Cash for "clunkers"

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - If you've got a clunker for a car, the federal government wants to pay you to upgrade. The "Cash for Clunkers" program through the department of transportation will go into effect later this month and some car dealers are already answering lots of customer questions.

Sunstate Ford on West Colonial Drive in Orlando is advertising the Cash for Clunkers program in a big way, by displaying two clunker cars inside a giant dumpster.

Ian Riding with Sunstate says the dealership has been getting a lot of interest from customers want to know about the program.

"We've had a lot of customers come in and asking will their car work will this fit the parameters of the program," said Riding.

Here's how it works.   Your car qualifies as a clunker if it was made in the last 25 years and has a fuel economy of no more than 18 miles per gallon. The car must be operable and has to have been continuously insured by the same owner for the last year.

The goal is to get you into a new and more fuel efficient car and the government is willing to give you either $35,000 or $4,500 bucks to make it happen. Dealers are also looking to throw more money your way through manufacturer incentives.

"You've got a car worth $500, you bring it in it could be worth $45,000 that's real money, not coming from the dealers or the manufacturers that's coming from the government, so that's a massive difference on a $17,000 dollar focus all of a sudden its a $12,000 car," said Riding.

So what happens to your old car? The dealer will take your clunker and scrap it for recycling.
The program hits participating dealerships July 23rd.

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On the Web:

www.cars.gov

Sun State Ford