As part of the Government of Canada's plan to protect the environment, the ecoAUTO Rebate Program encourages Canadians to buy or lease fuel-efficient vehicles. It offers rebates from $1,000 to $2,000 to people who buy or enter a long-term lease (12 months or more) for a new fuel-efficient vehicle.

The ecoAUTO Rebate Program offers performance-based rebates on new light-duty vehicles that are purchased or leased in Canada.

What vehicles get rebates?
The list of eligible vehicles is established by Transport Canada and includes:

• new passenger cars with a combined city-highway fuel consumption of 6.5 litres (L)/100 kilometres (km) or less;
• new minivans, sport utility vehicles and other light trucks with a combined city-highway fuel consumption of 8.3 L/100 km or less; and
• new flex-fuel vehicles (vehicles equipped by manufacturers to operate on gasoline or a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline) with a combined city-highway E85 fuel consumption rating of 13.0 L/100 km or less.

A number of Canadian provinces also offer incentives on advanced technology and fuel-efficient vehicles, and drivers could benefit from both initiatives.

To find out more about provincial incentives, visit the appropriate provincial government website.

How to get a rebate:
To receive your ecoAUTO rebate, you must:

• obtain a copy of the form, which is available at www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoauto, at vehicle dealers, by calling the ecoAUTO toll-free number at 1-866-506-6804 or by visiting any Service Canada Centre to download and print the form;
• fill out the application and mail it to the address on the form;
• provide a photocopy of your complete sales or long-term lease (12 months or more) agreement, along with the vehicle identification number; and
• provide proof of provincial vehicle registration.

Applicants must make sure that:

• their bill of sale or lease has all the required information requested on the application form, such as:
  • whether the vehicle is purchased or leased;
  • if leased, the duration of the lease in months;
  • whether the vehicle is new or a demo;
  • the make, model and year of the vehicle;
  • the vehicle identification number (VIN);
  • whether the vehicle is a hybrid;
  • the size of the engine in litres;
  • the number of cylinders of the vehicle;
  • whether the transmission type is manual, automatic or continuously variable;
  • the fuel type - indicate if the vehicle is equipped to use gasoline, flex-fuel or diesel;
  • the purchase date - this is the date marked on the sales or lease agreement - or the delivery date of the vehicle; and
  • proof that the vehicle was purchased in Canada.

For more information:

• For Questions and Answers, visit www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/ecotransport/ecoAUTO-QandAs.htm