Okay, you’ve heard about the U.S. Government’s “Cash for Clunkers” deal for weeks now; how can you, savvy green consumer, take advantage of the program? First, you should know that it’s official name is CARS, or Car Allowance Rebate System. Clever, no? And you should know that there’s an entire web site devoted to CARS that can answer almost any question about the process you might have.
In a nutshell, though, here are the points you need to know if you’re considering trading in your old car for a bright, shiny new one — with better mileage and, one supposes, cleaner emissions from the tailpipe.
- Cars must be purchased between July 1, 2009, and November 1, 2009, or until Congress runs out of rebate money
- Combined fuel economy of the clunker must be a combined 18 mpg or less according to the EPA ratings — not according to your own actual mileage
- The clunker can’t be more than 25 years old (that’s 1984 or later)
- The clunker must be driveable as well as registered and insured for at least the year before you trade it in
- The new car can be purchased or leased, but you have to lease it for at least 5 years
- If the new car’s fuel economy is 4-9 mpg better than the clunker, you get $3500. If it’s 10 mpg or more better, you get $4500 toward your new car
- The new car has to be new, not used
- The clunkers have to be destroyed and never returned to the road
The Department of Transportation/NHTSA documentation for the program says there is an interactive tool at CARS.gov for determining if your car is eligible and how much your rebate would be, but as of today, that tool isn’t showing up. Maybe it’ll be there later this week; after all, the program went live three weeks before anyone knew exactly how it would even work.