Washington State E-Bike Rebate: Amounts, Lottery, and Vouchers

The Washington State e-bike rebate is worth either $300 or $1,200 off the purchase price of a qualifying electric bicycle, depending on your household income. The program’s second round is run by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), accepts applications through March 29, 2027, and picks recipients by monthly lottery rather than first-come, first-served.¹ The legislature put $7 million behind this round, so your odds depend on how many people apply and how long the money lasts.

How Much You Get

There are two tiers. If your pre-tax household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for your county, you qualify for the $1,200 rebate. Everyone else who meets the basic eligibility rules qualifies for $300.² Either amount comes off the purchase price at the register, so you never pay full price and wait for reimbursement.

Area Median Income varies by county, so the same household income can qualify for the higher tier in one place and not another. Check WSDOT’s eligibility page for the threshold in your county before you apply, so you know which documents to gather.

Who Qualifies

You need to be at least 16 years old and able to prove you live in Washington State.¹ There is no upper age limit and no requirement that you lack other transportation.

For the $1,200 income-qualified tier, you have to document that household income. You can do it two ways: your 2023 or 2024 federal tax return (Line 11, Adjusted Gross Income), or proof of current enrollment in a qualifying assistance program such as SNAP, SSI, SSDI, Medicaid (Apple Health), TANF, or a property tax exemption or deferral program.¹ If you’re already enrolled in one of those programs, that route is simpler because the enrollment itself proves income.

For the $300 tier, you only need proof of age and Washington residency. A Washington driver’s license or state ID handles both. Without either, a recent utility bill showing a physical Washington address works as residency proof.

Which E-Bikes the Rebate Covers

The rebate applies to Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycles as Washington defines them.¹ The classes differ by how the motor engages and how fast it assists:

Class 1: motor assists only while you pedal, cuts out at 20 mph.
Class 2: motor can propel the bike without pedaling, cuts out at 20 mph.
Class 3: motor assists only while pedaling, stays active up to 28 mph, must have a speedometer.

Whatever the class, the bike must have fully functional pedals and a motor rated at no more than 750 watts.³ The total purchase price, including taxes and fees, cannot exceed $4,000.¹ That cap rules out high-end performance models and keeps the program on practical commuter bikes.

Adaptive electric cycles designed for riders with disabilities also qualify. The $4,000 cap still applies, which does limit options in that market where prices tend to run higher.

How to Apply

Applications go through the official WSDOT portal at ebikeswsdot.aptim.com.⁴ Submit one application for the whole round. Once you’re in the system, you’re entered into every monthly drawing automatically until you’re selected or the round closes on March 29, 2027.¹

Have the following ready before you start so you can finish in one sitting:

Proof of residency: Washington driver’s license, state ID, or a utility bill with your physical Washington address.
A working email address (this is where the voucher arrives) and a phone number.
Your household size.
For the $1,200 tier only: your 2023 or 2024 Form 1040 showing Line 11 Adjusted Gross Income, or proof of enrollment in SNAP, SSI, SSDI, TANF, Apple Health, or a property tax exemption or deferral program.

The portal also lists participating bike shops. Check that list before you apply to confirm there’s a shop within reasonable distance. Vouchers only work at registered brick-and-mortar retailers inside Washington; online-only sellers and out-of-state shops are not part of the program.

How the Lottery Works

WSDOT draws applicants randomly each month, starting April 13, 2026.¹ Applying on the first day does not improve your odds over applying six months in. Everyone in the pool goes into the same monthly drawing. The lottery continues each month until the $7 million runs out or the window closes in March 2027.

If you’re not picked in a given month, you stay in the pool for the next drawing automatically. You do not reapply. If you are picked, you get the voucher by email and drop out of future drawings.

Using Your Voucher

Selected applicants get a digital voucher code by email. Take that code to any participating bike shop. The retailer enters it into WSDOT’s tracking system and deducts the rebate from your purchase price at checkout. Bring a photo ID that matches the name on your application, because the shop will check before applying the discount.

Vouchers expire 90 days after they’re issued.¹ If you don’t use yours in time, the funds go back into the pool and you lose the rebate. Start shopping before you get the voucher so you can act fast once it lands. In the first round, nearly a quarter of $300 vouchers and about 16% of $1,200 vouchers went unused, so this deadline is the step where the program most often falls apart for recipients.

What the Rebate Does Not Cover

The voucher reduces the e-bike’s purchase price and nothing else. Accessories like helmets, locks, lights, and cargo racks come out of pocket, as does any extended warranty. A quality lock can run $50 to $100 and a good helmet $50 or more, so plan for those on top of the discounted bike price.

Ongoing costs are also yours. Annual maintenance for an e-bike generally runs $100 to $380 depending on how much you ride and whether you do basic work yourself. Theft and liability insurance, while not required, runs roughly $75 to $300 per year and is worth considering given how often e-bikes are stolen.

1
Washington State Department of Transportation. Washington’s E-Bike Rebate Program Opening Second Application Round March 30
2
Washington State Department of Transportation. WSDOT E-Bike Rebate Applicant Registration Form
3
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 46.04.169 – Electric-Assisted Bicycle
4
Washington State Department of Transportation. WSDOT E-Bike Rebate Program Applicants