LIBERTY, MO -- The government released the
final rules for the
Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) better known as Cash for Clunkers. The 136 page document details eligibility and addresses some of the concerns raised by consumers. It's a $1 billion program, but some clunker drivers are concerned the rules are too strict.
Every morning when Evelyn walks out to her car she has to check the fluids. The rusty 1994 Mercury Sable has seen better days. "It has a lot of problems. The air doesn't work. The back two windows don't work," Evelyn said.
Evelyn also grows weary watching the gas gauge fall to empty. "Just the gas mileage especially with gas prices going up and up and up it just hurts at the pump."
Evelyn wants to end the pain at the pump by getting a new car and a voucher from the government. CARS locks Eveyln out.
Mileage Estimates Challenged
By definition, a clunker is something worthless or inferior. Evelyn says her car gets 14 miles per gallon. Government estimates put it at 21 miles per gallon. Reality doesn't matter in the CARS program. It's the EPA estimate that qualifies you for the program.
Those estimates have to be less than 18 miles a gallon.
"I would like lawmakers to make a little tweak to some of the rules," Evelyn said.
The final ruling says there were many questions and comments about this miles per gallon rule. The Government admits many cars may be disqualified. "Therefore, even though a passenger car may be quite old and/or in poor condition, it may not be an eligible trade-in vehicle under the program because its combined fuel economy at the time of its manufacture (as measured by the EPA) exceeds statutory limits. Some consumers have expressed surprise at this result. However, the agency must follow the requirements of the statute." The mileage limits on passenger cars are much tougher than on light trucks.
The ruling goes on to say, "Some consumers have expressed concern that the combined fuel economy value of their vehicles, as determined on the fueleconomy.gov website of the EPA, is not an accurate measure of the actual fuel economy they experience. EPA determines these values for each make, model, and model year with regard to each vehicle at the time of its manufacture. These consumers contend that if another means were used to calculate combined fuel economy, their vehicle would be an eligible trade-in vehicle under the program. The CARS Act is prescriptive in this regard, and requires NHTSA to use the EPA calculation, and not any other calculation, to determine whether a trade-in vehicle is eligible under the program."
There's an online push to get the rules changed to reflect the "real life" miles per gallon. 1100 people signed the petition at
http://www.nocashforclunkers.com/
Until Congress responds to the petition, Evelyn is stuck driving her car without air conditioning. "You got a decision -- do you want blown hair or do you want sweat rolling down your face?" Evelyn pondered as she drove down the road with her windows open.
Pasch Consulting Group runs the anti-clunker petition and also
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/ Brian Pasch told me, he hopes to get 3-5,000 signatures and then deliver the petition to the sponsors of the legislation. He expects once the program gets up and running, the petition drive will increase as more people realize they don't qualify.
CARS is expected to run out of money quickly. That's when Pasch hopes more money will be requested, and the rules will become more flexible to include those who are locked out of the program under the current guidelines.
Pasch's website is pushing for a Net-10 rule. This would remove the 18 miles per gallon rule that currently exists, and instead focus on the increase in mileage. If the mileage increases by 10 miles per gallon, you'd qualify. Again, this is just one consulting group's suggestion.
