Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois residents that purchase a new or used all-electric vehicle from an Illinois licensed dealer, meet all other eligibility requirements, and apply during a rebate cycle will be eligible for a rebate.  Payments to eligible individuals will be made as long as funding is available.

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Use the links below to jump down the page to the questions in that section.

General Overview Questions

How much is the rebate?

For the current fiscal year, the rebate is $2,000 for a new or used electric vehicle. Low-income applicants are eligible for an additional $2,000 for a total rebate of $4,000. The rebate amount for an electric motorcycle is $1,500 for all applicants.

How do I apply for the electric vehicle (EV) rebate?

Forms and instructions on submitting a rebate application are available on Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Rebate Program webpage during each funding round. You may want to consider signing up for notifications which you can do on that page to receive funding announcements and updates via email.

How much funding is available for rebates?

The Illinois EPA has been appropriated $14 million for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2027. Actual funding amounts will be determined by the amount of money available in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund not to exceed $14 million.

When does this rebate cycle open and close?

The current rebate cycle will begin on August 1, 2026, and close on December 31, 2026

Eligibility

What are the eligibility requirements for the rebate?

Full eligibility requirements are found in the EV Rebate Act and in the Illinois EPA’s regulations at 35 Ill. Adm. Code 275.  However, the Agency is still in the process of updating its regulations to reflect recent statutory amendments, so they may differ from the requirements in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act in some respects.  For any conflict between the current rules and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, the provisions of the Act are controlling.

The basic eligibility requirements are:

• The vehicle must be a new or used all-electric vehicle and legally permitted to drive on all public roadways, including interstate highways.
• The selling price of the vehicle cannot exceed $80,000, not including state and local taxes, license and registration fees, documentary service fees, and aftermarket products, if itemized separately on the bill of sale.
• The vehicle must be purchased from a dealership licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State and be the owner of the vehicle at the time the rebate is issued. Rented or leased vehicles, vehicles purchased from an out-of-state dealership, and vehicles delivered to or received by the purchaser out-of-state are not eligible for a rebate under the Act.
• A rebate cannot have been previously issued for the vehicle that is the subject of the application. The Illinois EPA uses the vehicle VIN number to track issued rebates. A searchable list of vehicle identification numbers for vehicles that have received a rebate under the Act is on the Illinois EPA website.
• The applicant must reside in Illinois, both at the time the vehicle was purchased and at the time the rebate is issued.
• The applicant must not have received a rebate under the Act in the 10 years prior to the date an application is received by the Agency.
• The applicant’s family income cannot exceed 500% of the federal poverty line for the current State fiscal year.
• The applicant must apply for the rebate within 180 days after the vehicle purchase date and provide and certify to all of the information specified in the application. The application must be postmarked within 180 days after the vehicle purchase date and during an open rebate cycle.
• The purchaser must retain ownership of the vehicle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date. The purchaser must register the vehicle in Illinois during that time frame.

Rebate recipients who fail to satisfy any of the above criteria will be required to reimburse the Agency all of the original rebate amount and shall notify the Agency within 60 days of failing to satisfy the criteria. 

If I purchased a vehicle before the current funding cycle opens, am I eligible for a rebate?

You will be eligible if you purchased an eligible vehicle, apply within 180 days of the purchase date and during the application period and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Who is considered a licensed dealer?

The dealership must have a dealer license with the Illinois Secretary of State.

What counts as the “vehicle purchase date”?

The purchase date is the date the purchase agreement is fully executed (signed by both buyer and dealer). This date starts the 180‑day application window and the 12‑month ownership requirement.

Does the EV rebate include plug-in hybrids?

No. The Electric Vehicle Rebate Act defines “electric vehicle” as:

"…a vehicle that is exclusively powered by and refueled by electricity, must be plugged in to charge, and is legally permitted to drive on all public roadways, including interstate highways. "Electric Vehicle" does not include electric vehicles primarily intended to be driven off-highway, including golf carts and electric vehicles with a maximum speed below 45 miles per hour, or hybrid electric vehicles and extended-range electric vehicles that are also equipped with conventional fueled propulsion or auxiliary engines.”

What are the price and eligibility requirements for a vehicle to qualify for the Illinois EV Rebate?

An "eligible vehicle" is an electric vehicle, as defined by the EV Rebate Act, with a selling price not exceeding $80,000 as shown on the bill of sale. State and local taxes, license and registration fees, documentary service fees, and aftermarket products, including, but not limited to, extended warranties, service contracts, and other voluntary vehicle protection products, are excluded from the calculation of the selling price if separately itemized on the bill of sale. The eligible vehicle may not have been the subject of a previous rebate. A searchable list of vehicle identification numbers for vehicles that have received a rebate under the  Act is on the Illinois EPA website.

Does the EV rebate include motorcycles?

Yes. A $1,500 rebate is available for electric motorcycles. To be rebate eligible, the vehicle must be able to legally drive on all public roadways, including interstate highways. Off-highway vehicles, golf carts and electric vehicles with a maximum speed below 45 mph are not eligible.

Does the EV rebate include off-road vehicles?

No. The definition of “electric vehicle” specifically excludes off-road vehicles.

Do LSV (Low Speed Vehicles) qualify for this program?

No. electric vehicles with a maximum speed below 45 miles per hour are specifically prohibited from receiving the rebate.

Is there an income limit for eligibility to receive the rebate?

Yes, an “eligible applicant" means persons and families whose income does not exceed 500% of the federal poverty line for the current State fiscal year and who may not be claimed as a dependent.

Who qualifies as low income?

A “low-income applicant” is defined as, “persons and families whose income does not exceed 80% of the regional or county median income for the current State fiscal year, as established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Illinois Income Limits by metropolitan area and county.” Median income can be found on the HUD website at Illinois Low Income Limits by County. Please note that the Illinois EPA uses the HUD income limits that are in place at the start of the state’s first cycle period of each fiscal year.

If I received a rebate under the former Alternate Fuels Program in the past 10 years, will I still be eligible for a rebate under the Electric Vehicle rebate?

Yes. The 10-year limitation on each person receiving a rebate only applies to rebates issued consistent with the new Electric Vehicle Rebate program, not any prior rebate program. If you have received a rebate for purchasing an electric or alternatively fueled vehicle prior to July 1, 2022, the rebate was given under the Alternate Fuels Program.

Can I reserve or “hold” funds before I buy a vehicle?

No. Funds cannot be held, reserved, or guaranteed in advance. Applications are only reviewed after purchase and submission, and rebates are issued only while funding remains available.

Can I purchase an eligible vehicle using financing?

Yes. Financing does not affect eligibility as long as you purchased the vehicle outright (not leased) and meet all other requirements.

Application Procedures

Where can I find the application?

It is listed on the EV Rebate Program homepage. 

When are applications due?

The rebate application must be postmarked within 180 days of the vehicle purchase date; AND, the rebate application must be postmarked on or before the end of the rebate cycle. Rebates cannot be postmarked before the first day of the rebate cycle.

Note that rebates are first issued to applicants that qualify as low-income and then in postmark date order to other applicants. Rebates will only be issued as long as funding is available. After funding is exhausted, applications for rebate will no longer be reviewed.

Why is the postmark important and what should I know about it?

The postmark date is the official date we use to determine whether your EV Rebate application was submitted on time. Because of this, it is very important to ensure your mailed application envelope is clearly postmarked on or before your deadline either within 180 days of your vehicle purchase or by the end of a rebate cycle (December 31).

Please be aware that:

• The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee that mail dropped into a mailbox or collection slot will be postmarked the same day.
• Some mail may be processed without a visible postmark, especially if sent through automated equipment or dropped off late in the day.
• During peak periods (holidays, winter weather, year‑end volume), delays in postmarking and processing are more common.

If you are close to your eligibility deadline, to avoid any risk of missing your deadline, we strongly encourage applicants to:

• Bring their application directly to a USPS counter, and
• Ask the postal clerk to hand‑postmark the envelope before it is mailed.

This ensures that the postmark is applied immediately and clearly shows the correct date.

Can I drop off or e-mail my application?                                                           

No. The Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate applications are strictly accepted via physical mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS) and cannot be submitted via email, fax, or hand delivery.

Is the purchase summary enough documentation for the application?

No. You must provide a copy of the signed purchased agreement.

Does the Illinois EPA provide receipt of application to the applicant?

The Illinois EPA does not provide information on application receipt. If the application is deemed ineligible, or incomplete or there are insufficient funds, the applicant will receive a denial letter or an insufficient funds letter in that regard. Alternatively, the rebate will be processed, and the applicant will receive a check from the Illinois Office of Comptroller.

While not required, applicants seeking confirmation of receipt should send applications by certified mail so that the applicant will receive a delivery receipt from the United States Postal Service. Due to the number of applications received, the Illinois EPA is unable to confirm application updates or receipt of delivery to each applicant. You will be notified by letter if your application is denied for being ineligible or is missing required information or documentation. As mentioned, if you want confirmation of arrival to the Agency, please send by certified mail.

Does the Illinois EPA provide updates on the status of the application?

No. Due to the number of applications, the Illinois EPA is unable to provide updates by email, phone or other means of communication. However, you will be notified once a determination is made.

Should I keep a copy of the application documents that I submit?

While not required, it is prudent to keep a copy of the application materials submitted to the Illinois EPA for future reference.

If I own the vehicle with another person, do I put both names on the application?

No. Put only the name of the person applying for the rebate.

What does “Gross Income” mean and how is it applied to this program?

As stated in the application form and application instructions, the applicant’s income level is to be determined by totaling the combined gross income of the applicant and all persons over the age of 18 living at applicant’s residence and related to applicant by blood, marriage, or adoption. This would include the combined pre-tax and pre-deduction income from all applicable persons in the household for all income sources, including, but not limited to, income from employment, social security, pensions, interest, dividends, rental income, and support payments. Further, all gross income is to be accounted for, whether it is taxable income or non-taxable income and whether or not it is reported to the IRS or the State of Illinois.

Incomplete Applications & Appeals

Will I receive notification if my rebate is denied?

Yes. If a rebate is denied, including for untimeliness, ineligibility, or lack of documentation, a denial letter will be sent to the applicant with instructions for resubmitting missing documentation and/or appealing the denial.

What can I do if I receive a denial of my rebate application?

The critical first step is to carefully review the denial letter to determine the basis for denial.

Incomplete: If the denial letter states that the application is denied because it is incomplete, the application may address the deficiencies noted in the letter by a re-application, provided the applicant continues to meet the eligibility requirements and the application is postmarked within 180 days of the vehicle purchase date AND by the close of the rebate cycle. Note that this “re-application" constitutes a new application with a new postmarked place in the queue for review of application and issuance of a rebate. The applicant may resubmit an application by simply including a new application form, clearly stating at the top of the form that applicant incorporates by reference all previously submitted information and documents, certifying/signing the form, and inserting the information that was missing on the form and/or including the documentation that was missing as noted in the denial letter. Alternatively, the applicant may provide an entire stand-alone fully completed application including copies of all previously submitted information as well as the requested materials and documents.

Ineligible: If the denial letter states that the application is not eligible for a rebate, rather than just incomplete, then there is no opportunity nor need for an application resubmission. If the applicant believes that the Illinois EPA has erred in its decision, the applicant may file an appeal of decision with the Director of the Illinois EPA, see program rules for information concerning appeals.

I received a denial letter for having an incomplete application, should I appeal or just send in the missing information?

You will need to decide the best option; however, if your application is missing required documents or information, denial will likely be affirmed on appeal to the Director even if you submit with your appeal the missing documents or information. The denial letter gives instructions on what information is missing and where to send the missing information. Providing the missing information to the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program is considered a new application, all eligibility criteria apply and you are only eligible to resubmit an application if the reapplication is postmarked within 180 days of purchase of your vehicle and by the close of the rebate cycle. Importantly, do not both appeal and resubmit your application, take one action or the other.

When sending in additional information to complete my application, should I also include the whole package of information that I originally sent?

There is no need to send all of the original documentation, only the missing information, provided the applicant continues to meet the eligibility requirements. You should include a copy of your original application form and note that you are adding missing information. Any completeness or reapplication must be postmarked within 180 days of the vehicle purchase date AND prior to the close of the rebate cycle.  Note that a “re-application" constitutes a new application with a new postmarked place in the queue for review of application and issuance of a rebate.  

Rebate Processing

Is the rebate a tax credit or will I receive a check?

Disbursement of rebates will be in the form of a check from the Illinois Office of Comptroller. To this end, an IRS form W-9 or W-8BIN, as applicable, is required documentation as part of the application to process the rebate.

How can an applicant find when their rebate is issued?

Applicants can go to the Illinois Office of Comptroller’s Vendor Payments query system to view Issued and

Pending Payments at https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/vendor-services/vendor-payments-new. As noted elsewhere, rebates will first be issued to low-income applicants. Rebates for other applicants necessarily will not begin to be issued until it is determined that sufficient funds are available to pay all low-income applicants.

When will I receive my rebate?

Illinois EPA is required to prioritize low-income applications. Assuming that an application is eligible, complete and funds are still available, rebates for low-income applicants will be processed as they are received and reviewed. Non-low-income applicants may have to wait until after the close of the rebate cycle before the Illinois EPA processes their rebate.

If I am approved, can the rebate be direct‑deposited?

No. All rebate payments are issued by paper check from the Illinois Office of Comptroller.

Funding Cycles

Will there be future funding cycles?

There will be future funding cycles as funds allow.

When will the next funding cycle open?

Application information will be available on Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Rebate Program webpage. Those interested in being notified about future EV rebate cycles should sign-up for the email notification listserv on the EV Rebate Program webpage.

Will applications that could not be paid during a funding cycle due to insufficient funding or were submitted after the funding cycle be rolled over to the next funding cycle?

Applications will not be rolled over into future funding cycles.

Miscellaneous

Can the program be used by fleet operators as well?

The Electric Vehicle Rebate Program is for individuals, not governments, businesses, or commercial entities.

Is there a rebate for installation of charging infrastructure at individual homes?

There are currently no state grants or rebates available for infrastructure for individual electric vehicle owners at their residences. However, Illinois is working toward expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Illinois for public use on many fronts.

The rules for the program, 35 Ill. Adm. Code 275, don’t place a cap on income. I made more than 500% of the federal poverty line this year, can I still apply?

No, the Agency is still in the process of updating its rules to reflect the recent statutory amendments, so they may differ from the requirements in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act in some respects.  For any conflict between the current rules and the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act, the provisions of the Act are controlling.

If I move out of Illinois within 12 months of purchasing the vehicle, do I need to return the rebate?

Yes. You must reside in Illinois and keep the vehicle registered in Illinois for the full 12‑month period after purchase.

What should I do if my name or address changes after I submit my application?

Notify the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program in writing as soon as possible. Include your name, VIN, and updated contact information.

What happens if my EV that received a rebate is totaled within the first 12 months? Do I have to return the rebate?

Since the requirements of eligibility include the applicant must retain ownership of the vehicle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date, it depends on if you replace the vehicle.

If you replace the electric vehicle:
You may keep the rebate. Please mail documentation for your replacement electric vehicle with documentation of the crash and include the new bill of sale and registration to the Illinois EPA so we can update your information in our database.

If you do not replace the vehicle:
You will be required to reimburse the Agency all of the original rebate amount.

What happens if I sell or trade in my EV after 12 months?

After meeting the 12‑month ownership requirement, you are free to sell or trade the vehicle without affecting the rebate. If you sell or trade it before the 12 months of rebate issuance, you will be required to pay back the amount in total. 

If you still have questions and it is not outlined in the above Frequently Asked Question, please email epa.ev@illinois.gov. 

If you have additional documentation to submit, please mail it to the following: 

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Electric Vehicle Rebate Program MC #40
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276