Are you the first to get the official $4500 CARS incentive $$$?

Trade-in vs. CARS

Two or three dealers told me to use the KBB wholesale numbers to get an idea of what they'd give me as a trade-in. The CARS (Clunkers) program gives us at least $1500 more than that! The trade-in allowance was pitiful on our 2001 Town & Country.

 

Re: Trade-in vs. CARS

I'm not sure where you find wholesale numbers on KBB's website. If you're referring to Trade-in value, that may or may not be anywhere close to what they actually offer. If they don't want to resell your car on their lot, they will either offer a value they know they can get by wholesaling it to another dealer or pull a number out of thin air. Some dealers may offer you Kelley's trade-in value or close.
As has been made quite clear to me here, they offer what they offer and you shouldn't be offended if they lowball you.

 

I've got a deposit on a Prius and am ready to trade in my old clunker. It meets all the requirements for the program, however I confused about the documentation requirements. I can show a year's worth of insurance coverage, and I can show clear title, but how in the heck am I supposed to show a year's worth of vehicle registration? The sticker on the windshield is current but I don't recall ever having any certificates to back it up. I had thought that the sticker itself was proof of current registration. What do I need? I'm in Texas.

 

The agency recognizes that this proof of registration presents complications for purchasers. In several States, registration cards or documents do not indicate a period of coverage of more than one year. In some of these States, purchasers have a difficult time obtaining prior registration information from the State. Seeking a less burdensome alternative, the agency evaluated the capabilities of commercial vehicle information services, such as Polk and Experian, to determine the type of vehicle information that is readily available to consumers. The agency discovered that purchasers may obtain a history of vehicle registration information from these services.
To implement this process, the agency has determined that proof of registration may be demonstrated by any of the following: a current State registration document or series of registration documents in the name of the purchaser evidencing registration for a period of not less than one year immediately prior to the trade-in; a current State
registration document showing registration in the name of the purchaser and a document of title that confers title on the purchaser not less than one year immediately prior to the trade-in; or a current State registration document showing registration in the name of the purchaser and a document from a commercially available vehicle history provider evidencing registration for a period of not less than one year immediately prior to the trade-in. Changes in ownership during this period to delete a co-owner due to death or
divorce do not interrupt the continuity of the registration, so long as the purchaser has been shown as an owner on the registration for the entire period. In addition, for each of the three options, the consumer must certify that the trade-in vehicle was continuously registered for the requisite period. This proof of registration, along with the consumer certification, must be submitted by the dealer in its application to the agency requesting reimbursement. ​

 

Great, that makes it very easy for me in CA. I will use option 2 and submit my current registration and my title.

 

I know we'll be seeing you here soon, George aka Sphyrna!

Anyone else who qualifies, feel free to visit Royal Palm Toyota as we are ready and fully participating in the CARS program!

PM, email, or call me for info.
561-370-7227
[email protected]

Thanks,

Nick
Internet Director @ Royal Palm Toyota

 

We got our package III last night. Pearl white, they took $400 off the MSRP, which came to $23,710 (before tax), gave us the 4500 + 200 off the price and we got the whole thing for under $22 k. We traded in our old 1990 Lexus LS400 which had over 220,000 miles on it and probably good for another 100k. Sad to see it go, but we gotta be greener.

Thank you, Uncle Sam!

 

Just called my sales rep to ask when I should come down. I'm going to pick it up in an hour!

 

Called our dealer just now who said they have been trying all day to register on the govt website and cannot get through. They are a big dealer here in Connecticut. Anyway, I am going down there tomorrow:::: clunker and full clunker paperwork in hand to hopefully "speed the plow" for Monday. Our 2010 Prius II is on the lot, ready to go.

 

Same here in PA.

May be those West Coast guys with all their computer and software might are getting thru...

 

I just called a dealer in NC and they said they'll let me buy a blizzard pearl II with no mats or additional add-ons for:

$22,695
$23,561 (w/tax, tag, title)

- $4500 (clunker)
- $100 (scrap value of clunker)
________________________________

total: $18,961

I'm 99% sure I'll be picking the car up on Monday (unless a dealer closer to me thinks they can beat that....HIGHLY unlikely)

 

We visited the dealer today, filled out the paperwork, and drove our car. They just managed to log into the CARS website today, but are not yet ready to finish the deal until probably Tuesday.

 

The CARS turn-in added an extra hour to the whole process (probably because they really didn't know exactly what to do. I was the second one doing it at that dealership. The first one got their right before me. In and out in 2 hours.

 

How did they figure out what the scrap value of your car was?

 

First for moi

... popping in here on HELL day (LOL) -- Clunkers on my back lot are stacking up like incoming planes over LAX. OMG I cannot believe the stuff coming in here.

My first C4C deal was a PriusChat couple (wonderfully nice!) from Torrance who got a III with NAV in blizzard/charcoal. Then, it was AMBUSH time!

More later!!

 

They just said they're valuing all clunkers at $125 and giving the customer $100.

Anyone know how this works? Should I try to negotiate the scrap value of my car if I think it's worth more? I have no idea how scrap value is calculated.

 

Hmmm

wondering if someone can buy a car for me?????
Question: is there a period a car has to be owned after purchase?

If not, I would like to know if I can have a friend who has a clunker, buy a Prius to get $4500 and then sell or transfer the car to me.
Will that work?
I will buy his car from him and I get a discounted car ...WIN WIN! Plus lower emissions for our air quality.

Any thoughts?

 

yup - today; traded my POS 2000 Ford Windstar wagon for prius - they gave me complete run around tho - 4x checked EVERYTHING (esp docs).

 

I was at My dealer at 10:30 Am today their request When I arived they Informed Me that they did not have My car that it was in transit - That they had it but it had the wrong upolstry (We never specified Upolstry) So they sent it back as a swap. I completed the deal anyway because of the # of people there for the CARS program. Got the 4,500.00 but nothing else. And the claimed ignorance regarding salvage value - and bemoned how hard it was going to be to find someone to take the scrap CARS.Gov - dealer site has a list of authorized scrap dealers about 5-8 in my area