Cash for clunkers is a program in U.S. for the residents to purchase new car with great rebate when they trade in with any clunkers. It is a colloquial to Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). The program was to help people to trade off their less fuel efficient car and exchange with more fuel efficient car as the gas price is keep on rising compared to the past years. Check out the gasoline price history.

CARS program officially started on July 1, 2009 but ended on August 24 in less than 2 months time due to the appropriated resources were fatigued. According to Edmunds, taxpayers paid around US$24,000 per car and only 125,000 out of the 690,000 cars would not have been sold. The total incentives provided to the federal scrappage program were a US$3 billion.

According to report, the most common cars that buyers traded in are the old Ford F150 pickup for new Ford F150 pickups due to fuel economy. The trade-in list follows by big old Jeep Grand, Chevy and Dodge Caravan for big new Silverados and Rams.

Cash for clunkers program stopped due to the appropriate resources were exhausted. However, car buyer who did not qualify for the program still can find some other great deals such as:

• Impounded cars for sale
• Project cars for sale
• Cheap old cars for sale
• Muscle cars for sale
• Cars under 1000 dollars
• Cars under 500 dollars
• Old junk cars for sale

Things to know

– The trade-in car or vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date. Therefore classic cars or vintage cars are not qualified.

– Applicants do not have to sign any agreement to pay back the CARS credit amount to dealer if the deal or application is rejected.

– The dealer have to give the buyer new car at the time of the deal.

– In general, trade-in cars or vehicle must get less than or equal to 18 MPG (Miles Per Gallon). Check out how much per mile does it cost to drive a car.

– The program will have to scrape the eligible trade-in vehicle or cars.

Top 10 Trade-in clunkers

1. Ford Explorer 4WD
2. Ford F-150 pickup 2WD
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
4. Ford Explorer 2WD
5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
6. Jeep Cherokee 4WD
7. Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
8. Chevrolet C 1500 pickup 2WD
9. Ford F-150 pickup 4WD
10. Ford Windstar minivan

Ineligible cars to claim cash rebates

• 1987 Alfa Romeo GTV
• 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano
• 1987 BMW 5 Series
• 1987 Chevrolet S10 Blazer 2WD
• 1987 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan/Ram Van 2WD
• 1987 Dodge Shadow
• 1987 Ford Aerostar Van
• 1987 Ford LTD Crown Victoria
• 1987 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Wagon
• 1987 GMC S15 Jimmy 2WD
• 1987 Lincoln Continental
• 1987 Lincoln Mark VII
• 1987 Lincoln Town Car
• 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis
• 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis Wagon
• 1987 Plymouth Sundance
• 1987 Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD
• 1987 Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD
• 1987 Porsche 944
• 1987 Toyota Truck 4WD
• 1988 Mazda 929
• 1988 Peugeot 505 Sedan
• 1988 Peugeot 505 Sedan
• 1988 Toyota 4Runner 4WD
• 1989 Mazda 929
• 1989 Peugeot 505 Sedan
• 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera
• 1990 Audi 80 Quattro
• 1990 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan/Ram Van 2WD
• 1990 Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD
• 1990 Saab 9000
• 1990 Toyota 1-Ton Truck 2WD
• 1990 Toyota Truck 2WD
• 1991 Audi 80 Quattro
• 1991 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD
• 1991 Dodge Ram 50 Pickup 2WD
• 1991 Lexus ES 250
• 1991 Mitsubishi Truck 2WD
• 1991 Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD
• 1991 Toyota Camry
• 1991 Toyota Camry Wagon
• 1992 Acura NSX
• 1992 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD
• 1992 Dodge Ram 50 Pickup 2WD
• 1992 Jeep Cherokee 4WD
• 1992 Jeep Comanche Pickup 4WD
• 1992 Mitsubishi Truck 2WD
• 1992 Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager 2WD
• 1992 Saab 900
• 1992 Saab 900
• 1993 Dodge Ram 50 Pickup 2WD
• 1993 Dodge Stealth
• 1993 Jeep Comanche Pickup 2WD
• 1993 Mitsubishi 3000 GT
• 1993 Mitsubishi Truck 2WD
• 1993 Toyota Camry
• 1993 Toyota Camry Wagon
• 1994 Mazda B2300/B3000/B4000 Pickup 2WD
• 1994 Mazda MPV
• 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante Wagon
• 1994 Volkswagen Corrado SLC
• 1995 Kia Sportage 2WD
• 1995 Mazda MPV
• 1995 Toyota Tacoma 2WD
• 1996 Jeep Cherokee 2WD
• 1996 Nissan Truck 2WD
• 1996 Toyota Supra
• 1996 Volkswagen Jetta GLX
• 1997 Chrysler Concorde
• 1997 Chrysler New Yorker/LHS
• 1997 Dodge Intrepid
• 1997 Eagle Vision
• 1997 Kia Sportage 4WD
• 1997 Mercedes-Benz C3 AMG
• 1997 Nissan Truck 2WD
• 1997 Toyota Supra
• 1997 Toyota T100 2WD
• 1997 Volkswagen Jetta GLX

Check out more at cars.org about cash for clunkers.