By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | July 31, 2009
A Jeep Cherokee and a Chevy Van are two "clunkers" recently traded in at Dodge Chrystler Jeep of Vacaville as part of the federal "Cash for Clunkers" program. Photo by Brad Zweerink
FAIRFIELD - Local dealers are cheering the possible continuation of a federal program that offers cash rebates to people who trade in old, gas-guzzling cars for newer, cleaner vehicles.
The 'Cash for Clunkers' program, which offered $3,500 or $4,500 rebates depending on the trade-in and the kind of new car, only went into effect on Monday. That was apparently enough time for dealers to deem it a success.
'It has been a huge boost,' said Clarence Williams, owner of Vacaville Dodge Chrysler Jeep on Friday. 'We have seen excitement like we haven't seen over the last couple years.'
The excitement was such that officials in Washington, D.C., halted it late Thursday, saying they were concerned the $1 billion set aside for rebates had already been used up.
On Friday, Congress appeared poised to replenish it with another $2 billion, money already set aside for stimulus projects.
It appeared that many people had planned in advance what they were going to do when the program officially started, said Scott Thomason, owner of the Thomason Auto Group in Fairfield and Vallejo. He said his dealerships had traded 'between 50 and 75' cars through the program.
'This thing had been discussed for 30 days before it started and people knew about it,' he said. 'The people that have a car that they believe that would qualify, they are coming down here quickly.'
The program, properly called the Cars Allowance Rebate System, applies to trade-ins of vehicles less than 25 years old that get 18 miles per gallon or less.
For cars, consumers will receive a $3,500 rebate if the new vehicle gets at least 4 mpg higher than the trade-in. A $4,500 rebate is available if the new vehicle gets at least 10 mpg more than the trade-in.
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