how to recieve the $4,500 for new car

[hockeyhead019]

hello everybody,

i heard about the new thing passed by the gov. about if you trade in your clunker you can get up to 4500 towards a new car... i wanted to know how to recieve this money because i have an 87 jeep cherokee and it's eligible, because it gets about 12 mpg... but how do i use this new "act" to recieve the money and get a new car with it?

thanks guys

[robbiewt]

According to Cars.gov, the $4,500 goes directly from the NHTSA to the dealer. I would go to the dealer and make sure they know whats going on.

[flander]

Originally Posted by hockeyhead019

i have an 87 jeep cherokee and it's eligible, because it gets about 12 mpg... but how do i use this new "act" to recieve the money and get a new car with it?

thanks guys

First off, for the Jeep to be eligible, it has to get less than 18mpg according to Find a Car. They will not go by what you indicate the vehicle gets.

To get $4500 you have to buy a NEW vehicle that gets more than 10 mpg better than what is handed over. The dealer has to be registered with the program from what I've heard. The details are still being ironed out. The vehicle has to be registered and insured in your name for more than 1 year.

All the details can be found at CARS.gov - Car Allowance Rebate System - Home - Formerly Referred to as “Cash for Clunkers”. Just this past week they have updated the site.

[cfg83]

hockeyhead019 -

Welcome to EM! I agree with flander. It appears that the Cherokee doesn't qualify, except maybe for this model :

2008 Fuel Economy Tests


Is this the same engine/tranny configuration as your Cherokee?

CarloSW2

[hockeyhead019]

yup that's me a 4WD with a 6cylinder straight engine that's 4.0L but it has to be insured under my name for under a year?

[flander]

This is straight from Cars.gov site

Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date

Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify

Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)

Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in

[hockeyhead019]

ok guys i appreciate all the help

[flander]

No problem. Hope you get a fuel efficient car. If I had a job and was looking for a new car, my choice would be VW Jetta TDI. Most Americans associate diesels with loud, dirty trucks. The diesels now are not that way. VW TDI has set records for fuel economy and in most places, diesel fuel is cheaper than gas. A win win situation.

Dear Subaru of America,

Please bring over your new diesel and let me do a long term test drive on it. I'll show Americans that diesel is the way to go for the near future. I'll drive it to different events around the US promoting Diesels and Subaru.

Sincerely,

Flander