PG&E's $1,000 used-EV rebate has a hard stop. A complete Standard application has to be in by November 11, 2026, and from November 12 only income-qualified customers can get a rebate at all.
So a PG&E household buying a used EV and a Level 2 charger this fall is looking at two separate applications, two separate clocks (90 days and 180 days) and one deadline on November 11, 2026. Here's how each works, checked against PG&E's own pages on October 8, 2026.
Which EV Rebates Does PG&E Offer in 2026?
PG&E lists two EV rebates for homes in 2026: the Pre-Owned EV Rebate, paying $1,000 or $4,000 toward a used EV, and the Residential EV Charging Rebate, paying up to 50% of one eligible charger. They're separate programs with separate applications, rules and deadlines.
| Pre-Owned EV Rebate | Residential EV Charging Rebate (Standard) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it pays for | A used BEV or PHEV, bought or leased | One charger from PG&E's eligible list |
| Amount | $1,000 Standard; $4,000 Rebate Plus (income-qualified) | Up to 50% of the equipment purchase price |
| Application window | Within 90 days of purchase or lease | Within 180 days of equipment purchase |
| Key date | Standard: complete application by November 11, 2026 | No end date published; first-come, first-served |
| Limit | 1 vehicle per applicant for the life of the program | 1 rebate per household |
Both programs require an active PG&E residential electric account. And both are first-come, first-served, so PG&E can close either one before any date we list here.
How Much Is the PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate, and When Is the Deadline?
The PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate pays a fixed $1,000 (Standard, no income test) or $4,000 (Rebate Plus, income-qualified) for a used EV. A complete Standard application must be submitted by November 11, 2026. From November 12, 2026, only income-qualified customers are eligible.
PG&E's program requirements set the vehicle rules:
- A pre-owned battery-electric (BEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a battery of at least 8 kWh, bought or leased.
- Hydrogen fuel cell and compressed natural gas vehicles aren't eligible.
- The car has to stay registered to the applicant in California for at least 20 months, at the applicant's PG&E service address.
- The application has to be submitted within 90 days of the purchase or lease date.
But the 90-day window doesn't extend the Standard deadline. A buyer on November 1, 2026 still has to finish the Standard application by November 11, 2026. The PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate guide walks through the documents and the price rules.
How Does the PG&E Home Charger Rebate Work?
PG&E's Residential EV Charging Rebate (Standard option) pays up to 50% of the purchase price of one charger from PG&E's eligible list, after installation. The applicant has 180 days from purchase to apply, a licensed California electrician must install it, and CCA customers are eligible.
PG&E's Residential EV Charging page: "Standard applicants may qualify for a rebate up to 50% of the purchase price of one option from the eligible EV charging equipment after installation."
And the Standard option has 4 rules that trip people up:
- Only listed products count. PG&E's FAQ says a charger that isn't on the eligible equipment list doesn't qualify.
- No do-it-yourself installs. PG&E's FAQ says a licensed California electrician must perform all installations.
- One rebate per household. A second EV in the same home doesn't earn a second charger rebate.
- An EV is required. The applicant needs a current California registration for a BEV or PHEV.
So the order matters: check the list, buy, have an electrician install it, then apply within 180 days. PG&E says to allow about 10 business days for processing, and the check is mailed within 5 business days of approval. The PG&E Residential EV Charging Rebate guide lists the full document checklist.
Can One Household Use Both PG&E EV Rebates?
Yes, PG&E's pages describe them as separate programs: one pays toward a used vehicle and the other toward charging equipment. PG&E even accepts a Pre-Owned EV Rebate Plus approval from the last 12 months as income proof for the charger program's income-qualified option.
The charger page lists an income-qualified Rebate Plus option alongside Standard: up to $2,000 for an eligible charger, or up to $5,000 for a panel upgrade plus a charger, paid to a contractor from PG&E's Trade Ally Network after pre-approval. And one way to qualify is to have taken part in the Pre-Owned EV Rebate's Rebate Plus option within the last 12 months.
But PG&E's pages don't say whether either rebate can be combined with non-PG&E incentives, such as a city or Community Choice Aggregator program. So we don't claim they stack. The free rebate calculator shows what else is verified for a given address.
What Happened to the Federal EV Tax Credits?
The federal EV tax credits ended. The 30D new and 25E used clean vehicle credits ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, and the 30C home charger credit ended for property placed in service after June 30, 2026, according to IRS Fact Sheet FS-2025-05.
IRS Fact Sheet FS-2025-05, on the 25E previously-owned clean vehicles credit: "The credit will not be allowed with respect to any vehicle acquired after September 30, 2025."
So for a used EV or charger bought in the PG&E area this fall, the PG&E rebates are the money we can verify. The guide to the federal home energy credits that ended covers the 2025 return rules.
Official Sources
- PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate: program requirements, the vehicle, registration and 90-day rules
- PG&E Residential EV Charging rebate, the Standard and Rebate Plus options, eligible equipment and FAQ
- IRS FS-2025-05, the IRS table showing when each federal credit ended
Frequently Asked Questions
Do CCA customers qualify for PG&E's charger rebate?
Yes. PG&E's Residential EV Charging page says eligible applicants include customers served by a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). They use the Service Agreement ID for "PG&E Electric Delivery Charges," not the CCA's generation ID. The rebate still pays up to 50% of one eligible charger's price, applied for within 180 days of purchase.
What happens to the $1,000 used EV rebate after November 11, 2026?
It stops for new applicants. PG&E's site says a complete Standard application must be submitted by November 11, 2026, and starting November 12, 2026, only income-qualified customers will be eligible. Those households can still apply for the $4,000 Rebate Plus, which has no published end date, though PG&E can end the program at any time.
Can I install the charger myself and still get the rebate?
No. PG&E's FAQ says a licensed California electrician must perform all installations for the Residential EV Charging Rebate. A homeowner who already had a 240-volt outlet installed before buying the charger doesn't need to submit an electrician's invoice, but still needs photos of the installed equipment and its serial number.
How fast does PG&E pay the charger rebate?
PG&E says to allow approximately 10 business days to process a Standard application. After approval, PG&E emails a confirmation and the check is mailed within 5 business days. PG&E's page lists the documents to gather first: the PG&E bill with the Service Agreement ID, the DMV registration card, proof of purchase, and photos of the installed equipment with serial numbers.
Buying a used EV this fall? The $1,000 Standard rebate closes November 11, 2026. Check every verified program for your address with the free rebate calculator.