What Is the BC Scrap-It Program?
BC’s Scrap-It Program is a unique and versatile rebate program that allows BC residents to Choose which rebate they want when they ‘scrap’ their gas vehicle. The program has partnered with community leaders, the government, and businesses to give BC residents the help they need where they need it most.
The BC Scrap-It Program is geared towards helping British Columbia residents do their part in creating a more sustainable, greener province for all. Scrapping your old gas guzzler and choosing an electric vehicle, public transit, or an E-Bike is one way you can help create a cleaner, greener BC. The government, in collaboration with various businesses and organizations, is offering incentives for people who choose to get rid of their gas-powered vehicles. That’s essentially what the Scrap-It program is all about. And unlike other provincial and federal programs, which only offer rebates when you buy an electric vehicle, the BC Scrap-It program offers a variety of rebates that don’t hinge on the purchase of an electric vehicle.
The program is fairly simple. Apply to the program, scrap your old car, and claim your rebate. However, there are a few things you should know about this program. For example, there are different rebates offered, and there is a specific process you need to follow to receive your rebate.
In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need so you can make the best decision for yourself when choosing your rebate, as well as understand exactly what you have to do to claim this innovative and versatile EV Rebate.
What Rebates Are Offered Under the BC Scrap-It Program?
There are a number of rebates that you can choose from, but you can only choose ONE rebate per scrapped vehicle. And the rebate you choose depends on whether or not you are purchasing a new or used EV. Some of the rebates offered don’t require you to purchase a new or used vehicle at all, so if you are planning to swap out your car for an electric bike or you’re planning on taking transit moving forward, there are rebates you can claim.
Here is a list of the rebates you can claim. We will discuss each one in further detail later on in the article.
- EV Cash Rebates – $500 rebate IF you purchase a new or used BEV (Battery electric vehicle) or $400 if you purchase a new or used PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle
- TransLink Monthly Pass: Either eight months one (1) Zone Adult Monthly Pass OR a 14 months (3) Zone Concession Pass
- BC Transit Eco pass: an 11-month ECO PASS for the Victoria Regional transit system
- Electric Bike Rebate: $750 rebate IF you purchase a new electric bike (with a minimum e-bike price of $1200 before taxes
- Car Sharing Credit: $500 credit with an authorized car sharing organization
- $200 Cash Rebate
What Are the BC Scrap-It Program Requirements?
There are only TWO program requirements for the BC Scrap It program, regardless of the rebate you choose. The first requirement is that you have six months of continuous Insurance PRIOR to scrapping the car; the second is that you scrap your car at an authorized scrap yard location.
EV REBATES: Canada Electric Car Rebate 2022
Continuous Insurance
To be eligible for the program, you must have six months of continuous Insurance and vehicle registration. The Insurance and registration must be in the applicant’s name (the person who is applying for the program). You will need to provide proof of continuous Insurance from ICBC, and the Insurance must cover a continuous period of SIX MONTHS prior to the date of your application.
Scrap at the Right Place
The second requirement is that when you scrap your car, you do so at one of the authorized scrap yard locations. If you sell your car privately, you will not be eligible. And if you scrap your car at a yard that is not an authorized scrap yard location, you also won’t be eligible. You can find a list of authorized scrap yard locations here
How Do I Claim My BC Scarp-It Rebate?
Although the process varies slightly depending on the rebate you choose, the general process is the same. Here is a quick overview of how the program works.
Step 1: You Apply for the Program. You Will Need a Few Things on Hand When You Apply. The Things You Will Need Are
- A scanned file or a photo of your CURRENT ICBC Owner’s certification of Insurance and Vehicle Registration. You will need to upload this with your application. The name on your Owner’s certification of Insurance and registration must be the same as the name of the applicant.
- An electronic copy of a void cheque OR a pre-authorized deposit document (from your bank.) You will receive the money for your rebate by way of EFT (electric fund transfer), so you have to provide your banking information with your application.
- The VIN of your old vehicle (the vehicle you are scrapping).
*To apply, you must be 19 years of age or older. If the application is for someone under that age, then there is a consent form that must be completed. You must also be the registered owner of the vehicle, or if the vehicle is owned by someone under the age of 19, then you must be the parent or legal guardian of the Owner of the vehicle.
Step 2: Choose Your Rebate
During the application, it will ask you to select the rebate you want. You can choose whichever rebate you feel will benefit YOU best.
Step 3: Receive Your Approval
You will receive an approval email within TWO business days of submitting your application. It’s important to note that once you receive this email (once you are officially approved), the clock starts ticking. You have 30 days from the date of your approval to scrap your car, take the approval of your new car, and claim your rebate. So don’t apply too soon. It’s best to apply after you are scheduled to take delivery of your vehicle. *You will need a copy of your approval email to take to the scrap yard.
Step 4: Scrap Your Car
Now it’s time to scrap your car. To scrap your car, choose one of the authorized scrap yard locations. You will need to bring a few things with you to the scrap yard:
- Bring a copy of your approval email. The scrap dealer will endorse your approval email for you. You will need this to claim your rebate.
- Bring your ORIGINAL Owner’s Certificate of Insurance. Photocopies are NOT accepted.
- Bring your ID. The person dropping off the car must be the registered owner of the car.
If the car has more than one registered Owner (like two spouses), they must both be present when the car is scrapped. The scrapyard dealer will give you a transfer/tax form. Keep this for your records. And don’t forget to remove your license plates and take them with you!
Step 5: Receive Your Rebate
Once the scrap yard dealer has sent in confirmation of your scrapped car, it’s time to collect your rebate. If you choose a cash rebate, you will receive your rebate by way of EFT; the money will be sent directly to your bank account. For other rebates, we explain how you will receive them under their respective sections.
Are There Any Vehicles I Can’t Scrap?
Yes. Not all vehicles are eligible under the program. The BC Scrap it program DOES NOT accept:
- Motorcycles
- Boats
- Trailers
- RVs
- Motorhomes
- Campers
Now that you know a little more about the program, let’s take a look at the different rebates available and how to claim each one.
BC Scrap-It EV Rebate for Bev and Phev Vehicle Purchases
If you are planning on buying a new or used EV after you scrap your vehicle, then you might choose this rebate. This rebate will give you a $500 rebate if you purchase a new or used Battery Electric Vehicle or $400 if you purchase a new or used Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle.
The BC Scrap It EV Rebate is in addition to the $3000 CleanBC Provincial Rebate and the $5000 Federal Zev Rebate, so BC residents can really reap the benefits of going green by combing all three programs.
The dealership will submit the claim for this rebate on your behalf, so all you have to do is apply, scrap your old car, and purchase your new one.
There are, of course, some eligibility requirements. The new or used EV must be purchased from a participating dealership, and the car must be scrapped at an authorized scrap yard location.
Need to know: How Do I Claim My EV Scrap It Rebate?
Here is the information you need to know should you choose the EV cash rebate.
Purchase Your New EV Before You Apply.
This is the first step because once you apply and receive confirmation, you only have 30 days from the date of approval to scrap your old car, take possession of your new car, and claim your rebate. If you are pre-ordering a car, it can take time for the car to get to the lot, so it’s best to wait until the car is physically on the lot (and you have scheduled your date to take a delivery) before you apply. *Remember, only qualifying vehicles from authorized BC Scrap It dealerships qualify, so ensure that you are purchasing the right care from the right place.
Ensure Both the Dealership and the Vehicle Are Eligible.
Not all cars are eligible under the BC Scrap-It program. The program is a partnership with various businesses, so to receive the rebate, you have to purchase the car from a participating dealership, and you have to purchase a car that is eligible. The BC Scrap-It website has a list of eligible dealerships and vehicles, so you can contact the dealership directly.
Bring Your Approval Email With You.
When you go to pick up your new EV, make sure you have your approval email on hand. The dealership will submit your rebate claim for you, so all you have to do at this point is pick up your car and wait for your cash.
How Will I Receive My Cash Rebate?
The scrapyard dealer will send confirmation of your scrapped vehicle for you. The dealership will submit the claim for you. Once both those things have been received by Scrap It BC, then you will receive your rebate by way of Electronic Fund Transfer, so the money will go directly into your bank account (if you chose the cash rebate).
BC Scrap-It Translink Monthly Pass
When you scrap your old vehicle, you can elect to choose one of two TransLink monthly passes as your rebate. You can choose EITHER:
- An 8 Month one ZONE Adult Pass, valued at $802 OR
- A 14 month three Zone Concession Pass, valued at $802
This rebate is offered by both the BC Go Electric Transportation Options Program and by TransLink.
Need to know: Translink Monthly Pass
Here is everything you need to know about the TransLink Monthly Pass Rebate.
To receive this rebate, you will first need to apply to the program (as outlined above) and then scrap your car (as outlined above). From there, you will need a Compass Card.
If you don’t have a Compass Card, you must purchase one BEFORE you submit your claim. This is because you will need to provide the serial number from the back of your card to complete your claim. You can get one at a variety of locations. They require a $6.00 deposit to purchase. Once you have the card, you have to set up an account and register the account with Compass Card.
Your free transit pass will start around 60 days from the date of your application. Before your free transit pass activates, SCRAP IT will need to receive the following:
- Your completed claim (with your card’s serial number)
- Confirmation from the scrap yard dealer that you have scrapped your car
Compass Card has a monthly cut-off for pass activation. The monthly cut-off is the 15th of each month. Your monthly pass will load for the next month AFTER the 15th of each month. So, if you tap your card on any date after the 15th, you will see that the card has loaded for the next month.
Your passes will be loaded AUTOMATICALLY by Scrap-it. Scrap-it will send you a confirmation email once everything has been received by them. This email will tell you both the start date of your monthly passes and the end date.
Here are a few more important details about the TransLink Monthly Pass Rebate:
- The passes are NON-REFUNDABLE.
- The passes are NOT TRANSFERRABLE.
- You CAN NOT change the type of your pass once your claim is finished. So you can’t change your mind and switch from one type of pass to another.
- The passes cannot be put on hold. Once the pass is activated, the months will run through consecutively – there are no ‘pauses or breaks’ allowed.
- All the month’s count, even if you don’t use the card at all that month. For example, if you don’t use the card at all in month 3, it doesn’t matter. That month still counts.
- If you lose your card, it’s on you to replace it immediately. You will also need to contact SCRAP-IT within three days and to give them the new serial number from your new card.
To find out more about this rebate option, visit here
BC Scrap-It Electric Bike Rebate
If you scrap your old car and choose to bike it moving forward, then you can receive a rebate of $750 IF you purchase a new E-Bike with a minimum price of $1200 (not including taxes).
The E-bike you purchase MUST be an eligible E-Bike under the Scrap-It program.
What Are e-Bikes Eligible for the BC Scrap-It Rebate?
There is a comprehensive list of which E-bikes meet the eligibility requirements, but generally speaking, the motor cannot be gas-powered, the motor has to be capable of being propelled by muscles (physical pedaling), the motor has to be 500 watts or less, and the motor can’t make the bike go faster than 32 kilometers per hour without pedaling on level ground.
Need to know: Electric Bike Rebate
Here is everything else you need to know about the BC Scrap-It Electric Bike Rebate.
To claim your rebate, you must first apply to the program (as outlined above) and then scrap your car (as outlined above). You must KEEP a POS (point of sale) debit, Credit, or cash register receipt, as well as a receipt that has YOUR NAME on it. The retailer will print off a receipt with your name on it for you. You will need to submit both receipts before you can claim your rebate.
The bike MUST cost a minimum of $1200 (before taxes).
You cannot return your bike for a refund if you are claiming this rebate. You can exchange it in some cases, as long as the new bike has an equal or higher bike than the original. You cannot claim your rebate until you have picked up the bike. E-bikes are sometimes on backorder, so don’t submit your claim until your bike is ready for pick up. You cannot buy a used electric bike, even if the price is $1200 or higher. The E-Bike has to be new.
The rebate only counts towards the purchase of the actual bike, not towards any accessories for the bike, and the person who scrapped the car must be the person buying the bike.
The Bike MUST be purchased from a participating retailer. If you purchase the bike from someplace else, it will not be eligible for the rebate. You can find a list of participating retailers here
Car Sharing Credit
When you scrap your old car, you can choose the Car Sharing Credit offered by the BC Scrap-It Program. This Credit is for $500 with one of the approved car sharing organizations. The approved car sharing organizations are:
- Modo
- Kootenay Carshare Co-op
- Evo
- Coast Car Co-op
- Spark Car Share (in Invermere)
To receive this rebate, you will need to choose this option during your application. More information will be given to you via email about this rebate once your application has been approved.
BC Transit Eco Pass
This rebate option is for people who use the Victoria Regional Transit System. This rebate is an 11-month ECO PASS, valued at $880, that is valid only on the Victoria Regional Transit System. If you choose this rebate, you will receive more information about it and how to claim it via email once your application is approved.
$200 Cash Rebate
If you just want some straight-up cash in your bank, then you can choose this rebate. This rebate is NOT the same as the EV rebates or the E-Bike rebates. You can only receive the EV rebate or the E-Bike rebate IF you purchase a new or used BEV or PHEV or a new E-Bike. This rebate, however, doesn’t require you to purchase anything. As long as you scrap your car and apply, you can choose this $200 cash rebate. You will receive more information about this rebate when your application is approved.
In Summary
If you live in BC and are thinking of scrapping your old gas-powered car, then you absolutely MUST take advantage of the BC Scrap It program. Whether you want to buy an electric vehicle, add the scrap-it rebate to the Provincial Clean BC and Federal Zev rebate, purchase an electric bike, utilize public transit, or just claim some cash for your bank account, the Scrap-It program allows you the flexibility to make the choice that suits YOU best.
All you have to do is:
- APPLY for the program.
- CHOOSE your rebate.
- SCRAP your car.
- And CLAIM your cash or transit pass.
Apply. Choose. Scrap. Claim. That’s really all there is to it.
For information, visit
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