Metro’s expanded One Car Challenge pays Los Angeles County households up to $600 if they keep one vehicle parked for five weeks and use other travel modes. The program — which started in Santa Monica with 300 households in 2023 — has expanded toward 2,000 participants and pays up to $120 per week. Participants (21+) must log odometer readings and travel activity through the GoCarma app. An initial pilot produced a 16.16% increase in walking, biking and transit use, and officials will use the results to evaluate long-term effectiveness.
Los Angeles' One Car Challenge — Earn Up to $600 For Parking One Vehicle For Five Weeks
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Los Angeles County residents who can leave one household vehicle parked may be eligible to receive up to $600 through Metro’s expanded One Car Challenge. The program offers a direct financial incentive to reduce driving, ease congestion and help cut tailpipe emissions.
The initiative began in Santa Monica in 2023 with a 300-household pilot and has expanded to cover as many as 2,000 households countywide, according to local reports. Participants can earn up to $120 per week, for a maximum of $600 over five weeks, by keeping one car at home and choosing alternative travel modes such as public transit, walking, biking, shared rides or other options.
How It Works
To take part, participants must be Los Angeles County residents aged 21 or older. Metro is primarily targeting households with more than one vehicle, though single-car households may also apply.
Participants document progress by submitting odometer readings and logging travel activity through the GoCarma smartphone app. Metro will analyze that data to see whether modest cash incentives can reduce vehicle miles traveled and meaningfully change travel behavior.
Why It Matters
For many households, transportation is one of the largest recurring expenses after housing. The program offers both a direct cash payment and potential savings on gas, parking and vehicle maintenance. At the regional level, fewer solo car trips could ease road congestion and reduce emissions.
In its initial phase, Metro reported the Santa Monica pilot produced a 16.16% increase in walking, biking and public transit use.
If the countywide expansion produces similar results, officials will have stronger evidence that time-limited payments can be an effective transportation demand-management tool rather than only a short-term experiment.
Metro has not specified application deadlines or remaining slots in the expanded rollout. Interested residents should check Metro’s official website or local news sources for the latest details on how to apply.
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