Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate Program Application Cycle Extended to May 31, 2026

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced an extension to the current Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program application cycle from January 31, 2026 to May 31, 2026.

Illinois EPA will process all applications received through January 31, 2026, including non-low income, given those individuals applied with the expectation that rebates would be processed at the end of the initial application cycle. After January 31, 2026, Illinois EPA will again prioritize low income applications as specified in the program requirements, which are available on the Illinois EPA’s EV Rebate Program webpage. Updated forms and instructions to submit a rebate application are currently available on the webpage.

“We continue to see great interest in the program, but we are pleased to see funds available beyond the first few weeks, as we experienced in previous funding cycles,” said Acting Director Jennings. “Legislative changes that were made to the program in 2025 have proven to be effective in sustaining the EV Rebate Program while prioritizing residents with the greatest need for the incentive.”

The Illinois General Assembly appropriated $14 million to the Illinois EPA for the current fiscal year (FY26), which ends on June 30, 2026. Current applications received represent a fraction of that funding. However, actual funding amounts will be determined by the amount of money available in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund. Rebates will be issued to eligible individuals as funding is available.

As a reminder, program updates effective in FY26 include:

• Limits on the price of the vehicle: An eligible vehicle, as defined by the EV Rebate Act, is one with a selling price not exceeding $80,000 as shown on the bill of sale.
• Change to the rebate amount: The rebate is $2,000 for an eligible new or used electric vehicle. Low-income applicants are eligible to receive an additional $2,000 ($4,000 total rebate). The rebate amount for eligible motorcycles remains the same, $1,500 for all eligible applicants.
• Cap on the income of applicants: An “eligible applicant” is defined as “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.” The application materials will include a table on income eligibility.
• Change to the definition of low-income applicant: 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.
• Longer time to apply from the date of vehicle purchase: Applicants have 180 days from the date of purchase to apply (up from 90 days previously). Applications must be submitted during an open application period.

Full eligibility requirements are found in the EV Rebate Act and associated Illinois EPA program rules. These requirements include, but are not limited to:

• The vehicle must be a new or used all-electric vehicle and legally permitted to drive on all public roadways, including interstate highways.
• The vehicle must be purchased (not rented or leased) from a dealership licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State.
• The vehicle cannot have been the subject of a previous EV rebate under this program.
• Only individuals that are Illinois residents can receive a rebate, and an individual can only receive one EV rebate under this program.
• The purchaser must retain ownership of the vehicle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date.

Questions about the EV Rebate Program may be submitted to EPA.EV@Illinois.gov. Individuals interested in receiving updates on Illinois EPA’s EV programs may register for the EV Listserv located at the bottom of the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program webpage.

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