Cash for Clunkers Program Ready to Roll

“They don’t want the motor to be re-sold to somebody be put into another car, that would defeat the whole purpose."

Auto dealers across the state are prepared to give new car buyers up to $4500 for their old gas guzzlers. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on the federal governments cash for clunkers program.

The cash for clunkers program is designed to protect the environment and boost the troubled auto industry. Allen Wilson, Owner of Howard Wilson, Chrysler Jeep, Suzuki in Flowood, says the plan creates a win win situation.

“It helps the government and society by cleaning up the environment. The new cars are safer. It’s obviously very very good for the consumer, you know it’s just free money. And it is good for the car business. You know even if they customer comes in and the car they buy doesn’t qualify for it, it’s still get people out shopping. We’ll still sell cars to people that don’t qualify for it because of the interest that’s been stirred up by the program.”

The deal is so appealing that 73 year old J.B. Eady of Pearl is ready to trade in his 1989 Plymouth for a newer model.

“You get older you just wanna pick up on deals especially when you don’t have any money coming in.”

Once the trade is made the federal government mandates that the old vehicles be crushed or shredded to get the clunkers off the road. But according to Tony Johnson, General Sales manager at Howard Wilson, key details are still not clear.

“They don’t want the motor to be re sold to somebody be put into another car you know what I’m saying that would defeat the whole purpose. Now as far as parting it out, you know the wheels, radio you know stuff like that, I don’t know. Ah, That’s one thing the government hasn’t to my knowledge hasn’t issued instructions to anybody on.”

What is clear, according to Meredith Aldridge, Director of the Consumer protection Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office is the real possibilities of scammers trying to take advantage of consumers by getting them to pre register.

“In reality consumers do not have to register or pre qualify their cars. Only dealers must register for this program not consumers.”

Full details of the cash for clunkers program are available at car.gov For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.