I just want to start a little poll here. I am curious to see how many people actually have a contract waiting, still waiting or already picked up vehicle. Did the dealer eat the cost or they already got paid by the government? Thanks
I checked off "Took home - Gov't already gave money". We are all done, and signed for, but I don't think the Gov't has given any of them money yet. I was told that if for some fluke of a reason, they run out of money beofre they collect, they would call me back, and I would either have to give them another $4500, or take my car back. They aren't destrying any of the cars till they have cash in hand form the Gov't. I signed at noon on the 24th, (was told that the Gov't pushed back till 27th) so I have to be some of the first to go through.
you might want to inform the dealer that that's not legal. Goverment rule clearly specifies that dealer must disable the engine and also need to get the certificate from the scrapper that they picked up the car to be crushed before they submit and get the money. If your dealer is submitting document without destorying trade-ins, they are falsfying and subject to panalty not to mention rejection of your applications. My dealer will destry my trade in today hopefully and submit the paper work tomorrow. I had to sign the paper saying i am responsible if the program runs out of money. and I don't get the trade in back as it's already crushed by the time. I took the chance figuring it's worth the try. Plus I don't want to see old clunker again.
Picked mine up fri July 24th. Received $4600 for 92 ford bronco. I did not sign anything regarding contingencies against govt failing to pay the dealer, but I have read other posts describing similar documents. Dealer was excellent - Tom Scott Toyota in Nampa, Idaho.
Wow, hate to be cynical here, but if this is exact wording on what you signed, you just lost $4500. They can now conveniently lose the rest of your paperwork, and go concentrate on getting more people like you to sign something like this. Please, friends, do not sign something like this unless the exact wording is something like, "ABC Toyota acknowleges full receipt of Joe Schmuck's paperwork in preparation for participating in the CARS program. It is complete to the best of our knowledge. If, after applying for the Government rebate from the NHTSA correctly and timely on our part, it is deemed by NHTSA that Joe Schmucks paperwork submitted by him to us is incomplete, missing or falsified, we will hold him liable for the $4500."
Personally, I'd rather not sign anything that holds me liable in any way. If I forgot to submit something or left something incomplete, I don't want to be on the hook for $4500 + a running vehicle worth ~$2500.
We got a Prius last Wednesday with a CFC but did not have to sign anything about what happens if they don't get their money. They seemed to know what they were doing. There was a web site associated with the CARS program where they could pick the clunker and the new car and print them on one page of paper - side by side. I do think there was enough early confusion that some dealers were being cautious. Our dealer said their first deal was rejected (he did not say why), but did not seem concerned about current deals. Has anyone ever actually proposed a legal document to a dealer as described above and had the dealer sign? Even if they were open to such a document they would need a lawyer to review, and find someone who can sign legal documents for the company. Seems like it would never happen in a reasonable amount of time (like at a car sale signing).
Mine was bought and paid for on Thursday 23rd. I'm picking it up tomorrow morning. I was going on vacation on Friday morning so I just left it at the dealer until I got back this weekend.
I put $500 down on a Prius II on 7/25. The car is supposed to be in about 8/8. I still have my clunker, and suppose I will take it down when I pick up the car. I just had to give them copies of the title, past registrations and ins. i.d. cards. I hope it works out properly!
New rules are (from what I read on govt CARS site, and the media) that the dealer doesnt have to destroy the car until their reimbursmant from the govt is granted. Btw, The engine is disable using silicate-something ... same stuff used to seal concrete.. they drain oil, then pour in 2 quarts of the stuff run the engine till it seizes. UUGH. So yeah.. as far as I can tell the dealer takes the exposure they are going to get paid. It seems like a major hassle for them. The 4500 was simply deducted from the prius+options+etc price. (I still sorta miss the explorer... but it had a few issues.. hopefully we'll remedy that situation with used reliable explorer purchase in the near future.)
It's been amended on Cars.gov under the Dealer tab:The agency amended its rule implementing the CARS program. Dealers may now choose to disable the engine of the trade-in vehicle after they receive payment from the government for the credit (not more than seven calendar days after payment). However, until the vehicle’s engine is disabled, the dealer must store the vehicle at a location under the control of the dealership. Can you imagine if they destroyed it, and didn't get the $ and then came back and said oh, btw, you owe us $4500 or the car back and oops, the running vehicle that you left here is now a paperweight? R.
Just an update. Numerous dealers have bailed from the CARS program. The dealer I bought the car from sold 60 cars under the deal, but the dealer is not releasing any cars. They only released the first 8 (mine being one of them). They basically force us to come back by giving us a dealer plate that carries a temporary registration.
I paid in full for my car on 7/30 and it is sitting at the dealer waiting for the paperwork to clear with govt. Paperwork says "under review". They have my title for my cluncker but I have the cluncker. The dealer will not release my car till paperwork status shows him a voucher #. I keep calling him everyday getting no where. They surely cashed my check for the car though and have my money! Had to pay $350 (in dealer fee) more than my local dealer (and drive 65 miles away) just to get color I could live with. They also tried to "slip in" window etching @ $169 telling me it was required. I am supposed to get a check back for that when I finally get my car. Would not want to deal with this dealer in Connecticut again! This waiting is a real PIA!!
