forecasting that it will take up to 15 business days to process the applications currently in the system. We will update you by email with information about your specific application as soon as possible.

Due to security reasons, application updates are not available by phone. We appreciate your patience as we process each application as quickly as possible. Please allow at least three weeks for processing before contacting us to check the status of your application. We look forward to serving you.

If your vehicle no longer requires repair or you decide not to participate in the program, no action is required. Your approval will remain active until its expiration date and will automatically expire if it is not used.

If your circumstances change and your vehicle requires eligible repairs before the approval expires, you may still use your approval in accordance with program guidelines.

Your vehicle must be LEAKING R-134a refrigerant. Not all vehicles use this refrigerant, and not all air conditioning failures are due to refrigerant leaking. You may want to call your shop ahead of time to ensure your vehicle uses R-134a. The reason for this qualification is because one goal of this program is to directly reduce the amount of air pollution caused by this refrigerant in our atmosphere.

No. The program only covers vehicles leaking R-134a refrigerant. If your vehicle does not use R-134a, it is not eligible for the program and there is no alternative voucher available.

The Cool Air Rebate Program requires applicants to be the legal owner of the vehicle for which they are requesting assistance.

To verify legal ownership, each vehicle listed on an application must be accompanied by either a current vehicle registration or a current title showing the applicant as the current legal owner.

Important: Applications cannot be fully processed for a vehicle until acceptable documentation verifying the applicant’s current legal ownership has been provided.

Can I submit a registration for only one vehicle if I applied for two?

No. Each vehicle listed on the application must have its own acceptable ownership document. If two vehicles are listed, documentation must be provided for both vehicles.

The legal owner must submit the application and bring the vehicle to a participating repair shop. The shop will verify that the name on the voucher matches the individual presenting the vehicle for service.

No. The program only covers vehicles leaking R-134a refrigerant. If your vehicle does not use R-134a, it is not eligible for the program and there is no alternative voucher available.

No. The program is intended for privately owned vehicles. Vehicles that are registered, insured, or used for commercial purposes are not eligible for the program. This includes vehicles used for business operations, rideshare services, delivery services, transportation services, or other commercial activities.

If a vehicle is identified as a commercial-use vehicle through registration, insurance documentation, or other records, the application will be denied.

No. You must indicate up to two (2) vehicles that you own on the original application. A second vehicle cannot be added after your original approval is issued.

The program allows a maximum of one application per applicant (up to two vehicles total). If you have already reached this limit, no additional applications can be approved.

No. Vehicles cannot be swapped or replaced on an active approval, even if the diagnostic deems it ineligible.

No. Once an approval has been issued, additional vehicles cannot be added to that active approval.

No. Approved vehicles cannot be replaced, substituted, or swapped under an active approval.

The program helps pay for AC repairs if your car is leaking R-134a refrigerant. First, you need a diagnostic test at a participating shop.  What the program pays depends on the repair cost and program’s limits.

If your car qualifies, the program pays up to 90%, with a maximum of $1,500. You pay the rest directly to the shop.:

• Repair is $400 → Program pays $360, you pay $40 (90% covered)
• Repair is $2,000 → Program pays $1,500, you pay $500 (less than 90% covered)

The amount paid by the program is based on the eligible repair costs and program requirements.

Yes, as long as there is a verified leak and your vehicle uses R-134a refrigerant, the program may cover the cost of additional parts needed for the repair, within program guidelines.

The cost of AC repairs can vary depending on factors such as the make and model of your vehicle, the type of refrigerant that your car uses (must be R-134a), the specific issue with the AC system, the region you live in, and the labor rates of the repair shop.

In order for your vehicle repair to be eligible under the program, your vehicle must be LEAKING R-134a refrigerant. Not all vehicles use this refrigerant and not all air conditioning failures are due to refrigerant leaking. You may want to call your shop ahead of time to ensure your vehicle uses R-134a.

If repairs are eligible under the program, the Cool Air Rebate (CAR) program will pay 100% of the testing and diagnosis of your vehicle. However, if repairs are not eligible for the program or you elect not to move forward with repairs, you will be responsible for 10% of the diagnostic fee.

Lastly, if vehicle repairs are eligible, the program will cover 90% of the repair costs up to $1,500 and pay the repair shop directly. You will be responsible for the remaining amount, which is paid directly to the repair shop.

Examples:

•  Repair is $400 → Program pays $360, you pay $40 (90% covered)
•  Repair is $2,000 → Program pays $1,500, you pay $500 (less than 90%)

The amount paid by the program is based on the eligible repair costs and program requirements.

The program pays 90% of the repair cost up to $1,500 maximum, for an eligible repair. You are responsible for the remaining amount. Non-airconditioning parts and labor are not included. Some supplies used by your shop are not included. You will be responsible for any of these additional items and labor.

No. Repairs must be completed at a participating, program-approved repair shop to qualify. Repairs performed at non-participating shops are not eligible, even with an active approval.

Visit https://coolairrebate.org/shop-locator/ to find a shop near you. The Cool Air Rebate program will be expanding into other parts of California in the future.

We recommend continuing to check the Shop Locator, as participating shop availability is updated regularly.

No. The individual listed on the voucher must be the individual who brings the vehicle to the participating repair shop. The shop will verify the customer’s identity and ensure it matches the information provided on the voucher before proceeding with the repair.

Any remaining balance over the $1,500 rebate max, for eligible repairs is the responsibility of the vehicle owner.

No. The program does not provide reimbursements directly to applicants under any circumstances. All approved rebate payments are made directly to the participating repair shop that completes the eligible repairs.

Additionally, repairs completed before receiving program approval are not eligible for coverage. To qualify for the rebate, repairs must be completed by a participating repair shop during an active approval period and in accordance with all programs requirements.

Yes, shop employment does not automatically disqualify an applicant. Shop employees, shop owners, and shop owner family members may apply for the program if they meet all standard eligibility requirements, including vehicle eligibility, income qualification, and valid documentation submission.

All shop-affiliated applicants MUST have diagnostics and any eligible repairs completed at a repair facility that is not associated with their place of employment, including any affiliated or sister shop locations. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in rebate invoice denial.

You can visit our website, which provides detailed information about our program or If you need assistance, please contact our team here.