So Your Car's A Clunker - Lucky!

AUTO CENTRAL - June 16, 2009: So your car is a clunker, and because you had the patience to wait to scratch the "I just gotta have a new car now" you will be rewarded... now you can quickly satisfy that new car itch…and if you are turning in an old passenger car that gets 18 MPG or less your friendly U.S. Department of Transportation will reward your patience.!!!!!

Taking advantage of the Cash for Clunkers program.

If you have a qualifying clunker that you have owned insured and driven it for at least a year, your government wants you to take the leap and buy or lease a new qualifying vehicle…so if your Junker is worth a hundred bucks and it’s ranked as a Clunker it could be worth as much as $4500 to you, courtesy of your fellow citizens and taxpayers.

So if you have a worthless old (post 1984)clunker that still goes and is worth less than $3500, now you have impetus to junk it.

Eligible new vehicles must have a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $45,000 or less to be eligible for purchase or lease under the program. The agency interprets this requirement to be the base MSRP�the price on the Monroney label affixed to the vehicle before any dealer accessories, optional equipment, taxes or destination charges are added to the price.

When the Cash For Clunkers program is put in place, you'd better understand it...the dealer is not giving you money for your old car the government is, so make the best deal for a new qualifying car without any mention that you will be turning in a clunker!.

Cash for Clunkers

First of all forget the term Trade-in, because to take advantage of Cash for Clunkers you have to Turn-in your qualifying vehicle which will then be scrapped when purchasing a new Qualifying Vehicle.

Step 1 - Determine if your "Turn-in" vehicle qualifies you for the Cash For Clunkers program. Passenger Cars, Wagons and Mini Vans, that are rated for less than 18MPG, SUV/CUV's less than 18MPG and Pick-ups rated less than 15 MPG Check you vehicle out here Click Here

Step 2 - Determine which new vehicles you'd like to consider and which of those qualify for the most Cash for Clunkers.

Cash for Clunkers allowances based on turning in a vehicle built after 1984 that is rated for less than 18 MPG.

The following link to lists of New Vehicles that Qualify for Cash for Clunkers, ranked by the minimum MPG.

Cash For Clunkers(C.A.R.S.) Qualifying New Vehicles, Prices and Specs

Cash For Clunkers:

Qualifying Sedans (22 MPG+ under $45,000 MSRP): Qualifying Sedans

Qualifying Coupes (22 MPG+ under $45,000 MSRP): Qualifying Coupes

Qualifying Wagons (22 MPG+ under $45,000 MSRP): Qualifying Wagons

Qualifying Minivans(18 MPG+ under $45,000 MSRP): Qualifying MiniVans

Qualifying SUV/CUV (18 MPG+ under $45,000 MSRP): Qualifying SUV/CUV

SUV/CUV Van Qualifications: Your clunker turn-in must get less than 18 MPG. New light trucks or SUVs with mileage of at least 18 mpg are eligible for vouchers. If the mileage of the new truck or SUV is at least 2 mpg higher than the old truck, the voucher will be worth $3,500. If the MPG of the new truck or SUV is at least 5 mpg higher than the old truck, the voucher will be worth $4,500.

Qualifying Pick-ups(15MPG+ and under $45,000 MSRP): Quailfying Pick-ups

Pick-up Trucks: New large trucks (pick-up trucks and vans weighing between 6,000 and 8,500 pounds) with mileage of at least 15 mpg are eligible for vouchers. If the mileage of the new truck is at least 1 mpg higher than the old truck, the voucher will be worth $3,500. If the mileage of the new truck is at least 2 mpg higher than the old truck, the voucher will be worth $4,500.

Step 3 – 7 - After you have created a short list of potential new vehicles follow The Auto Channel’s 4 Steps To Becoming a Smart Car Buyer.

After you have picked out the vehicle you want to buy, and have negotiated an acceptable price for your new vehicle and have received this “out the door” price in writing, then and only then inform you friendly salesperson that you will be using a “Cash for Clunkers” qualifying vehicle to reduce the net amount of your purchase…

Cash for Clunkers

If you are turning in an old Car(post 1984) that is rated for 18 MPG Combined HWY/CITY or less, your new vehicle must have a rating of at least 22 MPG Combined HWY/CITY to qualify for a $3500 government rebate or to receive a $4,500 Voucher- toward the lease or purchase of a new eligible vehicle MPG improvement must be at least 10 mpg over trade-in vehicle

If you are turning in an old SUV or Light truck that is rated at 18 MPG Combined HWY/CITY or less for a new vehicle, the new SUV or Light truck must have a rating of at least 20 MPG Combined HWY/CITY which must be at least a 2 MPG improvement to qualify for a $3500 government rebate or at least 5 MPG improvement to qualify for a $4500 government rebate.

If you are turning in a Pickup or Full sized Van (6000-8500 Lbs) the new vehicle must have a rating of at least 15 MPG which must be a 1 MPG improvement(?) to qualify for a $3500 government rebate or 2 MPG improvement (?) to qualify for a $4500 government rebate.

Taking advantage of the program.

If you have a qualifying clunker that you have owned for at least a year your government wants you to take the leap and buy or lease a new qualifying vehicle…so if your Junker is worth a hundred bucks and it’s a clunker it could be worth a much as $4500 to you courtesy of your fellow citizens and taxpayers.

So if you have an old car that is really not worth anything and up till now have had no impetus to junk it, now you do...Thank You Mr. Obama.

EVEN MORE INFO: www.fueleconomy.gov