Air district doubles Old Car Buyback payments

(VENTURA, Calif. — July 10, 2025) The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District has doubled the amount it pays residents to retire old vehicles to $2,000 and expanded the eligible model years to 2003 or older.

Before the change, the Old Car Buyback Program offered $1,000 per vehicle with model years of 1997 or older.

The district implemented the changes to encourage more people to retire vehicles that emit higher amounts of pollutants due to their age and lack of advanced emission controls. Motor vehicles produce more than half of the air pollution in Ventura County. Ventura County exceeds current state and federal standards for ground-level ozone, a primary component of smog, and the state standard for coarse particulate matter, or PM 10. The county is designated as a serious nonattainment area for the federal eight-hour ozone standard.

The district also extended the program for a year so that it will continue throughout 2026 or until the $105,350 in remaining funds have been spent.

Launched in 2017, the program pays Ventura County residents who own older operable cars, light-duty pickup trucks, SUVs and vans to retire their vehicles. The cars must be driven to dismantlers in Oxnard or Santa Paula under their own power. The district partners with Environmental Engineering Studies Inc. to dismantle each car and administer the program.

Since the program began, the district has spent $421,950 to retire 342 vehicles. The funds come from Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) fees distributed to local air districts.

The incentive amount and eligible model years are based on California Air Resources Board calculations demonstrating that they are a cost-effective way to reduce harmful emissions.

Vehicle requirements for the program include the following:

• Registered with the DMV at Ventura County addresses for the last 24 months or registration lapsed for less than 181 days during the previous 24 months
• Registered as an operable vehicle or registered in planned non-operational status for two or fewer months occurring at least three months prior to the sale
• Passed the most recent smog inspection required by the DMV
• Passed the upcoming smog inspection if required within 60 days of the sale
• Not operating under a smog inspection repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension
• Have a gross vehicular weight rating up to 10,000 pounds
• Have a clear California title with no liens
• Pass an Equipment Eligibility Inspection and Vehicle Functional Test conducted by the dismantler

To verify eligibility and schedule an appointment to sell a vehicle, call Environmental Engineering Studies Inc. at 800-717-7624. For more information, visit vcapcd.org/old-car-buyback/ or contact Holly Galbreath at holly@vcapcd.org or 805-303-3666.