Rideshare drivers: RIDE can help you make the switch to electric
Featured Story
For rideshare drivers, a car is how they earn a living.
Every trip means more miles on the road, more fuel, and more wear and tear on their vehicle. And while switching to an electric vehicle can help lower some of those day-to-day operating costs, the upfront price of buying or leasing a different car can be a major hurdle.
A new California program is designed to help.
Beginning Nov. 2, 2026, eligible rideshare drivers can apply for financial incentives through Rideshare Incentives for Driving Electric (RIDE), a statewide program established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). RIDE helps eligible drivers who work with HopSkipDrive, Lyft, or Uber purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle and cover some of the cost of charging it.
How Much Could Rideshare Drivers Receive?
RIDE incentives are here
Eligible drivers can receive:
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Up to $20,300 toward the purchase or lease of a new electric vehicle.
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Up to $14,200 toward the purchase or lease of a used electric vehicle.
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$1,170 per year to help pay for charging, available for up to four years as long as they continue to meet the program requirements and renew annually.
The program covers qualifying battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
RIDE incentives can also be combined with certain local, utility, and other electric vehicle incentive programs, which could help drivers save even more.
Who Is RIDE For?
RIDE is designed specifically for California rideshare drivers who spend a significant amount of time on the road and meet the program's income requirements.
Rideshare drivers may be eligible if they:
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Drive for HopSkipDrive, Lyft, or Uber.
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Are a California resident with a valid driver’s license.
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Have a household income at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
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Completed at least 4,500 passenger trips during the past 12 months across participating rideshare platforms.
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Meet the program’s other driver and vehicle requirements.
Rideshare drivers don’t have to manually count or submit records for thousands of trips. The CPUC’s RIDE program administrator, the Center for Sustainable Energy, works with participating rideshare companies to verify qualifying passenger trips.
Rideshare drivers can check the full eligibility requirements on the RIDE eligibility webpage.
How Does It Work?
Drivers have two main ways to receive the vehicle incentive.
One option is to get pre-qualified before buying or leasing a vehicle. If approved, drivers will receive a RIDE pre-qualification ID. When they purchase or lease an eligible vehicle from a participating dealership, the incentive can be applied directly to the transaction, lowering the amount they need to pay or finance.
Drivers can also apply for the incentive after purchasing or leasing an eligible vehicle. However, getting pre-qualified first is strongly encouraged. Purchasing a vehicle before confirming eligibility could mean taking on the cost of the vehicle and later finding out they don’t qualify for the RIDE incentive.
Applications open Nov. 2, 2026, and drivers can visit RIDEca.org to learn more, check their eligibility, gather the documents they will need, and apply when applications open.
Why RIDE Matters for Drivers
For someone who drives occasionally, the cost of gas or vehicle maintenance may be just another household expense. For a rideshare driver who completes thousands of trips a year, those costs are part of doing business.
That is why RIDE focuses on drivers who spend significant time behind the wheel.
An electric vehicle may offer drivers benefits such as lower fueling costs and fewer routine maintenance expenses. But those potential savings don’t necessarily make it easier to afford the upfront cost of a different vehicle.
RIDE is intended to help close that gap by putting financial support directly in the hands of eligible drivers.
“Rideshare drivers are on California’s roads every day, connecting people to work, school, appointments, airports, and their communities said Stephanie Seki from CPUC’s Clean Miles Standard team. Every trip has an impact on emissions. RIDE incentives are designed to significantly lower the financial burden on drivers to transition these trips to electric”.
Helping Drivers and the Communities They Serve
There is also a bigger benefit.
Because high-volume rideshare drivers spend so much time on the road, helping them transition to zero-emission vehicles can have an outsized impact. More rides completed in electric vehicles means fewer transportation emissions and cleaner air in communities across California.
RIDE also supports California’s broader Clean Miles Standard, which is aimed at reducing emissions from rideshare services and increasing the use of zero-emission vehicles. The state’s goal is for 90 percent of rideshare vehicle miles traveled to be in zero-emission vehicles by 2030, while also reaching zero greenhouse gas emissions from rideshare services.
But reaching those goals also means making the transition more accessible for the drivers who depend on their vehicles to make a living. That is where RIDE comes in. The program helps eligible high-mileage drivers make the switch by providing financial support toward an electric vehicle and charging costs.
For drivers, that means the move toward cleaner transportation isn’t just about meeting a statewide goal. It can also mean help purchasing a vehicle, assistance with charging costs, and the opportunity to potentially lower some of the expenses that come with driving for a living.
Ready to See If You Qualify?
Applications for RIDE incentives are now open.
Before then, drivers can visit RIDEca.org to:
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See if they meet the eligibility requirements
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Review eligible electric vehicles
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Learn what documents they will need
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Understand the application process
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Explore other electric vehicle incentives that may be available
If your car helps you make a living, RIDE could help make your next one electric!
Learn more and get ready to apply at RIDEca.org.
By Taseen Shamim, Public Information Officer