Cash for Clunkers To Shut Down on Monday

Reported by John Matarese
Updated 7/28/09

Why your Clunker Probably Doesn't Qualify ....

From the dent on the door ...to the squeak in the hinges....to the 120,000 miles on the odometer, Tony Edward's car would appear to be the definition of a "clunker."

He says "It has squeaking doors, windows that barely go up and down, no radio, and barely any a/c." So Tony was thrilled to learn of the Cash for Clunkers program...With hopes of trading in his old Plymouth Sundance for $4,500.  He says he'd be lucky to get $500 for it in a sale.

Tony says "I have a single income with 2 kids, and thought it would be a great opportunity to get another car in the family."

The Miles Per Gallon Catch

As for the requirement that a clunker needs to get below 18 miles per gallon, Tony thought: no problem. "On the highway, it might get 18 or 19 mpg. But in the city, just 14 or 15 best," he says.

But then Tony learned a hard fact about this hard to qualify for program. Although his Sundance sucks down gas, the EPA rates it at 21 miles per gallon, according to its website FuelEconomy.gov (click above link).

So even though it looks like a clunker and sounds like a clunker...to the government, he says, "this car does not qualify as a clunker." Which means Tony -- like many drivers -- will have to continue clunking along.

What you Need to Do

To find out if your car meets the eligibility requirements, go to the government's website Cars.gov or Fuel Economy.gov. (Click above links)

• The EPA must list its combined city/highway mileage as 18 mpg, or worse.
• You must have owned it, with Registration and insurance papers to prove it, for one year.
• And it must be a 1983 or newer model: gas guzzlers from the 1970's need not apply.

The problem is that very few cars meet these requirements.  It primarily applies to SUV's and Pickups.

And on July 29th, the EPA admitted it has changed the mileage numbers of nearly 200 cars and SUVs.  About half no longer qualify as clunkers, the other half did not qualify until now, but now they do. My question: Why are they doing this the week the program is rolled out? How much more confusion do we need?
 
Unhappy?  You may want to check out an online petition drive that asks the government to expand the list of eligibile cars. (Click the link above)

And don't waste your money. I'm John Matarese.