Starting this week, the Bay Area Air District will pay $2,000 to buy back gas-powered vehicles that are model year 2000 and older. That’s a bump from the $1,500 it already pays for vehicles that were manufactured before 1998.
The Vehicle Buy Back Program is a voluntary initiative designed to reduce air pollution by removing older, high-emission vehicles from Bay Area roads. The program is indicative of the state’s push to remove gas-powered vehicles from its roads. Since 2023, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has granted California a series of waivers that allowed it to set higher-than-national standards to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles in the state. By model year 2035, 80% of passenger cars sold in the state must be zero-emission, and 20% will be plug-in hybrids. Commercial trucks and vehicles face similar restrictions by 2040. But on June 12, President Donald Trump signed a law disallowing the state to set those standards. The move was immediately challenged in court by Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration. To qualify for the buy back, your vehicle must be in working condition, currently registered as operable, and have been registered in the Bay Area for the past two years. If a Smog Check is due within 60 days, the vehicle must pass before being accepted into the program. Once approved, the cars will be scrapped for parts by an approved Air District dismantler, such as Environmental Engineering Studies or Pick-n-Pull.
Get those old piles of junk running again & cash in.
How about we voters make the California Democrats disappear!!!
That’s our tax dollars the government is giving away.
Imagine if a “purge” day,or even just a purge hour was allowed.They would all be gone.
And were is the money coming from? Also, “the vehicle must pass (smog) before being accepted into the program.”, so what is the point to get it off the road.
No don’t go asking those type of smart questions ok?
Yes,it should only be the cars that fail smog so it shows that they are getting the polluters off the road and the program has a purpose and these are cars you cant sell because its illegal to sell a used car in Calif without a valid smog cert EVEN THOUGH some do and dont get in trouble.The cars that fail smog are cars nobody wants or can sell but as a parts car.Why would you push to get good running registered and smogged cars off the road?None of these people that own these cars now will ever want or be able to buy an EV.
Are there any legit options for people that have older non-op cars (example year 2000-2002) and are looking to make a little something for them? Not that Kars for Kids please. That song alone is an instant migraine trigger. More so legit places that buy mechanics special cars that will haul them away. TIA
Of course they want to make sure it pass smog so they can get your money from you one last time. Smog for cars 30+ years old is just a scam. It’s getting ridiculously expensive to smog the cars.
I have a 98 Subaru but only has about 132,000 miles on it. The smog guy hated it brought it in because the 2000 and on model they just plug into a computer. I should sell it back to Subaru so they can feature it in more movies and TV shows. I’ve seen my model and year in a lot of shows.
What’sa-matter, not enough people taking them up on their previous lame offer ? ? ?
Upping to $2,000 reeks of desperation, democrat politicians and their fantasy
intellect, bureaucrats don’t realize many of those driving older cars have to do so
because of high cost of existing in deformation. A mere $2,000 means little to a
family with no savings and NO MONEY at the end of each month. Reportedly
California again leads the nation in credit card debt, that now exceeds 2007 – 2008
levels. TV commercials which ran prior to 2008 recession encouraging home
owners to suck out their home’s equity are back ! ! !
.
Grandsons have already decided which of my mid 1990s full size vehicles, large V8,
full size large body with LT1 engines, they will get. When filling up either vehicle am
often asked “wanna sell it?”, next question, “what kind of mileage do you get?”
My reply, “don’t know, don’t care”.
.
Both have ample leg room, very comfortable seats and unlike newer vehicles
with skinny tires that transfer every road imperfection directly to your butt,
mid 90s with their full size tires make for a smooth ride. An if I decide to pass
everything going uphill on Kirker Pass coming back from Pittsburg it’s effortless.
.
In short, regarding their latest buy back plan, . . . . POUND SALT ! ! ! !
Newsom hates gasoline powered cars.
Automobiles have always been an individual statement, and that’s what drives sales.
He wants everyone except the elites in generic, nameless, faceless EV’s with all the personality of a Trabant.
So a 1999 Accord LX in Fair condition with 250K miles is still worth 2K on the open market (1K-2.3K on KBB). Why would I give that to the state for only 2K? Why would want them to destroy a running car that has been used for the last 2 years (registered!) and can pass smog (so it runs well)?
O .. yeah, you think a 25 year old car is bad.
And then giving the car to Pick N Pull … are they paying for those cars or are they reselling them? The Oakland Pick N Pull currently has a BMW for resale .. Whose family woks at Pick N Pull and gets the kick back on those donor cars?
They want to get the dirty polluters off the road, but they have to pass smog to qualify. Yeah, makes perfect sense.
Scam …. if the older cars pass smog with no issues – what’s the point? If it’s truly to “buy them out” – then $2K isn’t nearly enough to make a dent in getting a replacement vehicle. But then, where’s the $$ coming from? … oh I know – our taxes!
now he has screwed anyone trying to buy a used car for less than $2000.He has screwed California and esp himself now.And who is paying for this?
PS
Implementing this program now is pointless cry baby floundering since his law to stop gas powered cars has been stopped,and wont be resurrected.A used car that is registered in good working order and has valid smog cert is worth more than $2000.
No thanks. Anyone paying attention already knows that cars made from 2010+ are JUNK. Planned Obsolescence in action!!
Is Pick-n-Pull owned by the PlumpJack Group?
A legitimate question.
Fair market value plus 8.75% sales tax or just ‘eff off Ken doll.
Mine disappears too.
At 88 mph and I kick on the flux capacitor. 🚀
Im going to run an ad saying that i will pay $2200 for a used car that’s registered and has a current smog cert.Who wouldnt pay that much?I will then sell them for $3500.Thanks grease boi.
If they are serious about getting gas cars off the road and pushing EV’s why not just offer to trade them a brand new EV if they will take their $2000 smogged and registered used car to pick n pull.It will mean that all those people will need another new car in 5 years,Thats good business.I will take the EV and sell it.But of course where would the money come from? its paying for hotels for illegals and protesters.
Greasy Gavin ok’ed $3 million in paycheck protection loans meant for small businesses, for 8 businesses he partially owns,and he claims only $350 k,because he only mentioned Plumbjack.
plumpjack
My 1982 BMW 320i produces less emission than my 2017 Honda Pilot.
And, I only put 1,000 miles on the BMW last year…