The Delaware Clean Vehicle Rebate Program is run by DNREC and administered day-to-day through Drive Electric Delaware. It's a cash rebate paid by the state, not a tax credit you claim on a return, and it runs independently of the (now-expired) federal EV credit described on the overview page. The current cycle covers vehicles purchased or leased May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027; DNREC's program page notes that applications for vehicles purchased before May 1, 2026 are no longer accepted, so amounts below are the rates locked in for this cycle.
| Vehicle | Price limit | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| New battery-electric (BEV) | Base MSRP under $40,000 | $2,500 |
| New battery-electric (BEV) | Base MSRP $40,000–$50,000 | $1,500 |
| New plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | Base MSRP under $50,000 | $1,000 |
| Used battery-electric (BEV) | Kelley Blue Book fair purchase price $40,000 or less | $2,500 |
| Used plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | Kelley Blue Book fair purchase price $40,000 or less | $1,000 |
DNREC's page specifies that these amounts are set against the vehicle's base MSRP (new) or its Kelley Blue Book fair purchase price (used) at the time of program approval — not at the time you sign the paperwork.
Two ways to get the money: point-of-sale or mail-in
Not every dealer participates in the point-of-sale option — ask before you sign if getting the rebate applied at the counter matters to you. Either way, someone has to be registered as a "supplier" with the state first, because Delaware pays this rebate through the same system it pays any vendor: the Division of Accounting eSupplier Portal. A participating dealer typically handles that registration step for a point-of-sale rebate; for a mail-in application, you register yourself before applying through Drive Electric Delaware's online system. Buying for a company, nonprofit or local government? The rules differ; see our guide to the rebate for businesses and nonprofits.
What you need on hand
- Delaware Supplier ID
- From registering on the Division of Accounting eSupplier Portal — required on the application whichever route you use.
- Sales invoice or lease agreement
- Documenting the purchase or lease price and date.
- Proof of Delaware vehicle registration
- The vehicle has to be registered in Delaware.
- Proof of Delaware residency
- The applicant has to be a Delaware resident.
Other eligibility rules that trip people up
- No income cap. Neither DNREC's program page nor Drive Electric Delaware's FAQ states an income limit or an income-based rebate tier for this program — unlike some other states' EV rebates, every eligible Delaware buyer gets the same amount for a given vehicle type and price tier.
- Used vehicles can't be too old. A used vehicle can't be more than 8 model years older than the current calendar year.
- Two rebates per person, ever. Drive Electric Delaware's FAQ caps any one person at two rebates over the lifetime of the program — not per year, per lifetime.
- Leases count, with the lessor typically applying. The program covers leased vehicles at the same amounts as purchases; check with the dealer or leasing company about who submits the application.
DNREC's vehicle-rebate page carries no banner or notice stating the program is open, paused, or waitlisted, and no statement of a total dollar funding cap for the vehicle rebate itself. What it does say is narrower: applications for vehicles purchased or leased before May 1, 2026 are no longer accepted — meaning the program rolled into a new annual cycle on that date, not that it closed. That's a real distinction from the EV charger rebate below, which explicitly runs against a fixed $2,000,000 first-come-first-served pool that DNREC does describe that way. Even so, this program has been reevaluated — and paused between cycles — before, so treat "the program is accepting applications today" as something to confirm the day you buy, by calling Drive Electric Delaware or DNREC directly, not something this page can promise a year into a cycle.
Common questions
How much is the Delaware Clean Vehicle Rebate for a new EV?
Can I get the rebate at the dealership, or do I have to apply myself?
Is there an income limit for the Delaware EV rebate?
How many times can I use this rebate?
Is the rebate program currently funded and accepting applications?
Sources
- DNREC — Delaware Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (amounts, MSRP/price thresholds, model-year limit, May 1, 2026 cycle cutoff) — accessed Sept. 15, 2026 — dnrec.delaware.gov/.../vehicle-rebates
- Drive Electric Delaware — program FAQ (point-of-sale vs. mail-in process, 90-day and 30-day deadlines, eSupplier registration, required documents, two-rebate lifetime limit, processing time) — accessed Sept. 15, 2026 — driveelectricdelaware.org/faqs