Vehicle Allowance Rebate System (CARS)

Definition of Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS)

The Car Allowance Rebate System was a U.S. government program that permitted individuals to trade in utilized vehicles that didn't meet government-determined fuel economy standards. Under President Barack Obama's administration, individuals trading in old cars could fit the bill for a discount of either $3,500 or $4,500 off the purchase or five or more year lease of a fresher, more fuel efficient vehicle. The program started on July 1, 2009, and ended presently in light of the fact that it turned out to be well known to such an extent that funds immediately ran out.

Understanding Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS)

Ordinarily known as "Money for Clunkers," the Car Allowance Rebate System's stated purposes were to reduce air pollution, to animate consumer spending and to prop up striving U.S. car manufacturers (however the program permitted the purchase of foreign vehicles). At last, consumers traded in as estimated 680,000 vehicles. Vehicle dealers were required to crush or shred the trade-in vehicles.

The Car Allowance Rebate System was initially a $1 billion program. Due to its notoriety, Congress immediately allocated an extra $2 billion, carrying the total to $3 billion.

(CARS) Legislative History

Financial specialist Alan Blinder promoted the possibility of a scrappage program, and the moniker "cash for clunkers", with his July 2008 commentary piece in the New York Times. Blinder contended that a money for-clunkers program would have a three sided purpose of aiding the environment, invigorating the economy, and lessening economic inequality.

The House approved the creation of a cash-for-clunkers program with the 298 to 119 entry of the CARS Act. In the Senate, the money for-clunkers legislation was embedded into a larger war supplemental funding bill. In response to the U.S. Department of Transportation estimate that the $1 billion appropriated for the system was nearly exhausted by July 30, 2009, due to exceptionally high demand, Congress approved an extra $2 billion for the program fully backed by the Obama Administration.

CARS Eligibility Requirements

The accompanying criteria was put in place to fit the bill for the Car Allowance Rebate System program:

• Vehicle must be under 25 years of age on the trade-in date.
• Just the purchase or five-year least lease of new vehicles qualify.
• Generally, trade-in vehicles must get a weighted combined average rating of 18 or less miles for every gallon (some exceptionally large pickup trucks and cargo vans have various requirements).
• Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured persistently for the full year going before the trade-in.
• Trade-in vehicles must be in drivable condition.
• The program requires the scrapping of the eligible trade-in vehicle and that the dealer reveal to the customer an estimate of the scrap value of the trade-in. The scrap value, but negligible, will be notwithstanding the rebate, and not in place of the rebate.
• The new vehicle bought under the plan must have a suggested retail price of something like $45,000, and for passenger cars, the new vehicle must have a combined fuel economy value of no less than 22 mpg.